Kenyan Scientist Wins 2025 Africa Food Prize for Pioneering Work on Indigenous Vegetables

Kenyan horticulturist Professor Mary Abukutsa has been awarded the 2025 Africa Food Prize for her groundbreaking research and advocacy on African indigenous vegetables. The award, valued at US$100,000, was presented at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal.

For over three decades, Abukutsa has championed underutilized crops like jute mallow and African nightshade — vegetables once considered marginal but now celebrated for their nutritional value and climate resilience. Her work has elevated these crops from local farms to global policy discussions, positioning them as vital in the fight against malnutrition and climate change.

At Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), she leads a consortium applying climate-smart farming to expand indigenous vegetable production in counties such as Kakamega and Kiambu. The initiative is improving farmer incomes while safeguarding biodiversity.

For Professor Abukutsa, the recognition represents not just a personal milestone but also a call for greater investment and appreciation of Africa’s indigenous food systems.

This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. All third-party sources are credited and used in line with fair use.Source: Scovian Lillian, University World News (Africa Edition)