Professor Qing-Feng Wang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences speaks at the 2nd Joint International Scientific Conference in Nairobi.The second Joint International Scientific Conference has officially started, bringing together local and international researchers, scholars, and policymakers to address global ecological pressures.
Hosted jointly by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJOREC), and the Association of Kenyan Entomologists (AKE), the five-day event focuses on the theme, "Harnessing Biodiversity and Cultural Heritage for Economic Development."
Speaking during the opening of the conference, Prof Qing-Feng Wang, Director General of the Wuhan Botanical Garden and Director of SAJOREC (Chinese Academy of Sciences), emphasised the deep-rooted collaboration between China and Kenya.
Highlighting the landmark "Flora of Kenya" project a joint 31-volume initiative documenting 7,000 plant species Wang reiterated China's commitment to supporting biodiversity monitoring and sustainable food security in Africa.
Over the past decade, the partnership has enrolled over 300 African graduate students and successfully introduced over 20 resilient crop varieties to boost local agricultural production.
Dr Namikoye Samita, a Senior Lecturer at Kenyatta University and Chairman of the Association of Kenyan Entomologists speaks to journalists at the 2nd Joint International Scientific Conference in Nairobi.Representing the academic and local scientific sectors, Dr Namikoye Samita, a Senior Lecturer at Kenyatta University and Chairman of the Association of Kenyan Entomologists, outlined how the conference directly benefits local farmers.
Samita emphasised building partnerships to commercialise insect industries, such as sericulture (silk farming) and black soldier fly farming.
Addressing Kenya's progress in bio-prospecting and natural products, Samita noted that while the country is still taking "baby steps," it is steadily moving toward fully integrated nature-based solutions using friendly bacteria, fungi, and bio-control insects to sustainably eliminate agricultural pests.
Echoing the importance of international teamwork, Prof Esther Ndaisi Kioko, a Principal Research Scientist at the National Museums of Kenya and a renowned entomologist, revealed that the conference features delegates from 13 African nations and nine international countries.
Kioko highlighted a rigorous pre-conference training programme that equipped 100 early-career researchers to become biodiversity champions.
Furthermore, 15 promising scholars received research grants to jumpstart impactful studies across the continent.
"During this conference, we recognise the challenges that face the world today, among them climate change, pollution, biodiversity extinction, and therefore we are coming together to find ways to collectively address them,"Kioko stated.
