By Christine Ochogo I christawine@yahoo.com
Kenya’s Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) has spent two decades bringing journalists in the continent and beyond together in the name of science journalism.
They have organised simple to advanced trainings, put together a mentorship program, held the Kenya Science Journalists Congress three times and the African Conference of Science Journalists for five editions.
The association’s will host an estimated 150 global journalists from all corners of the world in Nairobi. Their sole purpose for travel? To attend and witness the association’s biggest moment in its 20 year history. The 2025 World Congress of Agricultural Journalists. The showpiece opens and ends on Oct 15 and 18 respectively with delegates arriving in the city from as early as October 10.
According to the Chairman of MESHA, the host guild, Bozo Bozo Jenje, the IFAJ 2025 Congress will provide attendees with world-class research, world-class farming and the world’s most exciting wildlife.
It is expected that Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon Karega Mutahi, will officially open the Congress on October 15 at the Ole Sereni Hotel.
This group of journalists, who truly specialize in agricultural and farm journalism, will be treated to mouth-watering in house presentations and discussions on topics such as How today’s research and development is transforming the outlook for the global agricultural challenges of tomorrow by CropLife International.
Key organisations that use Artificial Intelligence like TomorrowNow and iSDA.org have been approached to speak on how they are transforming small scale farming in Africa which will include Tech and innovation in agriculture and journalism under the theme Farming in the Age of AI. The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) will speak about The invisible jewel – The under-reported crops of Kenya. A two pronged presentation from the International Potato Centre and Icrisat will expose journalists to The Crops Kenyans Wanted to forget.
Not to be left out is the International Seed Federation who will speak about Forging resilient partnerships/cross-sector collaboration in an era of declining donor support.
The evening of the main congress day, October 16 will be marked with a sumptuous dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant, and do not be mistaken, Kenyan culture will be on display in music from Kochia Dancers from Nyanza and Central Kenya’s Mwomboko Dancers.
So far 100 delegates out of the expected 250 delegates have registered with visa letters being processed and sent to foreign travelers by August 5, 2025 to those who have registered for the fete.
According to the Congress Director, Aghan Daniel, about ten field tours have been well planned with six of them being fully booked as at the time of writing this article. Eight slots for exhibitions have also been reserved for organisations to share their products and services at the Congress.
Tour 1: Thika Town and its environs. This town is barely 45km to the east of Nairobi and those in this tour will visit Kenchic who are global leaders in farm and product traceability; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) Coffee Research Institute, and Kakuzi Plc which engages in the cultivation, processing and marketing of avocados, blueberries, macadamia, tea, livestock and commercial forestry. This tour offers a rich exploration of agricultural innovation and sustainability in Thika and surrounding areas, spotlighting these three major players in Kenya’s agri-sector.
Tour 3 is also Kajiado Town and Its Environs is also already fully booked. Kajiado is barely 20km from the city centre and this tour will take the delegates to PJ Dave Flower Farm – one of Kenya’s largest rose farms, producing 500,000 stems daily. At the vertical lake the delegates will visit an ingenious vertical aquaculture project in Rongai that turns dry land into a thriving fish farming ecosystem. The system maximizes water efficiency and space, redefining food production in arid zones. Finally, Fred’s Ranch provides a hands-on experience at this farm-to-table haven that blends organic farming, livestock rearing, and Kenya’s rural charm. Owned by journalist Fred Obach Machoka, the ranch emphasizes sustainability, culture, and agritourism. This tour showcases how innovation, resilience, and tradition intersect to power agriculture in Kenya’s drylands.
Tour 6 and tour 8 which will offer insights into modern dairy farming practices tailored to overcome climate and economic challenges.
Tours which are still available include Number 4 to Andermatt Kenya Ltd based in Naivasha (90km away from the venue) focusing on regenerative farming and biological solution. This tour takes delegates to Naivasha for an eye-opening experience in regenerative agriculture and biological crop protection. Hosted by Andermatt Kenya, it offers hands-on learning with real-time field demos, showcasing eco-friendly solutions tailored to Kenyan crops. Highlights include visits to a macrobial production site and a commercial rose farm using Andermatt’s pest control innovations; Exposure to cutting-edge biologicals—bioinsecticides, biofungicides, bionematicides, and biostimulants—designed for climate-smart, export-ready farming and a deep dive into sustainable, science-driven agriculture that empowers smallholder farmers.
Tour 5 which is also still available is on Sustainable Practices and Management Framework by Croplife International Kenya will expose journalists to the impact of the Sustainable Practices and Management Framework (SPMF) within the environs of Nairobi. This field tour introduces IFAJ delegates to the Sustainable Practices and Management Framework (SPMF), implemented by Croplife Kenya and its partners around Nairobi.
Key highlights include how the Framework is improving human and environmental health while boosting agricultural productivity in Kenya and across Eastern and Southern Africa; and an opportunity to engage directly with the local partners driving SPMF’s success, ensuring the initiative’s long-term sustainability beyond its initial five-year span.
This tour offers a firsthand look at how collaborative, science-based frameworks are shaping a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future in the region.
Tea and coffee lovers will also visit tea factories, farms, a research institute under the auspices of the Kenya Tea Board and a few individual farmers. Finally, there will be a visit to a genetically modified maize farm planted within a research station.
In the words of Violet Otindo, a key member of the National Organising Committee, her team is working very closely with the Ministry of Agriculture which has already endorsed the Congress and will pay a key role in its organisation and success. She asked sponsors to get in touch with her team at info@meshascience.org to make their contributions as the event is currently underfunded by nearly 65 per cent.
“The IFAJ World Congress of Agricultural Journalists 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya is where the stories meet the savannah. It is an experience of agriculture and wildlife in the Cradle of Humankind,” she said in reference to the Congress’ theme Unlocking the agricultural potential in the cradle of mankind.
