icipe Director General appointed to World Agriculture Forum Council

Dr Abdou Tenkouano, Director General, icipe, has been nominated to the Council of the World Agriculture Forum (WAF), a newly launched body that is dedicated to advancing agricultural development on a worldwide scale.

The WAF has been conceived as a neutral, global platform for nations, industries, experts and institutions to converge, collaborate and catalyze sustainable agricultural development, fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and collective problem-solving. Following extensive and in-depth consultations with experts and global leaders, a consensus was reached to establish WAF, modelled on the pattern of the World Economic Forum, to address the pressing needs and opportunities in the agricultural sector.

The initiative brings together prominent thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, business executives, and heads of global institutions in the agricultural sector to address critical issues related to food and nutrition security, sustainable practices, policy, technology and trade agenda.

“The agricultural sector is paramount to global food security, economic stability and environmental sustainability. In light of the recent challenges facing this sector, including climate change and global food security, and changing dynamics of world trade and businesses, it has become increasingly vital to have a dedicated body that facilitates dialogue and cooperation among the key stakeholders,” said Dr Rudy Rabbinge, Chairman, WAF Board; Former Senate Member, The Netherlands; and Science Council Chairman, CGIAR.

He added: “[Dr Tenkouano’s] expertise and vision will be invaluable to the discussions that shape the future of this crucial sector. Given [his] role and respected position in the global food and agriculture arena, we believe that [his] insights and experiences [will] greatly contribute to the Forum's objectives.” 

“I am deeply humbled and honoured to accept the nomination to serve on this important global agenda on agri-food systems. I look forward to contributing insights shaped through my career, including icipe’s wide-ranging and unique experience of harnessing insect science, nature-based solutions, for agricultural and food systems transformation,” stated Dr Tenkouano.

Dr Tenkouano’s career in agricultural research and development spans close to three decades, dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and agricultural innovation,  across Africa. He served as Executive Director of CORAF - The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, based in Dakar, Senegal, from 2016 to 2023. He joined the Council from the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg, formerly the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center – AVRDC), where he served for eight years, first from 2008 – 2013, as the Director, Regional Center for Africa, based in Arusha, Tanzania; and then, from 2014 – 2016, as Regional Director, West and Central Africa, based in Bamako, Mali. Dr Tenkouano's career also includes a 12-year stint (1996 – 2008), and various positions at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), working on genetics, breeding and improvement of plantain and banana, cassava and yams, based at the IITA High Rainfal Station in Onne (near Port Harcourt, Nigeria) then Yaounde (Cameroon) and Accra (Ghana). From 1994 – 1996, he was the Coordinator, West and Central Africa Sorghum Research Network, International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in Bamako, Mali. 

Notes for Editors

The World Agriculture Forum (https://worldagricultureforum.com/) envisions a transformative future where global agriculture is defined by boundless innovation, dynamic growth, unparalleled productivity, and unwavering sustainability. This aspirational vision is rooted in the conviction that agriculture must harmoniously balance the escalating needs of a growing global population, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity for all, thereby ensuring a resilient, regenerative, and thriving food system that benefits both present and future generations.

Board Members: https://worldagricultureforum.com/waf-board-members

Council Members: https://worldagricultureforum.com/waf-council-members

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (www.icipe.org), is globally distinct, being the only research institute working primarily on insects and other arthropods. icipe is also the sole institution that combines research and development activities across the 4Hs Thematic areas: plant health, human health, animal health and environmental health. icipe is a global model of scientific excellence, distinctly blending the generation of world-class knowledge and its translation into nature-based, One Health, inclusive innovations that transform the livelihoods of millions of people in Kenya and across Africa. icipe gratefully acknowledges the following core donors: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR); Government of Norway; German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); and  Government of the Republic of Kenya. A comprehensive list of icipe donors and partners is available at: http://www.icipe.org/donors-and-partners. For further information on icipe visit: www.icipe.org.The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the donors.