The BGI Group is accelerating Africa’s agricultural transformation, showcasing cutting-edge genomic innovations at the recent CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, Kenya. Led by Co-founder and Chairman Wang Jian, the BGI delegation engaged with global experts and visited leading research institutes to strengthen partnerships in food security and sustainable agriculture.
At the event, Wang Jian met with CGIAR Executive Managing Director Ismahane Elouafi to explore collaborative strategies in agricultural science and technology. The two leaders agreed on a shared vision, to harness genomics, artificial intelligence and global partnerships to tackle hunger and climate resilience.
Elouafi applauded China’s role in South-South cooperation, noting BGI’s impactful presence in Africa’s agri-tech space. Wang reiterated the importance of these alliances in scaling up crop breeding innovations and digitalising germplasm resources to future proof food systems.
BGI’s Executive Director, Xu Xun, joined a roundtable discussion, noting how genomics and AI tools can accelerate the development of climate-smart crops. He spotlighted BGI’s collaborative work with CGIAR and African partners to drive resilient agricultural systems in the Global South.
A co-hosted side event with CGIAR drew over 100 global experts and unpacked game changing technologies in agri-genomics, perennial rice and AI-assisted breeding. BGI also demonstrated its multi-omics platforms and ongoing innovations.
One of the key highlights was BGI’s push for perennial rice in Africa, a high-yield, low-input crop now being piloted in Uganda, Rwanda and Madagascar. According to Wang, this breakthrough is already showing promise in reducing malnutrition and enhancing food sovereignty across the continent.
Xu also delivered a compelling talk titled “Agricultural Genomics and Game-Changing Innovations”, sharing BGI’s work with the African Orphan Crops Consortium, supported by the African Union and reinforcing the power of science to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential.
