Skip to main content
Knowledge4Policy
Knowledge for policy
Supporting policy with scientific evidence

We mobilise people and resources to create, curate, make sense of and use knowledge to inform policymaking across Europe.

  • Publication | 2025
Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050
Global Food and Nutrition Security

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are central to food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods in Eastern Africa, providing affordable protein and income to millions of smallholder farmers. While Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Tanzania have made notable productivity gains, Kenya continues to face persistent structural constraints, and Burundi has experienced a long-term decline in productivity.

Across the region, yields remain far below genetic potential due to weak seed systems, limited mechanisation, declining soil fertility, pest and disease pressures, and climate variability. Meanwhile, rapid population growth, urbanisation, and growing regional trade are driving strong demand, positioning beans as both a staple food and a commercial crop.

Looking ahead to 2050, the future of the bean sector in Eastern Africa depends on scaling climate-resilient and biofortified varieties, strengthening seed and post-harvest systems, and promoting good agronomic practices. With sustained research investments and supportive policies, beans can continue to serve as a pillar of resilience, nutrition, and rural livelihoods, supporting regional food security and agricultural transformation.