JRS participated in the Global Bioeconomy Summit (GBS2024) held for the first time outside Europe in Nairobi, Kenya, from 23-24 October 2024. The Summit gathered leaders from around the world to explore building resilient and sustainable food systems, positioning the bioeconomy as a model for transitioning to less fossil-dependent economies, conserving biodiversity, and leveraging innovation to create new economic opportunities, particularly for youth employment. The event was hosted by the East African Science and Technology Commission under the East African Community, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)/BioInnovate Africa, and the Stockholm Environment Institute.

In partnership with IKEA Foundation, JRS sponsored a well-attended workshop entitled, “Leveraging the nexus of biodiversity informatics and bioeconomy to improve rural and urban livelihoods”. The session discussed the role of biodiversity informatics in the bioeconomy, focusing on agrobiodiversity, regenerative agriculture, and indigenous knowledge. Prof. Suresh Raina (India) delivered a keynote, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr Siro Masinde (Kenya), a former JRS grantee. Panelists included former and current JRS grantees, namely, Dr Anne Akol (Uganda), Dr Beatrice Nganso (Cameroon/Kenya), Mr Fransauve Moore (USA), Mr Justin Saliboko (DR Congo), and Dr Elvina Henriette (Seychelles), as well as friends of JRS, Ms Maria Mira (UNEP, Kenya) and Mr Jadot Nkurunziza (Burundi). JRS Executive Director, Matthew Cassetta, and JRS Trustee and Co-Chair, International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy, Dr Julius Ecuru, also joined the workshop, underscoring JRS’s commitment to advancing the bioeconomy and biodiversity conservation in Africa.