The United Republic Of Tanzania
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
Mbeya University of Science and Technology
Leading Centre of Excellence for Knowledge, Skills, and Applied Education in Science and Technology
Leading Centre of Excellence for Knowledge, Skills, and Applied Education in Science and Technology
The East Africa Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Conference was officially opened on July 14th, 2025, at the Eden Highlands Hotel, bringing together more than 200 Researchers, experts, and practitioners from nine countries to discuss integrated solutions to some of the region’s most pressing challenges.
The three-day event was organised by Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST) and CultivAid, in collaboration with Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), the University of Maryland (UMD), and the Volcani Institute of Israel. Participants from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Israel, and the United States joined together in excavating the holistic mission of the conference.
In his welcoming speech, Prof. Aloys N. Mvuma, Vice Chancellor of Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), congratulated the participants for their efforts to participate and emphasised that the conference would make a significant contribution to the agricultural sector in Tanzania, East Africa, and globally. He emphasized that the gathering had come at the right moment, when Tanzania is striving to become a food basket for Africa by increasing crop production.
He also highlighted the Tanzanian government’s efforts to expand affordable electricity access to the village and street levels, noting that the conference will demonstrate how energy and water resources can be better integrated to boost food productivity, ensure food safety, and promote sustainable profitability. Prof. Mvuma further explained that, as a technological institution, MUST is committed to advancing innovation and research across various sectors with particular emphasis on supporting irrigation initiatives to reduce dependency on rainfall for production.
Mbeya District Commissioner, Hon. Solomoni Itunda, who served as Guest of Honour, praised MUST for its efforts to bridge the gap between research and the real-life experiences of Tanzanian farmers. He underscored that in human life, three things: energy, food, and water are essential. He also noted that Mbeya ranks among the top three regions in Tanzania in food production and makes a substantial contribution to the country’s economic growth, stressing that the conference was taking place at the right time and in the right place.
The conference program included more than 30 lectures, poster presentations, and panel discussions. Day one focused on integrated solutions for food, energy, and water, smart irrigation practices, and renewable energy for agriculture. Day two turned to resilience, policy frameworks, and value chains for crops, including grapes, cocoa, avocados, rice, and horticultural produce, and concluded with a MUST labs and farm tour and hands-on training to students. Day three addressed climate-resilient farming solutions, biotechnology, organic agriculture, gender empowerment, and community initiatives, with case studies presented by organisations such as Water 4 Mercy, the American Jewish Committee, Society for International Development, and Laguna System
Participants agreed that the conference should serve as the beginning of a long-term collaborative effort rather than a standalone event. Resolutions included formalizing and expanding the informal network of attendees into a structured alliance, translation of conversations into measurable impacts, sustain knowledge and collaboration of expertise reveled in the conference. Building on the resolutions, the conference proposed priority actions including Co-Create Cross-Border Pilot Projects such as smart irrigation and sustainable value chain initiatives, creating a digital platform to facilitate ongoing knowledge sharing, expand research collaboration and shared opportunities, institutionalising the East Africa FEW forum and investing in youth and emerging leaders.
The gathering was described as a catalyst for action, with commitments to translate discussions into measurable outcomes. A framework for monitoring and evaluation was also proposed to track progress and ensure accountability.
The East Africa FEW Conference concluded on July 16 with a call to continue building trust-based partnerships and to strengthen regional collaboration. Organisers emphasised that the legacy of the event will be defined not by its closing session but by the projects and initiatives that follow in the months and years ahead and underscored the importance and strength of collaborations with a common goal in driving change.
