The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), in collaboration with the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD) and an Italian university consortium, organized an advanced skills course on biofuels, bioproducts, and biomaterials as part of ongoing efforts to advance the global green transition agenda.
The programme brought together researchers, postgraduate students and industry stakeholders to enhance capacity in sustainable resource utilization and circular bioeconomy technologies.
The participating Italian institutions included; the Polytechnic University of Turin (Politecnico di Torino), University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna), LUISS University (LUISS Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli), and University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze), among others – reflecting the depth of international academic collaboration underpinning the initiative.
Held from 16 – 20 February, 2026 in Nairobi, the programme, christened; the ‘Advanced Skills Course (ASC): Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biomaterials for the Green Transition,’ emphasized applied training, technology transfer, and interdisciplinary collaboration in renewable energy systems and sustainable material innovation.The course forms a cornerstone of the TNE Wagon2Africa project, a strategic intervention anchored within the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus framework.
Speaking during the official opening, Prof. David Chiaramonti of the Polytechnic University of Turin (Politecnico di Torino) emphasized that the course plays a critical role in equipping experts with the competencies required to anticipate emerging regulatory frameworks and navigate the evolving global bioeconomy landscape.
“Policies are central to advancing and supporting the bioeconomy sector. This course has been carefully designed and structured to ensure that experts across diverse fields are adequately prepared to anticipate regulatory developments and respond proactively,” said Prof. Chiaramonti.
He further stressed the importance of active participation in formulating current and future bioeconomy policies, noting that technical expertise must go hand in hand with policy engagement. Prof Chiaramonti also highlighted that sustainable biofuels remain pivotal in achieving net-zero targets and advancing carbon-negative co-products, reinforcing the sector’s strategic importance in global climate action.
The Principal of the College of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Hiram Ndiritu, highlighted the timeliness of the course, noting that climate change remains a pressing global challenge. He emphasized that the programme strengthens climate mitigation efforts by equipping professionals with technical and strategic competencies necessary to advance sustainable solutions. Prof. Ndiritu further observed that the course is deliberately structured to address gaps within the bioeconomy sector, ensuring participants are well positioned to make meaningful contributions and establish themselves as leaders in this evolving field.
The Director of the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD), Prof. James Njiru, commended the course for preparing professionals to actively engage in climate change mitigation efforts, noting: “Climate change is real, and there is need for urgent interventions.”
Ms. Getrude Alworah Okuoyi of the Coffee Research Institute, Ruiru, under Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), emphasized the need for robust policy frameworks to support the emerging bioeconomy sector.
She called for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector to accelerate critical reforms and scale sustainable solutions. Ms. Okuoyi also lauded the course, noting that the knowledge and skills gained would enable participants to harness biomaterials that often go to waste, transforming them into valuable resources within a circular bioeconomy.
By bridging technical innovation with sustainable development imperatives, the initiative seeks to cultivate a new generation of experts equipped to drive Africa’s green transition while contributing meaningfully to global sustainability goals.
The event attracted over 70 participants from across Africa, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and collaborative learning. Discussions and presentations focused on transforming marginal lands and urban organic waste into valuable inputs for a circular bioeconomy supporting soil regeneration, while simultaneously producing sustainable biofuels and biofertilizers.
