Who we are
We are believers in the power of research
The Centre for African Food Research and Innovation (CAFRI) is a non-profit social enterprise registered in Nigeria, working to reduce hunger in Africa through research. We provide research skilling and research communication, and a platform for collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and networking among African food researchers.
The African population is expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, which means more mouths to feed.
For Africa to be positioned to feed these people and play a significant role in the global food system without harming the environment, targeted and collaborative research on African food products, demand-driven innovation, and the use of emerging technology in the food system must accelerate.
Think of CAFRI as the platform to make this happen, focusing on innovation, artificial intelligence, market insight, and environmental sustainability.
What we do
CAFRI operates through four integrated pillars, each designed to strengthen a different part of the African food research ecosystem.
Conduct
We design and carry out high-quality research that is both scientifically rigorous and built to inform decisions, drive innovation, and deliver outcomes that matter on the ground across the continent.
Communicate
We translate complex research findings, our own and from across the wider ecosystem, into clear, accessible insights for policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and the public.
Facilitate
We create platforms, networks, and opportunities that bring researchers, innovators, industry players, and policymakers together to collaborate, share knowledge, and achieve shared goals.
Build
We give early-career researchers the mentorship, training, and editorial support to produce work that stands up internationally — and we train food processors and stakeholders in the practical knowledge their work requires.
Africa’s food future will be shaped by the strength of its research systems.
That future is being built now. A Holistic Approach
By 2050, Africa will be home to more than 2.5 billion people, over a quarter of the world’s population. Meeting that challenge requires more than producing more food. It requires knowledge systems, institutions, and networks that can turn research into policy, research into tangible food products and ingredients, and training into the next generation of African food researchers. Yet African food research remains chronically underfunded, fragmented, and disconnected from the industries and decisions it should be informing.
This is the gap CAFRI exists to close. We support research that moves through to real outcomes, from policy change to product development, built on African food sources and designed for African realities. We also invest in the people driving that research forward, equipping African food researchers with the skills, tools, and networks they need to produce work that meets global standards and delivers local impact. The work is urgent, and we are committed to making it happen.
Our Core projects
Four programs. One mission.
Each program addresses a different layer of what African food research needs to thrive — developing the people, convening the community, communicating the knowledge, and building the data infrastructure.
African Food Research Acceleration Program (AFRAP)
A six-month structured program equipping early-career researchers with the skills, mentorship, and editorial support needed to move from novice to published professional.
Your food in data
A platform that brings African food data into one accessible, searchable space. Built for the public, researchers, product developers, policymakers, and industry, it turns scattered information into a usable resource for evidence-based decisions.
African Food Research & Innovation Conference (AFRIC)
Where African food research comes together
Our annual conference brings researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators into one space to share findings, build collaborations, and shape the priorities of African food research.
Food Insight
A quarterly window into African food research
Our flagship publication brings together the most important developments in African food science, innovation, and policy into a single accessible quarterly read. Food Insight translates research into clear, usable knowledge for practitioners, policymakers, industry leaders, and the public
Join the African
Food Research Community
As a Member
Membership is free and open to anyone working on African food — researchers, students, product developers, and industry professionals. Members receive our research updates, early notice of AFRAP and AFRIC openings, and an invitation into the network of African food researchers
As a Volunteer
If you share a deep passion for accelerating the food system and want to make a real difference, CAFRI is the perfect platform for you to volunteer your time, skills, and expertise to help create significant impacts and drive positive change.
As a Partner
Our doors are wide open for collaborations with organizations, institutions, and companies operating in the food or related sectors. We are keen to join hands with partners who share our research, innovation, training, and advocacy values.