East Africa · Legume Research · Est. 2016
Advancing
legume
science for food security.
A North-South consortium of African and European universities advancing research in legume breeding, storage, nutrition, and ICT — from lab bench to smallholder farm.
Research Projects
Four projects,
one legume value chain.
Each project covers a critical stage in the legume value chain — from genetic improvement to digital extension.
Equipment & Facilities
Legume Breeding
To develop bean varieties with improved cooking and nutritional quality, while strengthening local research and training capabilities of the Horticulture Department and IBR.
Post-Harvest Systems
Storage & Processing
Increasing the diversity of legume-based value-added products of high consumer acceptability by addressing hard-to-cook behaviors and anti-nutritional factors.
Legumes in Nutrition & Health
Nutrition
Investigating the role of legumes in optimizing nutritional status, specifically zinc status, in women, girls and children in Kenya.
Digital Extension
ICT
Reinforcing JKUAT's human and infrastructural capacity in data science tools for agricultural research and food security.
Academic Infrastructure
Supporting Academic Departments
Each research project within LCEFoNS is anchored in and supported by a specialized academic department at JKUAT.
Department of Horticulture
Focuses on legume production and management practices including breeding for easy to cook flatulence free varieties of high nutritional value.
Food Science and Technology
Develops a tool kit for identifying the sensitivity of legumes to the hard to cook defect (HTC) and develops value added legume based products.
Nutrition and Dietetics
In collaboration with College of Health Sciences, identifies legume consumption patterns, and conducts nutritional/health trials on vulnerable groups particularly children and women.
School of Computing & IT
Participates in emerging computer science research area of software tools for (big) data science, in particular in the field of agri-informatics.
Events
Upcoming Events
LCEFoNS Annual Review and Planning Workshop
October 13-15, 2026 · JKUAT Conference Centre, Kenya
Advanced Data Science Tools for Agriculture
November 24-27, 2026 · SCIT Computer Lab, JKUAT
Legume Value Chain Stakeholders Forum
January 28, 2027 · Nairobi, Kenya
Nutrition and Food Security Symposium
March 16-17, 2027 · College of Health Sciences, JKUAT
LCEFoNS Annual Review and Planning Workshop
October 13-15, 2026 · JKUAT Conference Centre, Kenya
Advanced Data Science Tools for Agriculture
November 24-27, 2026 · SCIT Computer Lab, JKUAT
Legume Value Chain Stakeholders Forum
January 28, 2027 · Nairobi, Kenya
Nutrition and Food Security Symposium
March 16-17, 2027 · College of Health Sciences, JKUAT
Testimonials
What Our Stakeholders Say
“Today's farmer needs to make confident data driven decisions along the agricultural value chain.”
L. Karanja
Service Provider · CABI
“ICT offers great opportunities for governments and other agencies to address the global challenge of Environment, Diseases, Nutrition, Food Safety, Security and Poverty.”
Calvince
Service Provider · M-shamba
“Channel Analytics: Helps to identify patterns in a customer's behavior so that companies can cater their support efforts in ways that drive product sales as well as customer satisfaction.”
Jared Makario
Researcher · DeKUT
Peer-reviewed data,
open methodologies.
Access our full publication archive, research outputs, and active PhD and postdoc opportunities within the consortium.
Browse PublicationsPractical toolkits for
the entire value chain.
Access processing manuals, agronomy guides, nutrition toolkits, policy briefs, and digital advisory platforms.
Explore Resources
