KENAS at the 8th Africa Agri Expo 2025: Advancing Accreditation in Agriculture and Livestock Sectors

The 8th Africa Agri Expo 2025 co-located alongside the Future Food Livestock & Poultry Expo at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, brought together key stakeholders from the agricultural, food, livestock, and poultry sectors for two dynamic days of collaboration and innovation.

Held on February 19th and 20th, and supported by the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry through the State Department for Industry, the event served as a premier platform to showcase the latest technologies, products, and solutions driving Africa’s agricultural transformation.

The event opened with powerful insights from speakers like Dr. Paul Kipronoh Ronoh, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Dr. Juma Mukhwana, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Industry, who addressed sustainable agricultural solutions for Africa. KENAS presence at the expo was impactful as it provided a platform to educate expo participants reinforcing its role as a trusted enabler of quality and compliance across sectors.

Why Accreditation Matters in Agriculture

Accreditation is a cornerstone of sustainable agricultural development. It ensures that testing, inspection, and certification processes meet globally recognized standards, promoting market access, consumer safety, and continuous quality improvement. For a sector as vital as agriculture — spanning food production, livestock, and veterinary services — reliable, standardized practices are non-negotiable.

KENAS provides accreditation services that directly contribute to agricultural excellence, including:

• Veterinary Laboratory Accreditation: This accreditation ensures veterinary labs produce accurate, reliable testing results critical for disease diagnostics, food safety, and animal health management. Such accreditation underpins trade in livestock and animal products, safeguarding public health and boosting market confidence.
• Biobanking Accreditation: Vital for livestock improvement and genetic research, biobanking accreditation ensures biological samples (like tissue or genetic material) are collected, stored, and handled to the highest standards. This is pivotal for breeding programs, disease research, and the preservation of genetic diversity within Africa’s livestock sector.
• Testing Laboratories Accreditation: This provides reliable and accurate analysis of soil, water quality, and nutrient composition. Laboratories can assess essential parameters such as pH levels, nutrient content, organic matter, and contamination risks helping farmers apply fertilizers more efficiently, optimize crop yields, and reduce the risk of over-fertilization, which can harm the environment and deplete soil health over time. In addition to soil testing, accredited laboratories provide crucial water quality analysis which is vital for livestock health and crop irrigation.
• Calibration Laboratories Accreditation: This provides farmers, agronomists, and agricultural researchers with accurate and reliable data through the calibration of essential measurement instruments such as soil pH meters, moisture analyzers, weighing scales, and temperature sensors. Precision in these measurements is vital for optimizing crop yields, maintaining soil health, ensuring proper pesticide and fertilizer application, and meeting food safety standards.

KENAS at the Forefront of Engagement

KENAS seized this opportunity to amplify its impact, engaging with policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and international attendees to emphasize the crucial role of accreditation in enhancing quality and safety across the agricultural value chain. Our booth drew over 80 visitors eager to understand accreditation’s impact on agriculture. Notable interactions included discussions with Agricultural Services Africa, a South African company eyeing expansion into Kenya. It was also an opportunity to inform visitors about the Business Amendment Act (December 2024) and its implications for conformity assessment bodies. From accredited testing laboratories to certification bodies driving compliance, KENAS is committed to building trust and unlocking opportunities for agribusinesses. These interactions showcased KENAS’s commitment to supporting agricultural innovation through reliable accreditation services.

Looking Ahead

KENAS’s active engagement at the 8th Africa Agri Expo 2025 underscored the significance of accreditation in fostering agricultural resilience and market readiness. As the organization continues to enhance stakeholder outreach and refine its service offerings, the insights gained from the expo will shape strategies to further support Kenya’s agricultural sector.

By championing quality through robust accreditation, KENAS remains a pivotal partner in the country’s agricultural advancement — ensuring that local producers, labs, and businesses not only meet but exceed international standards.