Africa Food Prize recognises champion of traditional vegetables

Renowned Kenyan scientist and long-term WorldVeg partner Professor Mary Abukutsa- Onyango has been named joint winner of the 2025 Africa Food Prize, in recognition of her pioneering work to give prominence to traditional African vegetables.

The Africa Food Prize is the continent’s most prestigious accolade in agriculture. Professor Abukutsa-Onyango – a horticulturist and lecturer at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) – shares the USD$100,000 award with seed innovator Dr. Mercy Diebiru-Ojo of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Professor Mary Abukutsa Onyango

For thirty years, Professor Abukutsa-Onyango has campaigned to change perceptions of traditional African vegetables as “poor man’s food”, championing their contribution to nutrition, resilience, incomes and sustainable food systems. Her research has included crops such as amaranth, spider plant and African nightshade – all increasingly recognised as important “opportunity crops”, with great potential for improving agriculture and livelihoods in Africa.

WorldVeg and Prof. Abukutsa-Onyango have worked together for many years. She joined a WorldVeg panel at the launch of the African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan during the AFS Forum in Rwanda in 2024. The plan is part of the Vegetables4Life global initiative, which aims to see Africa’s vegetable biodiversity conserved for the long term, and sustainably used. In subsequent discussions, Prof. Abukutsa-Onyango offered to support efforts to rescue at-risk traditional African vegetables as outlined in the Plan.

Prof. Abukutsa-Onyango was also involved in Amazing Amaranth – a project funded by the German government. Implemented by WorldVeg, JKUAT and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, she led the work package on nutrition. The project made use of the more-than 800 accessions of amaranth conserved in the WorldVeg genebank to breed improved varieties that could be grown for their nutritious leaves and grain. These dual-purpose varieties greatly expanded production options for smallholder farmers and increased choice for consumers, providing access to an affordable source of protein and phytonutrients.

As part of the project, Prof. Abukutsa-Onyango co-developed a series of easy-to-prepare, Tasty Vegetable Amaranth Recipes from East Africa to showcase the plant’s versatility to households, institutions and restaurants. She was also a speaker in the WorldVeg-convened Power On Your Plate summit in 2020, which focused on diversifying food systems with traditional African Vegetables.

“Winning the Africa Food Prize is a tremendous and thoroughly deserved recognition,” said Marco Wopereis, Director General of WorldVeg. “For more than thirty years, Mary has been a tireless champion of traditional African vegetables – not merely shifting public opinion toward these crops as healthy, nutritious, and sustainable, but making a profound and lasting impact. It has been a pleasure to have worked with her over the years and I speak on behalf of the whole WorldVeg community in offering my warmest congratulations on this award.”

Gabriel Rugalema, WorldVeg Associate Director General for Africa, said: “Mary’s work brings to life what many have long known in our communities: that indigenous vegetables do more than fill plates – they build resilience, identity, and opportunity. Her vision shows that when we invest in what is local, we are investing in Africa’s future.

“This Africa Food Prize is not just a recognition of her achievements, but a reminder that our traditional crops deserve their place in modern systems.”

Announcing the winners during the Africa Food Systems (AFS) Forum in Dakar, Senegal, Jakaya Kikwete, Chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee and former President of Tanzania, said: “Prof. Abukutsa-Onyango and Dr. Diebiru-Ojo embody the very best of African innovation, demonstrating that true transformation lies not only in the spotlight of major crops but also in elevating the seeds, systems, and knowledge that sustain our continent’s future.”