ACENUB strives to create economic value

The African Centre of Excellence in Neglected and Underutilised Biodiversity (ACENUB) at MZUNI is striving to engage the communities more and spread the benefits of the centre to innovative Malawians. Speaking on Tuesday, March 12, 2025 after touring the construction site of ACENUB to appreciate the progress made so far, ACENUB Director Dr. Mavuto Tembo said the centre exists to promote research and innovation. “It is the expectation that universities and knowledge centres should create value in the economy through translation of research and innovations into products and services. We are on the right path to achieve that and our aim is to engage more with the communities,” said Dr. Tembo who said there were a lot of opportunities to collaborate with the local communities.

The centre intends to engage the local communities to address the needs and constraints of specific community groups, including the youth, women, farmers, and consumers. With funding from the World Bank’s Africa Centres of Excellence in Agriculture (ACEs) II AF, Eastern and Southern Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence Project, MZUNI established ACENUB with the aim of strengthening linkages with local, regional and international universities, agriculture knowledge institutions and agro-based industry in agri-food system skills development. ACENUB contributes to high level postgraduate training, collaboration, academic and research outputs of Malawi and the region in agri-food and nutrition systems, value addition, product development, agri-business, risk management and climate change proofing, and rural innovation and agricultural extension.