Kenya and Brazil have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), representing a major milestone, as this is the first time the two countries have a formal cooperation instrument covering the key sector of agriculture and livestock
The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Brazil in a statement indicated that the MOU will focus on crop development and promotion, particularly maize and coffee, value addition and agro-processing of coffee and cotton, as well as agricultural research and innovation.
In the area of livestock development, Kenya and Brazil will collaborate in the promotion of trade in livestock and livestock products at national, regional, and international markets.
Kenya’s Ambassador to Brazil, Andrew Karanja, confirmed that the agreement is designed to deepen marketing and trade of agricultural and livestock commodities.
The MoU was signed by the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply, Carlos Favaro, and Dr. Karanja on behalf of the Kenyan government.
The signing of the agreement followed a three-day meeting, the 2nd Brazil-Africa Dialogue on Food Security, Fight against Hunger, and Rural Development, which was held from May 20 to 22, 2025.
The meeting attracted representatives from 44 African countries, and 10 international institutions, including development banks and philanthropic organizations, participated in the second edition of the event, held 15 years after the first edition during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva second term.
Kenya’s delegation to the event was led by Moses Wetangula, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and MPs Zaheer Jhanda and Sabina Chege.
Karanja explained that, as stipulated in the MOU, the two governments will, in line with their respective laws, cooperate in crop development, particularly produce growth and promotion of mainly maize and coffee.
“Kenya and Brazil will collaborate on matters of plant health and capacity building and technical support, including technical visits, internships, exchange of information and experiences, training symposiums, seminars, forums, and conferences, and promote production systems that respond to the effects of climate change,” he added.
In livestock development, Karanja said the agreement’s key highlights include collaboration in development and sharing of policy instruments, policies, strategies, guidelines and standards, and legal and regulatory frameworks to guide the implementation of programmes and projects in the livestock sector.
Brazil will establish linkages with the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) to fast-track collaboration in the production and distribution of animal vaccines for the control of prevalent animal diseases. This is in addition to promoting partnership in animal genetics and breeding and establishing linkages with the Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC), among other areas of collaboration.
By the end of 2024, Brazilian agriculture was estimated to be worth USD102.7billion (equivalent to about 78% of Kenya’s total GDP of USD 131.7 billion). The agricultural sector in Brazil is historically one of the principal bases of Brazil’s economy. In 2024, Brazil was the second-biggest grain exporter in the world, with 19% of the international market share, and the fourth overall grain producer.
Brazil is also the world’s largest exporter of many popular agricultural commodities like coffee, soybeans, cotton, organic honey, beef, poultry, cane sugar, açai berry, orange juice, yerba mate, cellulose, and tobacco, and the second biggest exporter of corn, pork, and ethanol.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
