NARO, Uganda: The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ac-Planta Inc., a Tokyo-based agri-bio-venture company, to accelerate agricultural innovation, technology transfer, and climate resilience in Uganda.
The agreement, signed on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at NARO Headquarters in Entebbe, lays a broad framework for collaboration in research, innovation, and enterprise development.
Ac-Planta is globally recognized for its bio-stimulant technologies that help plants withstand drought, heat, and salinity, and the company aims to turn these scientific breakthroughs into practical solutions for Uganda’s farming communities.
Under the MoU, NARO and Ac-Planta will jointly focus on climate-smart agriculture, biotechnology, forestry, precision farming, digital extension, and agro-industrial technologies.
The partnership also emphasizes human capacity development through advanced training programs, specialized short-term courses, and the creation of skills development centers across Uganda to empower farmers and agri-entrepreneurs.
NARO Director General, Dr. Yona Baguma, described the agreement as a milestone in global collaboration to address food security and climate change challenges. “This partnership fits very well into our focus on promoting agriculture that is resilient to climate change, as experienced in the current times,” he said.
Ac-Planta CEO and founder, Prof. Jong-Myong Kim, expressed optimism about the collaboration, saying it would translate cutting-edge research into real benefits for Ugandan farmers and beyond. “Our vision is to contribute to a world of sustainable abundance through plant science,” he noted.
The Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Takuya Sasayama, who witnessed the signing, underlined the urgency of tackling climate change, citing record temperatures and extreme weather events in Japan. He pledged Japan’s stronger cooperation with Uganda to mitigate local climate challenges.
Dr. William Olaho-Mukani, Chairperson of the NARO Governing Council, commended the initiative, noting the similarities in climate conditions between Uganda and Japan. He emphasized the importance of partnerships in harnessing science, technology, and innovation to build resilient agricultural systems.
NARO scientist Dr. Godfrey Asea urged the establishment of a local factory to manufacture the technologies in Uganda, which he said would lower costs and increase farmer access.
The event was attended by NARO directors, Ac-Planta executives, and other stakeholders in Uganda’s agricultural sector.
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