Betty Kibaara is a Director in the Food Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation, Africa Region Office. At the Foundation, Betty leads the Foundations investments in transforming food systems specifically investments in innovations on smart food markets for the future, increasing access to nutritious foods through instructional procurement. What is more, she is also advancing insect-based feed for improved nutrition.
Betty led the implementation of the YieldWise Initiative to reduce food loss in Maize (Tanzania), Mangoes (Kenya) and Cassava and Tomato value chains to improve livelihoods for the smallholder farmers. She serves as the regional champion for the Foundations initiatives in strengthening food security, agribusiness, and resilience to the devastating effects of climate change to enable real, sustainable, and equitable economic growth.
Betty Chairs the Technical Working Group that is working towards the re-export of the Kenyan Mangoes to the EU and UK. Betty firmly believes that there is no food system transformation without transformation of the fresh produce markets in Africa”. Before joining the Rockefeller Foundation in 2009, Betty worked as a Research Fellow at the Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University. Ms. Kibaara holds a Master of Science degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, USA and a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management, Egerton University, Kenya.
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Sep 21 2021 Perspective A Waste of Watermelon and a Toolkit To Help End Food Loss I grew up in a small farm in eastern Kenya. My family planted various crops, hoping to boost our income. On one occasion, an extension agent brought us some seeds in a sophisticated package. I later learnt from my mother that they were watermelon seeds. “Plant these; they will make you rich,” the extension agent […]
Nov 10 2017 Perspective Are Africa's Farmers Ready for the Supermarkets Revolution? Urbanization and rising middle-class incomes across Africa mean that half of Africa’s food now sells in cities – and, increasingly, in supermarkets. Significant local and foreign investment in food manufacturing and retailing, combined with the middle class demand for quality food products and one-stop-shopping, places Africa on the cusp of a supermarket revolution. Indeed, across […]