Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), in collaboration with the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJOREC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), officially launched the second edition of the Specialized Training Course on Plant Specimen Collection, Preparation, and Digitization on May 19, 2026, at the SAJOREC headquarters hosted at JKUAT.

The intensive two-day practical training brought together 31 participants, including senior undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and laboratory technicians from six Kenyan universities. The programme aims to strengthen technical capacity in plant biodiversity documentation, specimen preservation, and digital data management among the next generation of African scientists.

The course is jointly facilitated by a team of experts from Kenya and China, led by Prof. Robert W. Gituru, Director of SAJOREC at JKUAT, and Associate Prof. Neng Wei of the Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Speaking during the opening ceremony on behalf of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Production and Extension, Prof. Jackson Kwanza, Prof. Gituru highlighted the vital role plants play in sustaining life and ecosystems. He noted that plants are fundamental to food security, human health, environmental sustainability, and economic development.

“As biodiversity faces growing threats from climate change, habitat degradation, and unsustainable human activities, the need for accurate documentation, preservation, and digital accessibility of plant resources has never been more urgent,” said Prof. Gituru.

The Chief Guest, Director of SAJOREC, CAS, Prof. Wang Qing-feng, welcomed both facilitators and participants and encouraged trainees to embrace the cross-cultural learning experience as an opportunity to enhance their practical research skills, strengthen international networks, and broaden their scientific perspectives.

Now in its second edition, the collaborative JKUAT–SAJOREC training programme has grown into a flagship capacity-building initiative that strengthens institutional partnerships, promotes scientific collaboration, and nurtures the next generation of African researchers in biodiversity science and conservation.

Throughout the training, participants are guided by an experienced instructional team that includes Dr. Fredrick Munyao Mutie, a postdoctoral researcher at the Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Ms. Elizabeth Kamande, a doctoral student in the Department of Botany at JKUAT. The programme combines interactive lectures, thematic discussions, laboratory demonstrations, and field-based practical sessions to provide participants with hands-on learning experiences.

The comprehensive curriculum covers standardized methods of plant specimen collection, herbarium specimen preparation and preservation, and modern digital archiving techniques. These practical skills are designed to enhance participants’ competencies in laboratory and ecological research while supporting biodiversity conservation efforts.

The successful launch of the second edition of the training marks another milestone in JKUAT’s commitment to research excellence, internationalization, and strategic global partnerships. By investing in the development of young African scientists and fostering collaborative research between Kenya and China, the JKUAT–SAJOREC partnership continues to make a meaningful contribution to biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, and scientific innovation across the region.

By strengthening technical expertise and promoting international scientific collaboration, JKUAT continues to position itself as a leading institution in biodiversity research and capacity building in Africa.

 Prof. Wang Qing-feng (right), Director of SAJOREC, CAS, and Prof. Robert W. Gituru (left), Director of SAJOREC at JKUAT, address participants during the opening of the second edition of the Specialized Training Course on Plant Specimen Collection, Preparation, and Digitization at JKUAT.