The Agricultural Innovation Research Foundation (AIRF) is a Non-for Profit consulting organization with its Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. Its mandate is to strengthen technical competence, institutional capacity development and enhance business management capabilities of private and public organizations.
The main function of AIRF is to facilitate strategy, learning, and mainstreaming planning, management and organizational methods to produce significantly improved agricultural products and processes in a more competitive and profitable way.
AIRF intends to shape long-term future of agricultural value chain entities by supporting and building know how, technical capabilities and competitiveness of private and public employees and entities in: Knowledge and Human Resources Development, Strategic Management, Business Planning, Environmental Friendly Production, New and Innovative Policy Approaches and Agenda, and Technology Development and Transfer for enhancement of value chain opportunities and inclusive green growth.
THE AIRF LEAD CONSULTANTS
DR G. BAMWENDA
Dr. Bamwenda is a committed and enthusiastic Chair of AIRF with over twenty five years experience in project management, research and development in a number of international institutions and centers of excellence. His current areas of specialization among others are strategic analysis and management, competitiveness enhancement, viability assessment, entrepreneurship development, organization transformation, innovation and technology transfer and training in knowledge and technology development, adaptation and adoption.
Dr. Gratian R. Bamwenda has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, and a Master in Business Administration (MBA).
From 1985 until today, Dr. Bamwenda has worked extensively in the development and transfer of technology, and environmental management areas as a researcher, project leader, consultant, part-time lecturer at Universities, and capacity building expert. Recently, Dr. Bamwenda is involved in assisting entrepreneurs in viability assessment, value chain analysis, developing business and strategic plans, e.g. for public and private institutions e.g., business plan for the strategic transformation of the Horticultural Training Institute (HORTI). Dr. Bamwenda is also working as a technical advisor in the team working on designing and developing Tanzania’s Integrated Industrial Development Strategy and Master Plan; Member of the National Business Council’s Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Export Development Committee; Chairman of the Agricultural Innovation Research Foundation; Fellow and Editor in Chief, Tanzania Academy of Sciences; and Chairman of Tanzania’s Agricultural Biotechnology and Biosafety Scientific Advisory Committee.
In years 1990-2007, Dr. Bamwenda has worked as a Researcher at Queens University, Canada (1990-92); Senior Researcher, Agency for Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan (1992-2000); Director, Center for Development and Transfer of Technology, Tanzania (2000-2001); and Director General of the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (2002-2007).
DR ROSHAN ABDALLAH
Roshan S. Abdallah an Executive Director of the Agricultural Innovation Research Foundation (AIRF). With over 25 years of experience in plant sciences, technology transfer and food security, Roshan has a deep understanding of the role of science and technology in agriculture and enabling food security, as well as the research imperatives in this area. Beyond her current roles, Roshan also serves as a Board of Director at the SAGCOT Centre Ltd. She is also a Tanzania’s country coordinator for the Program for Biosafety Systems. Roshan is a trainer and consultant in biotechnology/biosafety, agro-commodities and phytosanitary measures, agro produce market access, strategic management, climate change and environment management systems among others.
Dr. Roshan holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) Tanzania, a PhD in Plant Virology/Molecular Biology, a Masters of Science in Plant Bacteriology/Molecular Biology both from Washington State University, USA, a Masters of Science in Seed Pathology from the International Academy of Sciences, San Marino, and a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Marine Science from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Roshan S. Abdallah an Executive Director of the Agricultural Innovation Research Foundation (AIRF). With over 25 years of experience in plant sciences, technology transfer and food security, Roshan has a deep understanding of the role of science and technology in agriculture and enabling food security, as well as the research imperatives in this area. Beyond her current roles, Roshan also serves as a Board of Director at the SAGCOT Centre Ltd. She is also a Tanzania’s country coordinator for the Program for Biosafety Systems. Roshan is a trainer and consultant in biotechnology/biosafety, agro-commodities and phytosanitary measures, agro produce market access, strategic management, climate change and environment management systems among others.
Dr. Roshan holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) Tanzania, a PhD in Plant Virology/Molecular Biology, a Masters of Science in Plant Bacteriology/Molecular Biology both from Washington State University, USA, a Masters of Science in Seed Pathology from the International Academy of Sciences, San Marino, and a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Marine Science from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.