Galileo: Embu Living Lab

In Embu County, Kenya, Farm Africa is working with the University of Embu, ICIPE – International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) to support farmers to build more resilient and productive farming systems through innovative agroforestry.

As part of the EU-funded Galileo project, launched in 2025, the Embu Living Lab brings together farmers, researchers and local partners to co-develop and test practical agroforestry solutions. The project focuses on strengthening livelihoods, building resilience to climate change, diversifying incomes and supporting biodiversity.

Agroforestry integrates trees with crops and livestock, helping to improve soil and plant health, conserve water and increase productivity, while creating new income opportunities.

Through the Living Lab, farmers and researchers are working together to test practical, locally adapted agroforestry techniques on their own farms. The project brings together farmers already using innovative practices, those trying new approaches and others continuing traditional methods for comparison. This generates evidence on what works best in local contexts and supports learning within the community. The trials are conducted jointly by farmers, researchers, postgraduate students and extension agents

Farmers are testing a range of practical solutions, including planting multipurpose trees such as Gliricidia, which improve soil fertility, provide livestock fodder, is used as a biopesticide and capture carbon. They are also strengthening water management through rainwater harvesting and on-farm water storage for the dry season, while developing and using knowledge-sharing platforms such as Farmer Field Schools, community networks models and digital platforms, including WhatsApp.

These approaches are designed to be practical, locally relevant and suitable for long-term adoption. They are expected to improve soil health, increase crop yields and strengthen resilience to changing climate, while creating new income opportunities from tree products. As trees grow, they will also remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in trees and soils, contributing to climate change mitigation.

Learnings from the Embu Living Lab are shared locally, supporting farmers and communities to adopt effective agroforestry practices. These lessons also feed into the wider Galileo project, where insights from multiple Living Labs are combined to inform practical guidance and policy recommendations, helping more farmers across Africa strengthen livelihoods and resilience to climate change.