CNN
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A hardy crop that is packed with fiber and minerals, beans are a vital source of protein for millions of Africans and a key source of income for farmers. But climate change means this staple is under threat.
Up to 60% of bean-growing areas in sub-Saharan Africa may not be suitable by the end of this century, according to 2016 study.
In an effort to future-proof and maximize the potential of this staple crop, the Pan African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) has facilitated the research, development and distribution of over 650 new bean varieties across Africa.
In September PABRA was awarded the $100,000 African Food Prizefor her work to improve food security and incomes for farmers.
From sugar beans in Zambia, to beans in Nigeria, 32 countries across Africa have seen improved and diverse beans reach their markets, according to PABRA. He says that not only are these new beans more nutritious, but they are also more durable, efficient and profitable for farmers.
In Ethiopia, beans with shorter harvest times have more than doubled productivity, says Jean Claude Rubyogo, program manager at PABRA, which was founded in 1996.
“It means you can get food before other crops are harvested, you can sell those beans to bring in the cash when you don’t have other crops,” explains Rubyogo.
![A Kenyan farmer works in a field growing PABRA beans.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/231020123310-pabra-bean-farming.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
![A Kenyan farmer works in a field growing PABRA beans.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/231020123310-pabra-bean-farming.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
PABRA’s beans also use less water and are more resistant to increasingly erratic weather conditions. Better to withstand prolonged periods of drought and wet, means more income for them 37 million farmers growing them across the continent.
The team’s research is primarily conducted in Cali, Colombia, and then shared with national programs in Africa, with certain types of beans selected and grown based on consumer demand.
Says that 300 million people across the continent eat her beans regularly. “These beans have 22-23% protein, so they are a very good source of protein for those who cannot afford other types. They provide fiber, carbohydrates and very little lipids (fatty compounds),” says Rubyogo. They are also high in iron and zinc, deficiencies in which they affect more than two billion people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
PABRA says that more than five million households in 10 countries have seen a 30% increase in their income as a result of his beans and that the farmers who grow, eat and sell his beans 6% more likely to be food safe and 6% less likely to be poor.
![The increased levels of iron and zinc in some beans could help treat deficiencies.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/231020123425-pabra-bean-close-up.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
![The increased levels of iron and zinc in some beans could help treat deficiencies.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/231020123425-pabra-bean-close-up.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
Providing a set of resilient, diverse beans is vital to Africa’s agricultural development and future, according to Chike Mba, deputy director of plant production and protection at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
He says a fifth of sub-Saharan Africa is malnourished and food insecure, and that to address this, farmers need to grow a wider range of crops, including beans.
“The more crop diversity you have on a farm, the more resilient that cropping system is… it enhances the ability to withstand shocks,” says Mba.
He notes that the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine have both affected Africa, with less rice coming from Asia in 2020 and reduced grain imports from Eastern Europe.
“If that [Coronavirus] had it continued, we would have had famine and starvation on a mass scale. There is a need for African countries to diversify, to strengthen their own capacity to produce food,” he says.
“Government policy must be supportive of research and collaborations in the region and globally,” adds Mba. “It has to be supportive for farmers to have access to technologies and finance.”
![The project requires cooperation between farmers, developers and governments.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/231020123055-pabra-bean-field-discussion.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
![The project requires cooperation between farmers, developers and governments.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/231020123055-pabra-bean-field-discussion.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
PABRA says governments are heavily involved in its work. Rubyogo explains that while Its organization facilitates connections between developers and consumers, the national programs themselves are run by research institutions established by governments.
The incentive is there for states to introduce improved beans into their markets, Rubyogo adds. “They need to improve nutrition … they need to empower women economically, they need to develop their economy.”
Looking to the future, PABRA is researching how to reduce the cooking time of beans by up to 30%. “Boiling the beans can take anywhere from two to three hours. This takes time and energy,” says Rubyogo. He estimates that if the research is successful it could save consumers $1.5 billion a year.
But Rubyogo notes that adapting to increasingly extreme weather is crucial. “Climate change remains a key issue, so we need to invest in deep, deep research,” he says. “We really see a change when these products are in the hands of vulnerable people.”