Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

Dr. Edith Laurence Kadege is a Senior Research Officer and Commodity Assistant Lead Scientist – Common bean at the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). She has more than 12 years of professional experience in phytopathology and seed systems, with a particular focus on common bean. Edith holds a PhD in Sustainable Agriculture specializing in Molecular Plant Pathology from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha, Tanzania. She pursued her MSc in Crop Science and BSc in Agriculture General from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, Tanzania. Throughout her career Edith has played a key role in designing stakeholder needs assessments and leading research initiatives. At TARI, she leads the common bean research program and works closely with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT to strengthen Tanzania’s seed systems through multi-stakeholder collaboration. She has coordinated several major agricultural development projects, including Accelerated Variety Turnover for Open-Pollinated Crops – Common Bean (2023 to date). Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA, 2019–2020). Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT, 2018–2020). Building Nutritious Food Basket (BNFB, 2017–2018). Improving Livelihoods for Smallholder Farmers through Enhanced Grain Legume Productivity (Tropical Legumes III, 2017–2019). Strengthening Seed Technology Partnerships (SSTP, 2015–2017). Through these collaborative efforts, Edith and her team have developed and released over 15 common bean varieties known for their disease resistance, drought tolerance, high yield potential, superior nutritional content and marketability. Their work has contributed to a 34% increase in certified seed production and a 42% rise in grain yield per hectare. She has authored five (5) publications and co-authored more than thirteen (13) across diverse fields including plant pathology, breeding, seed systems, nutrition, and socioeconomics. For more information about her publications, please visit:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=new_articles&hl=en&imq=Edith+Kadege