BRAINS is a collaborative project between The Alliance of Bioversity, icipe will and national agricultural research institutes, through a South-South participatory development approach, to integrate bean, fruit trees systems and insects for food and feed farming. The BRAINS partnership will co-develop demand-led, climate-adapted bean varieties and fruit trees, primarily mango and avocado, supported by environmentally-friendly pest and disease management options; sustainable soil health management through insect-based frass fertilizers; and enhanced pollination services by the bees.   

The transfer of the technologies will emphasize: the participation of women and in the project design and decision-making; as well as digitally enabled agronomic advisory services that are farmer-relevant, accurate and gender-responsive. The value chain innovations created by The Alliance- Pan-African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) and icipe will lead to new trade partnerships and new markets; cooperatives and an investment platform for beans, fruits, edible insects and pollination services; and collaborations with finance investors and funds for financially inclusive, and gender-responsive investments.