A project to accelerate innovation, technology transfer, and development of microbial bioinoculants for resilient agricultural production and affordable food processing.
Our goal is to enhance food security in Africa and create economic opportunities by supporting capacity building initiatives, research, entrepreneurship, international collaborations and large scale upward initiatives.
Thanks to the contribution of the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) under the Mattei Plan for Africa, B-INOC AFRICA supports the following initiatives and offers the following opportunities.
B-INOC Funding and Training Opportunities
- Initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and accelerate the scale-up, validation and commercialization of bioinoculants with concrete potential in the agricultural and food sectors:
- BioBoost – Bioinoculant Technology Solutions for Sustainable Bioeconomy in Ethiopia.
- Nature-based Microbial Solutions for Sustainable Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Research Grants to accelerate applied research and demonstrate or scale-up innovations in biofertilizers, biopesticides, bioinoculants for food production and microbiome-based products. The projects must demonstrate a proven proof of concept and significant potential impact for application in the agri-food sector. Research institutions and companies are welcome to apply.
- Meetings and Courses to organize events and to support the participation of researchers from eligible countries in ICGEB international scientific meetings.
- Postdoctoral Fellowship Programmes to support the training and skills enhancement of researchers, which include south-north mobility and south-south mobility.
ENSET: A Climate-Resilient Superfood
B-INOC: Impacts and Results
- CRP Research Grants (2024-2025) to support applied research and upgrading of laboratories or field testing for projects on bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, bio-inoculants for food production and microbiome-based products and solutions.
- SMART Fellowships (2024) to promote the south-south Scientific Mobility for Advanced Research Training for researchers between eligible countries as a way of enhancing skill development, acquisition of specific hands-on training in new technologies and increasing cooperation in science and technology and should show clear evidence of strong collaboration between the two laboratories and a strong applicative focus.
- Short Term Postdoctoral Fellowships (2024) for Postdoctoral research in ICGEB Trieste Laboratories to fund collaborative research on Bioinoculants for food security in Africa between scientists in eligible African countries and research groups at ICGEB.
- Meeting and Courses Grants (2024) to organize and promote participation in scientific meetings and theoretical and practical events on Bioinoculants in eligible countries on topics of relevance for the B-INOC AFRICA programme.
Latest News
Bio & Emerging Technology in Addis Ababa
Posted on June 24, 2026
Strengthening the Frontiers of Biotechnology in Ethiopia, Dr. Belete Mola, Minister of Innovation and Technology of met with ICGEB Director-General Dr. Lawrence Banks.
Mission to Ethiopia
Posted on June 15, 2026
ICGEB Director-General Lawrence Banks is greeted by partners from Arba Minch University, upon arrival in the city.
B-INOC Workshop Spotlights African-Led Advances in Microbial Technologies
Posted on June 1, 2026
Organised within the framework of the B-INOC AFRICA project, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation under the Mattei Plan for Africa, the B-INOC workshop highlighted how biotechnology research is being transformed into practical solutions with tangible socio-economic benefits across the continent.
Breakthrough Approach Could Transform Sustainable Farming Worldwide
Posted on April 20, 2026
A new wave of research is reshaping how biofertilisers and biostimulants are evaluated, beyond traditional yield measurements to focus on what really happens inside plants.
From Innovation to Impact: the Enset Revolution
Posted on March 16, 2026
In rural Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia, a quiet scientific breakthrough is transforming lives.
Nature Food highlights strategy to strengthen Africa’s microbial bioeconomy
Posted on March 13, 2026
Vittorio Venturi (ICGEB, Trieste and UM6P, Morocco) has published a Correspondence article in Nature Food proposing a pragmatic strategy to activate Africa’s microbial inoculant sector.
For more information:
Email: [email protected]