Colorful Revolution Webinar Series
This webinar series builds on our recent global study examining fruit and vegetable (F&V) research and development investments across nine countries. The findings point to five priority areas for high-impact investment:
Addressing Postharvest Losses and Building Value Chains
Enhancing Extension through Capacity Building and Digital Innovation
Strengthening Seed Systems and Research Infrastructure
Elevating Nutrition and Consumer Demand for Fruits and Vegetable
Enabling Market Access for Women through Policy Instruments
Join Our Five-Part Webinar Series: Catalyzing High-Impact Investment in F&Vs
This dynamic webinar series explores five priority areas identified for high-impact investment in F&Vs. Each session features a presentation of key findings from our global study, followed by an expert-led panel discussion. Hear directly from leading voices in the field as they share innovative strategies, practical approaches, and real-world solutions they are implementing to strengthen F&V systems and drive inclusive growth.
Running from August 13 to September 17, 2025, each session is designed for those passionate about advancing the horticulture sector and driving impactful change.
Participation is free and open to all.
To attend, simply click the registration link below each session to sign up for the webinars that interest you.
The State of Investments in Fruit & Vegetables - A Global Report
This global study delivers the first cross-sector, expert-driven estimates of F&V R&D investments across nine countries.Webinar 1: Addressing Postharvest Losses and Building Value Chains
August 13th, 2025 at 6:00 - 7:30 AM PST
Postharvest losses of 40–50%, as reported in Kenya and Tanzania, undermine farmer incomes, reduce food availability, and drive up consumer prices. Strategic investments in cold chain infrastructure, improved packaging, processing technologies, and aggregation centers can significantly reduce waste while creating new economic opportunities. These interventions strengthen entire value chains, particularly in peri-urban and regional trade hubs.
Learn from our guest panelists through exploring postharvest innovations that are ready to scale and offer fast, tangible results.
Peninah Yumbya, PhD, is an experienced horticultural scientist with over 15 years of expertise
in agricultural research, specializing in postharvest science and technology. She currently
serves as the Kenya Country Director and Food Systems Researcher at the International Center
for Evaluation and Development (ICED), where she leads programs aimed at improving
smallholder farmer livelihoods through sustainable and inclusive agricultural innovations.
Previously, Peninah served as the Regional Manager for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for
Horticulture, East Africa regional Hub. A strong advocate for localization, she champions a shift
in the research model to empower Global South researchers to conceptualize and lead their
own research initiatives. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to reducing food loss and
waste, enhancing food safety, and empowering women and youth across food systems through
research and evidence synthesis.
Dr. Peninah YumbyaNutrition and Food Systems Researcher at International Center for Evaluation and Development (ICED) 
Dr. Essilfie's research interests are in the development of management and intervention strategies that may be applied to eliminate or control pathogenic contamination of fruits and vegetables specifically the safety of waste water irrigated vegetables as well as adaptation and assessment of the effectiveness of low cost preservative technologies to reduce postharvest loss in agricultural commoditie
Dr. Gloria EssilfieSenior Lecturer | University of Ghana 
Jane Ambuko is a Professor of Horticulture at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She
holds a BSc in Agriculture, MSc in Horticulture from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and
a PhD in Agricultural Sciences (Pomology and Postharvest Major) from Tsukuba
University, Japan. Her area of specialization is Postharvest Management. Her research,
training and outreach initiatives are focused on food loss and waste reduction mainly in
Horticultural value chains. Prof. Ambuko works closely with smallholder farmers in
capacity building and innovation/technology scale-up initiatives geared towards better
postharvest management.
Dr. Jane Ambuko LukachiProfessor of Horticulture 
Webinar 2: Enhancing Extension through Capacity Building and Digital Innovation
August 20th, 2025 at 7:00 - 8:30 AM PST
Robust extension systems are critical for translating innovation into impact. In countries such as Tanzania, Nepal, and Honduras, gaps in technical knowledge, service coverage, and integration across stakeholders limit technology uptake. Targeted investments in youth and women-led training programs, digital advisory platforms, and multi-actor collaboration can build a skilled horticulture workforce and improve farmer outcomes.
Learn from our guest panelists through exploring how investments in timely, tailored information and strengthened local networks can deliver higher yields, improved resilience, and more inclusive participation in F&V value chains.
Rikin Gandhi co-founded Digital Green as a project within Microsoft Research India, inspired by his passion for supporting smallholder farmers developed through time in rural India. With degrees from MIT in Aeronautical Engineering and Carnegie Mellon in Computer Science, he began his career at Oracle, where he developed patented linguistic search algorithms. Today, Digital Green reaches over 8 million farmers across India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Brazil, and Kenya. Its flagship platform, Farmer.Chat, uses conversational AI to deliver timely, localized advice and connect farmers to markets. Rikin is a TED Fellow and Ashoka Fellow, and has co-authored leading studies on agri-food systems transformation.
Rikin GandhiCo-Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Digital Green 
Dr. Ranjana Rawal is a scientist at the National Horticultural Research Center under the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC). She earned her Ph.D. in Horticulture and Crop Science from The Ohio State University and was awarded the prestigious Schlumberger Foundation’s Faculty for the Future Fellowship from 2017 to 2021. Dr. Rawal previously worked as a Cropping Systems Agronomist with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) for the South Asia program. She has also served as a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on a NARC-led project funded by the Horticulture Innovation Lab (HIL) and UC Davis. Her current research focuses on variety development and postharvest management of horticultural crops in Nepal.
Dr. Ranjana RawalScientist | National Horticultural Research Center | Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) 
Julio López is an associate professor and a plant protection specialist and leads classes in integrated pest management and small-scale crop production systems as a professor at the Panamerican Agricultural School, Zamorano, in Honduras. He was previously the Director of the Horticulture Innovation Lab Regional Innovation Center at Zamorano. Professor López has mentored students and participated in several courses on effective rural development, food security and food safety, IPM in vegetables, fruits and grains crops at Zamorano. He is an expert in the extension of information on IPM, farmer field school methodology and alternative technologies for pest control for small producers, handlers and consumers.
Julio López MontesAssociate Professor & Plant Protection Specialist | Zamorano University 
Webinar 3: Strengthening Seed Systems and Research Infrastructure
September 3rd, 2025 at 6:00 - 7:30 AM PST
Low access to quality, climate-resilient seeds limits F&V productivity across many contexts. Countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Nepal call for expanded breeding programs, improved propagation infrastructure, and stronger links between research and farmers, especially for indigenous crops. Strategic investment in public-private research partnerships can fast-track varietal development and adoption.
Learn from our guest panelists through exploring innovative seed systems partnerships that offer a pathway to co-develop locally adapted, high-impact solutions that meet both producer and consumer needs.
Dr. Naalamle Amissah is a Senior Lecturer at the University of
Ghana. She holds a BSc degree in Agriculture from the University
of Science and Technology, Kumasi, a Master of Science degree
and a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Cornell University, USA. Her
research interests are in the selection, evaluation, and propagation
of economically important plants that are either difficult to
propagate or at risk of extinction (several trees, medicinal plants,
and vegetable species fall within this category), as well as the
development of improved technologies to ensure their successful
establishment. Her research also involves identifying neglected
and underutilized crop species with the potential to address
weather variability and food security challenges in Ghana.
Previously, Naalamle served as the West Africa Regional Hub Manager for the Feed the Future
Innovation Lab for Horticulture. She is the Team Lead for Plant Tissue Culture at the West
Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana.
Dr. Naalamle AmissahSenior Lecturer | University of Ghana 
Dr. Allen Van Deynze is the Director of the Seed Biotechnology Center and Associate Director of the Plant Breeding Center at University of California, Davis. He has a Ph.D in plant breeding from University of Guelph, Canada. As part of the SBC’s mission to serve as a liaison between public institutions and seed industry, Allen is responsible for developing, coordinating and conducting research and generating and disseminating scientific and informational content for the Seed Biotechnology Center’s and Plant Breeding Center’s educational and outreach programs. His research focuses on developing and integrating genomics into plant breeding of California and African crops. He has programs on breeding for disease resistance and quality in pepper and spinach, and development and application of genomics in crops. With Dr. Kent Bradford he co-developed and is organizer for the Plant Breeding Academysm and past chair of the US Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee.
Dr. Allen Van DeynzeDirector | Seed Biotechnology Center | University of California, Davis 
Dr. Mathieu Ayenan is a plant breeder and seed systems expert, bringing over 10 years of dedicated
work to improve food security across Africa. He is currently a Vegetable Breeder at the World
Vegetable Center in Benin. He earned his PhD in Plant Breeding from the West Africa Centre for Crop
Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana. His research centers on the genetic improvement
of vegetables, particularly okra, to develop nutritious, market-preferred, and climate-resilient
cultivars. Mathieu also focuses on developing vibrant seed systems for vegetables and opportunity
crops. He aims to contribute to creating effective seed production and delivery channels that ensure
smallholder farmers can access and benefit from improved genetic materials, thereby boosting
agricultural productivity. He manages several projects focused on breeding and variety scaling.
Dr. Mathieu AyenanAssociate Scientist - Vegetable Breeder | World Vegetable Center 
Dr. Mary Ann P. Sayoc has over 24 years of
professional experience in the seed industry. She was former General Manager of East-West Seed Philippines, a Dutch company engaged in research, variety development, production
and distribution of tropical vegetable seeds with the aim of improving the livelihoods of small holder farmers.
Dr. Sayoc is currently the President of the Philippine Seed Industry Association.
She is past president of the Asia & Pacific Seed Association (APSA) and is currently a member
of the Board of the International Seed Federation. She was a member of the Executive Board of the Global Crop Diversity Trust from 2014-2019, an international organization working to safeguard crop diversity, forever.
She was formerly a member of the International Advisory Board of the Feed the Future
Innovation Lab for Horticulture, a USAID-funded project implemented by UC Davis.
She was conferred Knighthood in the Order of Orange-Nassau by the King of the Netherlands in
2021 for her work and advocacy in agriculture and food and for strengthening Filipino-Dutch
relations.
She holds the distinction of being the first woman to be conferred an Honorary Lifetime Award
by the International Seed Federation during its 100 year-celebration in 2024.
Mary Ann is a strong advocate of public-private partnerships, multi-stakeholder engagement
and science-based policies and regulations.
Dr. Mary Ann SayocPartnerships & Alliances Lead | East West Seed International 
Webinar 4: Elevating Nutrition and Consumer Demand for Fruits and Vegetables
September 10th, 2025 at 6:00 - 7:30 AM PST
Increasing demand for nutrient-rich F&Vs is essential to improve diets and stimulate inclusive market growth. Programs that integrate F&Vs into school feeding, public health campaigns, and social protection systems, particularly in Ghana, Guatemala, and the Philippines, can shift consumption patterns while supporting smallholder producers.
Learn from our guest panelists through exploring demand-side strategies that are crucial for sustaining long-term market incentives for diverse and local F&V crops.
Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa is a Fellow of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (FIUNS). She has been conferred as Career Scientist IV and the Immediate Past Director
of the Department of Science and Technology's Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). Currently, she serves as a Board Member of the Professional Regulations Commission for Nutrition and Dietetics. Throughout her career as a Scientist, she managed and led multiple National Nutrition Surveys, which provide crucial data for informing laws and policies. Her leadership in various research projects has led to significant outcomes, many of which have been
translated into actionable legislations or laws. The manuals she developed are utilized by both hospitals and universities, and her extensive research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals.
She earned her M.Sc. in Nutrition and her Ph.D. in Community Nutrition from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education for Tropical Medicine (SEAMEO-TROPMED) Regional Center for Community Nutrition at the
University of Indonesia.
For the furtherance of her scientific productivity, currently, she is engaged in research projects with a private agency, continuing her advocacy that proper nutrition is a vital economic and social issue.
Dr. Imelda AgdeppaDirector, Department of Science and Technology | Food and Nutrition Research Institute 
Dr. Eva Monterrosa is a nutritionist and scientist with two decades of research and professional experience in maternal and child nutrition. Her approach integrates scientific inquiry principles and professional ethical practices to develop innovations across public health and market sectors.
With expertise in formative research, project design and planning, monitoring and evaluation, and demand creation, Dr. Monterrosa currently serves as Program Lead, Consumer Demand Generation at GAIN. In this role, she designs programmes for better consumer dietary choices in market delivery models.
Dr. Monterrosa is a Founding Member of both the Society for Implementation Science in Nutrition and co-founder of the Food Culture Alliance. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science and a Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Metabolism from the University of Alberta, Canada, and a PhD in Nutrition from Cornell University.
Dr. Eva MonterrosaProgramme Lead, Consumer Demand Generation | Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) 
Dr. Ahmad Kablan, Executive President of WICE Consulting Collective, is a global leader in nutrition, food systems, and sustainable development with over 23 years of experience across academia, government, and international development. He has advanced research at the NIH, shaped global strategies on food, health, and policy, and taught public health and biotechnology at the University of Jordan. Recognized for building cross-sector partnerships, Dr. Kablan bridges evidence with practice to deliver transformative solutions. Through WICE, he advances strategic advisory services to strengthen food systems, improve nutrition and food safety, and champion responsible innovation in agri-food systems to achieve the SDGs.
Dr. Ahmed KablanExecutive President | WICE Consulting Collective 
Webinar 5: Improving Market Access for Women through Policy Instruments
September 17th, 2025 at 6:00 - 7:30 AM PST
Women face systemic constraints in accessing markets, from limited mobility and time burdens to exclusion from formal systems. Investing in gender-responsive infrastructure, improved market information systems, and supportive policy environments can unlock women’s full economic potential in horticulture.
Learn from our guest panelists through exploring how investments that respond to women’s specific market barriers have been shown to increase their participation, profitability, and leadership in horticultural value chains.
Dr. Freda Elikplim Asem is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics
and Agribusiness, University of Ghana in Accra, Ghana. She holds a PhD in Development
Studies from University of Ghana, an MSc. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and a BSc. in Agricultural Economics from
University of Ghana, Legon. Freda is also the Associate Director for the West Africa
Horticulture Innovation Hub.
Dr. Asem is an agricultural economist by training and a researcher with over 20 years of
experience in the agricultural sector. She is passionate about agricultural development in
Ghana and Africa at large; particularly in relation to smallholder farmers. Her research
focuses on agribusiness, agrifood systems and agricultural value chain analyses and their
implications for improving the livelihoods of all value chain actors; most importantly
smallholder farmers.
Dr. Freda AsemSenior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness | University of Ghana 
Janelle Larson is a Professor of Agricultural Economics at Penn State. Her research focuses on
international rural development, with work primarily on gender in development, land markets,
and value-chain analysis. She was involved in USAID-funded research projects on gender and
horticulture in Honduras, (funded by the Horticulture Innovation Lab at UC Davis), on gender in
Cambodia (Sustainable Intensification Lab at Kansas State) and on women’s time poverty in
Ghana (Peanut Innovation Lab at Georgia). Larson was also the gender consultant for the
Horticulture Innovation Lab at UC Davis and was co-Chair of the Innovation Lab Affinity Group
for Gender. Through these projects and the PSU Gender Equity through Agricultural Research
and Education (GEARE) initiative she has provided numerous workshops on gender in
development and incorporating gender in research and outreach. In addition, she leads a multi-
disciplinary collaborative effort to develop livelihoods for highly vulnerable youth in Kenya
involving undergraduate students. Larson received Penn State Global’s Lifetime Achievement
Award in 2025.
Dr. Janelle LarsonAssociate Professor, Agricultural Economics | Pennsylvania State University 
Carla Legros is a strategy and finance professional with over a decade of experience shaping agricultural and food systems across Africa. At One Acre Fund, she led the internal consulting team, advising senior leadership on commercialization strategies for smallholder farmers. Previously at Dalberg Advisors, she advised development actors on investments in agribusiness, food systems, and inclusive finance. At Aceli Africa, Carla designed and operationalized blended-finance incentives that mobilized $300M in lending to agricultural SMEs. She is currently at CGAP at the World Bank, supporting financial institutions to design climate- and gender-responsive products. She is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Carla LegrosConsultant | CGAP World Bank 
Olivia is the Executive Director of Development in Gardening (DIG) Kenya and Director of Mission for DIG Global. With nearly 20 years of experience working alongside smallholder farmers, she has dedicated her career to advancing horticulture and agroecology as pathways to more equitable communities.
For more than a decade, Olivia has led DIG’s programs in Kenya, which focus on training marginalized women farmers in agroecological vegetable production to strengthen food security, nutrition, resilience, and social cohesion. In her global role, she also provides technical support to DIG programs in Uganda and Senegal.
Olivia holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Egerton University and a Master’s in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi. She serves on the governing board of PELUM Kenya, a leading network of organizations promoting agroecology solutions for smallholder farmers.
Olivia NyaidhoExecutive Director | Development in Gardening Kenya 
