Situated in the city of Njoro, Nakuru County, Kenya, Egerton University holds the distinction of being the oldest institution of higher learning in the country. Originally established as a Farm School in 1939 by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton, it underwent significant growth and transformation over the years. By 1950, the school had evolved into an Agricultural College, offering diploma programs to its students. The Living Lab at Egerton University is a dedicated undertaking within the broader INCiTiS Food Project Living Lab. Its primary focus is to establish a sustainable and circular food production system. This initiative aims to combine aquaponics and hydroponics, two innovative farming techniques, in order to create a fully integrated circular flow for food production.

Within 4 years, leaning on a robust approach that prioritizes interdisciplinary research, stakeholder-led initiatives, and collaboration between Europe and Africa, INCiTiS-FOOD will empower communities and champion environmental justice. Furthermore, the project will empower communities by creating opportunities for them in agri-food supply and value chains. A core part of the INCiTiS-FOOD’s collaborative multi-actor approach are the 8 Living Labs located in 6 countries across 3 African regions: East: Kenya; West: Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone; Central: Cameroon, Gabon. Living labs, in contrast to a traditional laboratory operate in a real-life context with a user-centric approach, will be turned into incubators and accelerators of innovation that will be used beyond the project’s duration.