Climate change represents a major challenge to food systems.

Agricultural mechanization is the use of machinery, equipment, and implements—rather than human or animal power—to carry out agricultural practices.

Agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, seeds, breeding stock, crop protection chemicals, machinery, irrigation, and knowledge, are key to innovation and productivity improvement, and are the backbone of any agricultural revolution.

This book has adopted a food systems framework as a new way of conceptualizing and designing food policies and research.

Food systems incorporate many actors at different intersecting levels and spaces.

A food system includes all elements (environment, people, inputs, processes, infrastructures, institutions, etc.) and activities that relate to the production, processing, distribution, preparation, and consumption of food, and the outputs of thes

Maize is the major food crop in eastern and southern Africa, including Kenya. Maize-based farming systems make up the largest proportion of agricultural land, and maize is central to the food system, in both rural and urban areas.

Production and marketing of fresh produce provides opportunities for small holder farmers in low- and middle-income economies to engage and benefit from high-value markets and value chains.

This book takes a critical look at the Kenyan food system, where it has been, and where it can go.

Throughout Africa, climate change is posing severe challenges to agricultural production and food security.