How Triple Helix innovation is transforming Rwanda’s poultry sector
While Rwanda has seen significant growth in egg production over the last decade, the poultry sector still faces a major hurdle: a 36% drop in chicken meat production since 2017. High production costs, expensive imported feed, and a lack of access to veterinary services have left many small-scale farmers struggling to stay competitive.
In a study published, Meine Pieter van Dijk, Professor Emeritus at MSM, and Dr. Julius Gatune, Senior Consultant at MSM explore a powerful solution: the Poultry Farming, Training and Innovation Centre (PFTIC). By leveraging a Triple Helix approach, this center is bridging the gap between academia, government, and the private sector to build a sustainable poultry cluster in Rwanda.
The PFTIC is structured as a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that brings together three critical pillars:
- Academia: The Integrated Polytechnic Regional Colleges (IPRC) Gishari and Ngoma provide the facilities and a pipeline of student talent.
- Private Sector: Abusol, a private firm, manages the day-to-day operations and provides market-driven expertise.
- Government & donors: Supported by the Dutch-funded SEAD projects (administered by Nuffic), the government oversees the strategic direction via the Rwanda Development Board.
Driving "frugal innovation"
A core focus of the center is frugal innovation, developing affordable technologies that utilize local skills and materials. Instead of relying on expensive imports, the PFTIC is pioneering local solutions, such as:
- Locally produced cages: IPRC Musanze developed a cage prototype that can be manufactured in Rwanda to improve hygiene and reduce animal loss for traditional farmers.
- Sustainable feed: Research is underway to produce chicken feed locally using black soldier flies as a protein source, which could significantly lower costs for farmers.
- Antibiotic-free production: The center focuses on producing one-day-old chicks and eggs without the high levels of antibiotics often found in imported species.
A platform for change
The PFTIC functions as much more than a production site, it is a collaborative space designed to foster a "win-win" for everyone involved:
- Training for entrepreneurship: The center provides short courses for local farmers and has already helped cooperatives of women and youth start their own poultry businesses.
- Applied research: By testing different indigenous chicken types, the project identified specific breeds that grow faster or produce more eggs, helping traditional farmers move toward a commercial mindset.
- Practical education: Students gain hands-on experience by working directly in the hatcheries and production units, ensuring they graduate with the skills the industry actually needs.
A model for emerging markets
The research concludes that the PFTIC is a successful example of how a sectoral innovation center can drive local economic development. By combining the research power of universities with the efficiency of the private sector, Rwanda is creating a roadmap for food security that other nations can follow.
As Professor Van Dijk notes, these centers act as "intermediaries" that link high-level research directly to the everyday needs of the population, turning scientific breakthroughs into kitchen-table realities.
For further reading, see the full paper: "The Rwanda Poultry Innovation Centre: Leveraging the Triple Helix Approach to Drive Frugal Innovations and Build a Poultry Cluster" by Meine Pieter Van Dijk and Julius Gatune, published in Anvesak (2025).
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