Salome Henerico Samson

For Salome Henerico Samson, change in East Africa’s food systems begins beneath the surface—with healthier soils, informed farmers, and youth who see agriculture as a science and an opportunity. An agronomist and East Africa Community Zone Coordinator for Champions for Change in Agri Systems, Salome stands at the intersection of research, mentorship, and regional collaboration, helping to shape a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.
Her journey into agriculture is driven by a deep fascination with how soils sustain life and how small changes in management can transform yields and livelihoods. Over the years, she has grown from a curious student into a regional youth leader, using science to solve real problems for farmers while inspiring other young people to engage in innovation across the agri-food system.
Salome’s professional path has taken her through key institutions in East Africa’s agricultural landscape. She has worked with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Dar es Salaam and Retouch Africa International in Kenya, contributing to projects that link agronomic research with farmer support and development practice.
She has also been actively involved in regional forums such as the Africa Food Systems Summit (AGRF) and the EAC RAJSR Workshop, where she served as rapporteur. These experiences have strengthened her skills in research communication, stakeholder coordination, and knowledge synthesis, enabling her to translate complex technical discussions into practical insights that can inform programs and policy.
Currently based at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Salome is conducting research on enhancing soybean production using microbial biofertilizers. Her work explores how different application methods, timings, and dosages affect crop growth, yield, and nutrient uptake. By focusing on legumes—key to both soil fertility and household nutrition—she is contributing to more sustainable soil health practices and improved food security in Tanzania.
What makes Salome’s approach distinctive is her insistence that research must not remain in academic reports. She works to ensure that findings are tested under real farm conditions and communicated in ways farmers can understand and use. Through field days, demonstrations, and farmer dialogues, she helps bridge the gap between the laboratory and the land.
Beyond her technical work, Salome is deeply committed to youth mentorship and peer learning. She supports young agripreneurs across the region, encouraging them to build businesses and projects grounded in good agronomy, soil regeneration, and environmental stewardship.
Her message to youth is clear: agriculture is not just about production; it is about innovation, resilience, and stewardship. By sharing her own journey and lessons, she helps emerging leaders see how they can combine passion for farming with scientific rigor and entrepreneurial thinking.
As EAC Zone Coordinator for Champions for Change in Agri Systems, Salome plays a pivotal role in facilitating knowledge exchange and youth-led collaboration across borders. She helps coordinate projects, convene learning spaces, and connect young leaders working on themes such as climate-smart agriculture, soil health, and inclusive value chains.
Through this platform, she is helping to build a network of regional agripreneurs and changemakers who learn from each other, share tools and approaches, and collectively strengthen East Africa’s agri-food systems from the ground up.
Looking to the future, Salome plans to expand her research on sustainable soil health practices, with a focus on biofertilizers and other nature-based solutions that are accessible to smallholders. She aims to develop training programs for young farmers on practical biofertilizer use, and to co-create farmer-friendly extension materials that simplify complex research into clear, actionable steps.
Through Champions for Change, she hopes to strengthen regional youth networks, enabling more young people to lead innovations that protect soils, boost productivity, and build climate resilience.
By blending agricultural science, youth mentorship, and regional coordination, Salome Henerico Samson is showing that the future of East Africa’s food systems will be built not only in fields and labs, but also in the connections and confidence of the young people who choose to lead.