Africa is home to over 1.4 billion people, rich biodiversity, and some of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Yet, the continent remains underrepresented in cutting-edge scientific research — especially in emerging fields like metabolomics, genomics, and other -omics sciences.

The challenges Africa faces in health, agriculture, and the environment are unique: diverse disease profiles, rapidly changing ecosystems, and climate pressures that directly affect food and livelihoods. Solving these problems requires homegrown solutions, grounded in African data and driven by African scientists.

Metabolomics — the study of small molecules that reflect the health and function of organisms — offers powerful tools to:

• Detect diseases earlier and more accurately.

• Improve crop resilience and food security.

• Understand environmental changes and their biological impact.

Africa’s genetic diversity, plant and microbial richness, and distinct health and agricultural contexts make it one of the most important frontiers for metabolomics research in the world. However, without local expertise, infrastructure, and collaboration, this potential remains untapped.

Metabolomics Africa was founded to change this — to empower African scientists, inspire millions of students, and create a continent-wide research network that ensures Africa is not just a subject of global studies, but a leader in producing solutions for the world.