Nairobi, May 1 -- Kenya will need to increase food production by between 50 and 70 percent in the coming decades as its population grows to an estimated 84 million people, the Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation has warned, adding that the country cannot achieve this on the strength of existing approaches alone.

"It's going to take innovation, science and technology... it's how we move to the next level," said Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak at the launch of the World Agriculture Forum Kenya chapter in Nairobi Wednesday.

Prof Abdulrazak pointed to climate change, shrinking farm sizes, pests, diseases and the rising cost of inputs as pressures demanding new solutions, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology and digi...