In a historic partnership aimed at revitalizing the country’s tea industry, Kenya’s Ministry of Education and Lipton Teas and Infusions have signed a landmark agreement to establish the Lipton Tea Innovation & Technology Academy (LTITA) at the University of Kabianga.

The academy is the first higher education institution in the world dedicated solely to tea, and will train up to 3,000 students annually. Programs will range from vocational certifications to advanced degrees, with a focus on sustainable tea farming, climate-smart agriculture, AI-driven analytics, and tea breeding innovations.

President William Ruto, who presided over the launch, underscored the importance of moving from volume to value in tea production, emphasizing the use of science to improve quality and maximize farmer earnings. “It is time to use scientific empirical evidence to tell farmers which kind of tea will give them the best prices,” he stated.

The initiative is a joint effort between the Ministry of Education, Lipton Teas and Infusions, and the University of Kabianga, with academic support from international institutions such as the University of Oxford and Cranfield University.

The academy is expected to uplift the livelihoods of millions of Kenyans, especially women who make up 60% of the tea workforce, and position Kenya as a global leader in tea research, education, and innovation.