Uyole ARI is the zonal agricultural research institute in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, based in Mbeya. It is a public sector organization owned by the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives and with line management within the Department of Research and Training.

The research staff are specialized in a wide range of disciplines (plant breeding, socio-economics, pest and disease management, soil science, extension techniques, agronomy) and have in-depth knowledge of both the agro-ecology and institutional issues within Southern Highlands. The researchers involved are experienced in leading a number of Department for International Development (DFID) funded research and knowledge management projects, which the above consortium worked on together during the past four years. The Zonal Research and Extension Liaison Office is based at Uyole ARI, coordinating agricultural information sharing and events with the district councils.