IITA News

Solutions in nature: promoting the efficacy of indigenous medicinal plants

Over the centuries, earth’s biological diversity has played a crucial role in the development and sustenance of our civilization. From energy to food and infrastructure to medicine, humans have relied on nature for existence. Sadly though, we have lost so much of our biodiversity through unsustainable human activities, leading to severe consequences, including challenges of…

Fighting together: IITA stations respond with innovations

With the outbreak of COVID-19, CGIAR-IITA has placed a particular focus on working with governments in sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen their food systems to combat and win against the scourge of this pandemic. Aside from this holistic response from the Institute, IITA stations in different localities have come up with various innovative solutions geared towards helping their…

IITA banana research paper in Wiley’s Plant Pathology journal among the most downloaded

A paper published by a team led by scientists from IITA was among the top 10% most downloaded of all papers published between January 2018 and December 2019 in Wiley’s Plant Pathology journal. The research team received the news in a congratulatory message and an online certificate from the Journal. Part of the message stated:…

IITA scientist among AAS and the Royal Society recipients of 2020 FLAIR fellowships

The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the Royal Society of London, supported by the UK’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), have announced the second cohort of the Future Leaders – African Independent Research (FLAIR) fellowships. Thirty outstanding early-career African scientists, whose research focuses on the needs of the continent, will receive support from the…

BoT commends IITA’s leadership in agricultural research under Sanginga

The IITA Board of Trustees (BoT) has lauded the Institute’s leadership and proven record of accomplishment in agricultural research during the spring board meeting, which took place recently. During the virtual meeting, BoT Chair Dr Amos Namanga Ngongi stated that the Institute, under the leadership of Director General Nteranya Sanginga, has achieved excellent results in…

South Kivu Provincial Minister of Agriculture praises IITA contribution to food security amidst COVID-19 crisis

The city of Bukavu will produce 20 tons of tilapia per week by the end of 2020. This will be done through the Tilapia Production in Cages Project implemented by IITA and partners, financially supported by the FPI (Fond de la Promotion de l’Industrie) as part of the 100 Days program of the Democratic Republic…

Leading IITA Eastern Africa hub in times of COVID-19

Excerpts from an interview with Victor Manyong, IITA-Eastern Africa Director, with Radio IITA on the COVID-19 situation in Eastern Africa and the various measures that IITA has put in place to protect staff from the viral disease as they carry out their activities. Q: What is the COVID-19 situation like in Eastern Africa? What are…

IITA saves the day in controlling aflatoxin in Tanzania for this growing season

IITA has come to the rescue in efforts to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut in Tanzania to enhance the country’s food safety and security during this challenging time for the agriculture sector due to the coronavirus disease outbreak. IITA, through its office in Tanzania, produced 10 tons of AflasafeTZ, the natural and safe…

Introducing West Africa’s largest insect collection

Quick facts IITA’s insect collection is based in Benin It is the most extensive insect collection in West Africa It has 366,000 insect species Museum houses both pests and beneficial insects Offers free insect identification services How do you catch all these insects? How do you know they are here? Do you go into the…

Turn waste into wealth during and after the COVID-19 lockdown

The current COVID 19 lockdown is forcing us to look within for sufficiency. At the beginning of the pandemic, people rushed to buy and stock up on essential commodities such as food and toiletries. Stocking up on essentials is one battle won; the next frontier of survival is being frugal and getting the most out…