IITA News no. 2370 Archives

MAIZE announces 2019 Youth Innovators Awards – Africa

IITA has developed a reputation as an organization that provides equal opportunities for every willing person to learn and grow. Apart from the regular staff, IITA has a training mandate that provides opportunity for young people to work as interns and volunteers. Volunteering at IITA allows a volunteer to interact with professionals from different backgrounds,…

R4D SpecialPriority – setting in Climate-smart Agricultural Research: A step further in ensuring food security in Africa

A team of scientists, including Philip K. Thornton, Anthony Whitbread, and Lieven Claessens, under the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), from several international research organizations including IITA, have identified the need to intensify agricultural research for development, so as to meet the Sustainable Development Goals associated with food production,…

Two more feathers added to IITA’s Aflasafe project’s cap

When research on Africa’s first indigenous biological control for aflatoxins began intensively in 2003, the scientists involved in its fabrication just wanted to help Africans have safer food on their table. Today, not only has Aflasafe been able to achieve this goal, it is also gaining world recognition as an eco-friendly product that effectively combats the hazardous effects of aflatoxin contamination.

Picture of Group photo of NextGen cassava participants attending the annual meeting in Ibadan

NextGen scientists “shoot for the moon” in cassava research

On 14-16 March, more than 80 international cassava experts met at the Next Generation Cassava Breeding (NextGen Cassava) annual meeting to report on and assess the outcomes of a five-year effort to improve cassava breeding as well as outline the next steps for a second phase of the project.

Picture of Tanzanian farmer holds drought tolerant maize cobs. Photo credit: F. Sipalla/CIMMYT.

Exploring farmers’ willingness to pay for drought tolerance in maize in Zimbabwe

Adoption of new technologies depends significantly on whether potential users are willing to pay a premium for the associated benefits. A new study explores farmers’ willingness to pay for drought tolerance (DT) in maize, a crop playing a leading role in the food security in southern Africa.

Picture of IITA representatives at the 17th annual congress of the AFSTA in Senegal.

‘GoSeed’ to join the African Seed Trade Association

Africa still remains a minor player in the global seed trade, accounting for less than 2%. In recognition of the important role quality seeds could play in feeding Africa’s teeming population statistically projected to exceed 2 billion by 2050, GoSeed—the arm of IITA’s Business Incubation Platform (BIP) responsible for the production, marketing, distribution, and sale of quality certified seeds to farmers―has registered its interest in becoming a member of the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA).

Picture of Afolabi presenting a certificate of credence to IITA on behalf of all Nigerian undergraduates.

Nigerian students acknowledge IITA’s efforts in alleviating unemployment

The body covering every Nigerian undergraduate has cited IITA for its excellent efforts in creating employment for Nigerian graduates every year.

Picture of Elizabeth Parkes, cassava expert, leads the team from Ebonyi on a tour around IITA facilities.

Ebonyi State delegates seek IITA’s intervention to move the country’s Zero Hunger goal forward

In continuance of the Zero Hunger Initiative which is geared towards unlocking the potentials of the country and ensuring the nation’s emancipation from the shackles of hunger and poverty by 2030, a team of nine stakeholders in agriculture from Ebonyi State approached IITA on 16 March for guidance on a course of action.