IITA News

ATASP-1 holds community sensitization in 30 LGAs across Nigeria

In preparation for full implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase one (ATASP-1), the project implementation unit concluded sensitization workshops in the 30 local government areas (LGAs) where the program is being implemented. The LGAs cut across the seven states of Enugu, Anambra, Niger, Jigawa, Kano, Sokoto, and Kebbi. In attendance at the…

IITA graduate researcher named Borlaug LEAP awardee

Ademola Aina, a PhD student in the University of Ibadan and a graduate research fellow at the Genetic Resources Center (GRC), IITA has been awarded the prestigious Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (Borlaug LEAP). The Borlaug LEAP awards fellowships to outstanding graduate students who show great promise as leaders in the field…

L-R Charlotte Sanginga, DG Nteranye Sanginga, and Manuele Tamò.

Photo album: Open Day

Picture of Dr Rurema Deo-Guide , Burundi Minister of Agriculture; DDG May-Guri Saethre, and Bernard Vanlauwe, R4D Director for Central Africa Hub.

IITA strengthens partnerships in Burundi

IITA Deputy Director General R4D May- Guri Saethre and Central Africa Hub Director Bernard Vanlauwe visited IITA Burundi from 17 to 20 June to meet with and engage staff and partners.

Picture of participants to the Africa Yam Bean symposium.

Scientists to develop new roadmap for African Yam Bean

Over 40 scientists attending the African Yam Bean (AYB) symposium have agreed to develop a roadmap for the improvement of AYB in a bid to rejuvenate research and develop this neglected and underutilized food crop in Nigeria. The symposium was organized on 18-19 October by the IITA Genetic Resources Center (GRC) in Ibadan. It brought…

Picture of Chiji Ojukwu of AfDB (center) and H.E. Matata Ponyo (left) listen to IITA’s Nzola Mahungu (right), IITA Representative in DR Congo, talking about the cassava processing equipment introduced through the SARD-SC project funded by AfDB.

IITA empowers cassava farmers in Bukanga Lonzo, DR Congo

The Agro-Industrial Park of Bukanga Lonzo (PAI-BL) is the first complex intended to transform DR Congo’s agriculture into an engine for economic development. When completed, the PAI-BL will have over 50,000 hectares of developed farmland producing staple crops and vegetables. It will also produce livestock products such as poultry and pork. In addition to producing…

Picture of Maize seed health workshop participants in a discussion.

Stakeholders reveal significance of seed testing

Control measures against pests and diseases dominated discussions at a recent workshop in IITA, Ibadan, held 27-28 September, where stakeholders explored opportunities to interact, exchange ideas, and impart knowledge about major pests and pathogens of maize, risks to maize seed health, and seed-borne pathogens.

Genome editing is the future of plant breeding

“Genome editing is the future of plant breeding in terms of being more efficient and getting more genetic gains,” said Kingstone Mashingaidze, one of the speakers at the recently held CGIAR webinar on genome editing. CGIAR centers using genome editing recently started a webinar series that will investigate the practice, benefits, social acceptance, and regulation…

Sasakawa Africa Association signs MoU with IITA to strengthen already existing partnership

The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) team met with the IITA Board of Trustees (BoT) at IITA Ibadan campus on 20 November. The meeting was for the purpose of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their already existing partnership and discuss more partnership opportunities. SAA was founded in Geneva in 1986 by Ryoichi Sasakawa…

IITA’s labor of love, transforming African Agriculture

To love, or not to love, that is not the question! How to love…now that is real the question. Since 1967, IITA has been on a journey of love, developing solutions to eradicate hunger by ensuring food security, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The Institute has done this by championing research to increase crop yield and…