IITA News

Gender equality can boost food security through sustainable systems

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) researchers had adopted a scoping review in a recently published United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) brief to assess the current evidence on pathways between gender equality, women’s empowerment, and food systems. Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in food systems can result in greater food security and…

Picture of the Permanent Secretary (left) and his team members briefing the IITA delegation.

IITA delegation calls on Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture

A team from IITA Tanzania recently visited the new Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Secretary and Livestock (MALF) at the Ministry’s offices in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

IITA donates elite planting materials to boost FCT farmers’ productivity

Farmers in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, received a boost as the IITA-Abuja team donated 330 kg of improved, disease- and drought-tolerant seedlings to the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA). The Head IITA-Abuja Station, Gbassey Tarawali, presented elite planting materials comprising maize, cowpea, and soybean to the FCTA Management at the ministry’s head office in Abuja. In…

CGIAR promotes enabling environment that empowers women scientists

Women scientists represent 29% of CGIAR’s workforce. These scientists, including women researchers from IITA, play an indispensable role at the forefront of CGIAR’s mission to deliver science and innovation that advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. Despite the significant role women play in powering innovation, they still require…

IITA builds six cassava processing factories in Liberia

The former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, entrusted IITA with a project to build six processing factories in Liberia within two months. It was the end of her tenure and the close of the financial year, but Mrs Sirleaf wanted the factories built and commissioned before her retirement, as it was her brainchild. IITA…

Healthy eating: Improved quality biscuits

Biscuits are consumed globally for their nutritional value and can be stored for about six months or more, depending on the packaging and recipe. Biscuits are available in a wide range of shapes, fillings, colors, and toppings, so they are accepted by consumers of all age groups. The basic characteristic that separates a biscuit, cookie, or…

Study lifts the lid on plantain consumer preferences, adds fresh insights for breeding programs

Une étude met en lumière les préférences des consommateurs de plantain et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour les programmes de sélection

Au fil des ans, les sélectionneurs ont développé et distribué des variétés de plantain à haut rendement et résistantes aux maladies, mais les taux d’adoption sont restés limités. Pour comprendre pourquoi, les chercheurs de l’IITA, un des centres du CGIAR ont publié les résultats d’une nouvelle étude révélant les attentes des utilisateurs finaux (consommateurs) concernant…

The Ambassador of the United States to Cameroon visits IITA-Cameroon

His Excellency, Peter Henry Barlerin, the Ambassador of the United States to Cameroon and five members of his team visited the IITA Cameroon Station on 12 July. During the visit, the Ambassador’s first to IITA, he learnt about various projects implemented in the context of the Congo Basin Institute (CBI) with US partners. The Ambassador…

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…

IITA to work with Osun State in raising agribusiness ambassadors

On 23 January, the Osun State Commissioner for Education, Hon Folarunsho Oladoyin visited IITA Ibadan campus with his Assistant, Bukola Elufisan and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Jamiu Olawumi. The purpose of their visit was to collaborate with IITA through the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) and Start Them Early Program (STEP) platforms,…