IITA News no. 2414 Archives

IITA commences confined field trials of transgenic cassava

IITA was recently granted a permit to carry out confined field trials (CFT) on genetically modified cassava (AMY3 RNAi transgenic lines). This research, carried out in collaboration with ETHZ Plant Biotechnology Lab in Zurich, aims to reduce starch breakdown in storage roots of cassava after pruning the shoots, prior to harvest of the crop.

Bernard Vanlauwe addressing participants.

Researchers and policymakers meet in Tanzania to discuss cassava agronomy

Scientists across Africa and their colleagues in other parts of the world met with policymakers in Tanzania under the auspices of the African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) to discuss the progress made in the last two years in providing clues to the agronomy of cassava.

Attah-Krah (left) speaking at the meeting.

IITA and partners launch Nigeria Stock Brokers Agribusiness Group (NSBAG)

On 7 December, Corporate Farmers International (CFI), IITA, and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) launched the Nigeria Stock Brokers Agribusiness Group (NSBAG). The official launch was held in Lagos at the IITA premises. CFI and NSE are IITA partners that have helped us with promoting the IITA50 celebrations.

Chairman, Onne Community Development Commitee (3rd from the left) with Richardson Okechukwu (3rd from right) and IITA Onne staff.

Onne Community Development Committee extends a hand of collaboration to IITA

The Chairman, Community Development Committee Onne, Mr Martin Olaka, has called on IITA-Onne to collaborate in tarring the access road linking the station to the town. He made this known during a courtesy visit to the station on 6 December.

Delivery of cassava cuttings of biofortified yellow cassava varieties rich in provitamin A.

INERA and HarvestPlus organize joint sensitization program

The WAVE project of the Environmental Institute for Agricultural Research (INERA), Mvuazi station and HarvestPlus organized a joint awareness day on brown streak, a viral disease recently observed on cassava, and the production and use of biofortified yellow cassava rich in provitamin A.