As part of efforts to combat malnutrition in Africa, IITA-CGIAR has embraced the breeding and adoption of soybean as one of its mandate crops because of its nutritional potential. With millions of tons produced annually worldwide, Africa is fast becoming one of the major producers of the crop through breeding programs.
However, to respond to market trends and needs for grain crops—one of CGIAR’s reforms, a soybean product advancement meeting was held on 2 May at the IITA Ibadan campus. The discussion focused on advancing promising IITA-bred soybean varieties for the West African region through a data-driven approach.
IITA partners from Syngenta Foundation, Seed Companies, National Research Agricultural System partners (NARS), and the Soybean Association of Nigeria participated at the meeting alongside other key players from IITA stations and hubs.