Breeding for Tomorrow strengthens collaboration with African partners at the 4th African Plant Breeders’ Association Conference

This year’s 4th African Plant Breeders’ Association (APBA) Conference brought together more than 400 breeders, researchers, and partners in the largest gathering of plant breeding experts on the continent. 

For Breeding for Tomorrow (B4T), the event was all about partnership. As the program driving CGIAR’s integrated approach to modern, data-driven crop breeding, B4T supports national breeding programs through technical backstopping, capacity development, and knowledge sharing.  

“Attending APBA is essential to align priorities, exchange knowledge, and ensure our work continues to serve the needs of African breeders and farmers,” said Dr. Chris Ojiewo, Inclusive Delivery Lead, Breeding for Tomorrow. “Collaboration with national partners is at the heart of everything we do,” he added.

Spotlight on opportunity and underutilized crops

At the conference’s opening day, Breeding for Tomorrow participated in a side event on “Opportunity and Underutilized Crops Research”, organized under the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) initiative.  

The session explored how so-called “underutilized” or “opportunity crops” – those often neglected by research but deeply embedded in local diets and cultures – can drive more resilient, diverse, and nutritious food systems. 

Representing B4T, speakers Dr. Chris Ojiewo, Dr. Kevin Pixley, Dr. Mark Nas, Dr. Agnes Mbugua-Gitonga, Dr. Hapson Mushoriwa, Dr. Vishnuvardhan Reddy Banda, and Dr. Thiago Mendes contributed insights on how improved breeding, market integration, and enabling seed systems can unlock the potential of these crops. 

Discussions focused on strengthening research, seed systems, and policy frameworks to enhance the production and adoption of these crops. Speakers underlined the importance of integrating breeding innovation with market and policy linkages to ensure that adapted crops, from sorghum to pigeon pea, reach farmers and consumers across Africa.

Building stronger breeding programs 

A key theme throughout the conference was strengthening the design and management of breeding programs, which was explored by Breeding for Tomorrow team during a dedicated session hosted by AGRA. 

Dr. Biswanath Das, Enable Lead, presented on “Setting up Breeding Programs for Success”, detailing how CGIAR’s breeding programs apply “ruthless focus” through market segmentation, the definition of clear target product profiles, and on-farm verification. He emphasized how structured decision processes, such as product advancement meetings and costing frameworks, help teams prioritize and stay aligned with farmers’ needs. 

“Well-structured breeding programs grounded in farmer and market needs are key to delivering varieties that make a difference,” he said. 

Dr. Dorcus Gemenet, Accelerate Lead, discussed how B4T is working hand-in-hand with national partners to design better breeding systems, leveraging digital tools, improved workflows, and modern approaches to accelerate genetic gains.  

Meanwhile, Dr. Lennin Musundire, also from Enable, outlined how B4T’s costing and operational planning tools are helping programs allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring that every breeding investment contributes to measurable impact. 

Together, these interventions demonstrated how B4T’s approach – combining technical backstopping, data-driven management, and capacity strengthening – as a model for accelerating progress in national breeding programs. 

Dorcus Gemenet, Lennin Musundire, and Biswanath Das, presenting at “Fast Tracking the Release and Commercialization of Climate Smart and Nutrient Dense Crop Varieties in Africa”. Credit: Breeding for Tomorrow.

Supporting the next generation of African breeding leaders

Another highlight for B4T at APBA was the graduation of the 2025 cohort of the Collaborative Breeding Leadership Program (CBLP), a cross-Center initiative designed to develop leadership and management capacity among mid-career breeders of African national research institutes. 

Funded by Germany through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, hosted by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and supported by B4T and the CGIAR Capacity Sharing Accelerator, the program celebrated 12 graduates representing 15 crops and 8 countries: Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, DRC, Ethiopia, Benin, and Zimbabwe. 

Combining hybrid training, in-person workshops, scientific placements, and continuous mentorship, the program aims to prepare future breeding leaders to lead modern, results-driven national breeding programs capable of addressing complex agricultural challenges. 

“The CBLP program has been a great experience,” said Alemu Dabi Borena, wheat breeder at EIAR, Ethiopia. “I’m grateful to my mentor and CIMMYT for their guidance and the practical learning opportunities I received during my six-month immersion. The skills I’ve gained will directly strengthen our breeding program at EIAR, and I hope this collaboration with national partners continues to benefit more researchers in the future!” 

Group picture of the CBLP graduation, gathering mentors and mentees. Credit: APBA.

Delivering impactful varieties for farmers

On the last day of the conference, Dr. Chris Ojiewo, Inclusive Delivery Lead at B4T, delivered a keynote address highlighting how B4T is transforming the development and delivery of crop varieties that directly address Africa’s most pressing challenges: food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty. 

He outlined how the program’s integrated model connects research innovation with efficient delivery systems, ensuring that breeding outcomes translate into tangible benefits for farmers. Dr. Ojiewo’s message summarized B4T’s vision: “Science-driven breeding, when combined with strong partnerships and inclusive systems, can transform food systems across the continent, and help smallholder farmers adapt and thrive,” he said. 

Dr. Chris Ojiewo, Inclusive Delivery Lead, delivering a keynote address on B4T at APBA 2025. Credit: APBA.

Building momentum for Africa’s breeding future

For Breeding for Tomorrow, participation in the 4th APBA Conference was about reaffirming commitment to partnership with national breeding programs, shared learning, and joint progress achieved hand in hand with partners. 

“The APBA Conference is a space to co-create solutions with our partners,” said Dr. Dorcus Gemenet. “Breeding for Tomorrow’s success lies with collaboration, shared priorities, and continuous knowledge exchange with them,” she added as a conclusion to the event. 

Resources

• Learn more about APBA  

• CGIAR Breeding for Tomorrow at the 4th African Plant Breeders Association (APBA) Conference 

• Opportunity and Underutilized Crops Research 

• Fast Tracking the Release and Commercialization of Climate Smart and Nutrient Dense Crop Varieties in Africa 
• Keynote VII: Developing and Delivering Impactful Crop Varieties to Address the Challenges of Food Insecurity, Malnutrition, and Poverty

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Main image: The audience listening to Breeding for Tomorrow’s keynote address at APBA 2025. Credit: APBA. Written by Julie Puech, CGIAR Breeding for Tomorrow.