IITA scientist Paterne Agre wins prestigious 2026 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers
IITA’s Molecular Breeder and Bioinformatics Scientist, Dr Sourou Angelot Paterne Agre, is named one of three recipients of the prestigious 2026 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers!
- breeding
- smallholder farmers
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- breeding for tomorrow
Ibadan, Nigeria, 23 October 2026 – IITA’s Molecular Breeder and Bioinformatics Scientist, Dr Sourou Angelot Paterne Agre, is named one of three recipients of the prestigious 2026 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers!
The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to advancing yam breeding and agricultural innovation in Africa.
Announced by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the award recognizes young researchers whose scientific achievements demonstrate exceptional promise for transforming agriculture and improving livelihoods in developing countries.
Agre, a Beninese scientist based at IITA in Ibadan, Nigeria, was selected for his research titled “Transforming Yam Production in Africa through Integrated Breeding, Genomics, and Innovation.”
His work combines advanced genomic technologies, molecular breeding, and innovative seed multiplication approaches to address longstanding challenges in yam production, a crop essential to food security and livelihoods across West Africa.
Through his research, Agre has contributed to identifying genetic regions associated with important yam traits, including disease resistance, yield, and quality. His work has also supported the development of molecular markers and improved breeding strategies that enable scientists to identify promising yam varieties more efficiently.
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