Rwanda launches BioCap project with IITA as key biotechnology partner
IITA–CGIAR joined national and international partners in Rwanda for the official launch of the Rwanda Biotechnology Capacity Building (BioCap) Project and the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for a Centre of Excellence for Crop Biotechnology.
IITA–CGIAR joined national and international partners in Rwanda for the official launch of the Rwanda Biotechnology Capacity Building (BioCap) Project and the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for a Centre of Excellence for Crop Biotechnology. The initiative, led by the International Potato Center (CIP) and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), funded by the Gates Foundation, aims to strengthen Rwanda’s capacity to develop, regulate, and deploy improved crop varieties that address key production constraints.
As a core technical partner, IITA brings extensive experience in genetic transformation, genome editing, biosafety stewardship, and capacity building to support the project’s objectives. The BioCap Project is designed to position Rwanda as a regional hub for advanced agricultural biotechnology, with a strong focus on locally led innovation and responsible use of modern breeding tools.
Within BioCap, IITA will lead the banana gene-editing component, drawing on its longstanding expertise in banana research, biotechnology, and capacity development across Africa. IITA will collaborate with partners, including RAB, CIP, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Michigan State University, and the Alliance for Science Rwanda. Together, these efforts will support the safe and climate-smart application of biotechnology, complementing Rwanda’s climate adaptation strategy by empowering scientists, strengthening regulatory systems, and translating research into tangible benefits for smallholder farmers.