News Overview

In collaboration with Nigeria’s Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) released a medium-maturing top-cross maize hybrid that combines tolerance to fall armyworm and drought with resistance to Striga hermonthica as SAMMAZ77. Compared to the previously released drought-tolerant and Striga-resistant hybrid commercialized in Nigeria (SAMMAZ50), SAMMAZ77 achieved 5–35% higher yields under combined stressors of fall

A review paper on the genetic improvement of bananas has been selected as one of Wiley’s most cited papers, highlighting its critical role in improving one of the world’s most important staple crops. Published in The Plant Genome, the research probes into CRISPR/Cas genome editing techniques that could impact banana breeding, making the crop more resilient to devastating diseases. Led by

Delegates from Côte d’Ivoire’s Council of Coffee and Cocoa (CCC) and the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA) visited IITA-CGIAR headquarters in Ibadan from 7 to 11 April. The familiarization visit marked the first in a series of engagements to build strategic partnerships, explore research models, and adopt modern technologies to strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural development—starting with its key commodities: coffee and cocoa. Côte d’Ivoire is

A high-level Belgian delegation, led by CGIAR Executive Managing Director (EMD) Dr Ismahane Elouafi, visited IITA’s Hub in Nairobi recently, offering a front-row seat to the institute’s research and innovations. The visit showcased IITA’s work in agricultural research, from biotechnology to soil health and youth engagement in agriculture. On the first day, the delegation received by the Eastern Africa Hub Director, Dr Leena

IITA–CGIAR warmly welcomed a high-level delegation from the United States Consulate-General in Lagos on 9 April. The Deputy Chief of the Political and Economic Section, Kenise Hill, led the visiting team. The visit marked a significant step towards strengthening bilateral ties and exploring strategic partnerships in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector. Welcoming the U.S. delegation, the IITA Deputy Director General Partnerships for Delivery (IITA-P4D) Kenton Dashiell,

A group of production managers from Rwandan seed companies recently embarked on a transformative journey to Nigeria, seeking to revolutionize seed production in their home country. With the pressing need for high-quality, climate-resilient maize seeds, IITA–CGIAR, in collaboration with Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resource Board (RAB) and the National Seed Consortium, facilitated an immersive training program to bridge the gap between research outputs

The session, moderated by IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa Dr Simeon Ehui, spotlighted successful strategies implemented during Dr Jonathan’s administration to address food insecurity and strengthen agrifood systems in Nigeria. Organized by CGIAR in collaboration with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Science Week aims to catalyze global action on food security and climate resilience. It brings

In transforming African agriculture, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is tapping into cutting-edge genome editing tools to fast-track crop improvement. With technologies like CRISPR at its core, IITA is pioneering a new era in plant breeding—where precision, speed, and innovation are driving the development of resilient, high-yielding crops tailored for the continent’s toughest challenges. For decades, conventional breeding