News Overview

Following a week-long exhibition from 1 to 8 March, IITA–CGIAR participated in the national celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) held on 8 March 2025 in Arusha, Tanzania. This year’s national theme, “Wanawake na wasichana 2025: Tuimarishe haki, usawa na uwezeshaji,” translates to “Women and girls 2025: Strengthening justice, equality, and empowerment.” The exhibitions were organized by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, and Children

IITA–CGIAR reaffirms its commitment to recognizing and applauding women and girls for their resilience, impact, and contributions to agriculture, research, and food security. On 10 March, IITA celebrated International Women’s Day with the theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The event commenced with a commemorative walk to honor the invaluable contributions of women in agriculture and development. This

Cowpea, a vital legume crop in sub-Saharan Africa, nourishes millions and supports rural economies. Yet, its productivity is under siege by a persistent enemy: cowpea anthracnose disease (CAD). Recent research has identified the causal agents of CAD in Nigeria, challenging previous understanding of the disease in the country. Historically, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and C. destructivum were considered the primary pathogens responsible for CAD in Nigeria.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and IITA–CGIAR have renewed commitment toward transforming Africa’s agricultural landscape following the signing of a €5 million German grant agreement in Abuja to support the ongoing Phase 2 of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program. The grant signing is a testament to the shared effort by both organizations to scale agricultural technologies, boost food production, and strengthen economic growth

Ibadan, 3 March 2025 – The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is hosting His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, during an official visit to IITA headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria. This visit highlights the strong collaboration between IITA/CGIAR and the Government of Sierra Leone in advancing agricultural transformation through the Feed Salone agenda. During the visit, President Bio will engage

At the recently concluded Africa Business Forum (ABF) 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, IITA–CGIAR Director of Private Sector Partnerships, Dr Debo Akande, led an IITA delegation at the high-profile event hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Centered around the theme, “From Potential to Prosperity: Activating Africa’s Regional Value Chains,” the forum brought together key stakeholders to drive discussions on sustainable industrialization, development of

Urbanization is a major driver of biodiversity loss worldwide, with low- to middle-income countries in the global south facing the most severe consequences. The challenge is compounded by the lack of comprehensive data and logistical difficulties such as insecurity, inaccessible roads, and expensive running costs, making biodiversity studies in these regions particularly difficult. Innovative approaches are needed to track biodiversity

This quote gives meaning following the Tanzania Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology’s presentation of the High-Level Recognition Award in Science, Technology, and Innovations to Dr Kiddo Mtunda, a seasoned plant breeder from IITA–CGIAR. The award ceremony attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Honorable Dr Doto Mashaka Biteko took place during the 9th Science, Technology, and Innovation Conference