News Overview

A major step toward the future of agricultural innovation unfolded as scientists, researchers, and regulators gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the Genome Editing in Crops Workshop from 22 to 25 October. Organized by IITA–CGIAR in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), this workshop aimed to harness cutting-edge genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas, to address key agricultural challenges like drought,

Adopting underutilized legumes is increasingly recognized as a vital strategy for addressing food security, particularly in the era of climate change. These legumes possess unique characteristics, including the ability to thrive under extreme conditions such as high temperatures, drought, and varying soil pH levels.   Many underutilized legumes are rich in essential nutrients, promoting good health while contributing to food security.

Sustainable agricultural mechanization contributes significantly to the development of value chains and food systems as it has the potential to render pre-planting, postharvest, processing, and marketing activities and functions more efficient, effective, and environmentally friendly. However, to fully realize the benefits of mechanization, proper machinery maintenance is essential to ensure its longevity and optimal performance, which is needed for both

IITA and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) have reaffirmed their commitment to a strong partnership, marking an important step in advancing collaborative research, innovation, and capacity-building initiatives. This partnership emphasizes their shared vision to address critical regional challenges, particularly in agriculture and food security. Since the initial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2014 and its renewal

IITA–CGIAR, in partnership with the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) at UC Berkeley, and the African Orphan Crops Consortium (AOCC), celebrated a milestone on 11 October as the participants of cohort II graduated from the African Plant Breeding Academy (AfPBA) CRISPR course. The training is a part of IITA’s broader efforts to equip African scientists with

IITA Forest Center stands proudly today as a leading conservation center in Nigeria. The journey began in 2010 as the IITA-Leventis Forest Project under the leadership of desert ecologist Dr John Peacock, who, out of his love for trees, sought to develop the previous conservation work of other scientists and enthusiasts like Dr David Ladipo and Prof. Shiiwua Manu, who had

Sustainable agricultural mechanization contributes significantly to the development of value chains and food systems as it has the potential to render pre-planting, postharvest, processing, and marketing activities and functions more efficient, effective, and environmentally friendly. However, to fully realize the benefits of mechanization, proper machinery maintenance is essential to ensure its longevity and optimal performance, which is needed for both

To solidify partnership efforts and increase agricultural research activities and innovation scaling in Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, joined participants from 76 countries at the World AgriFood Innovation Conference (WAFI 2024) in China to reinforce the commitment to addressing food security challenges and climate resilience globally. Dr Ehui, during his keynote address at the WAFI Conference, highlighted