News Overview

In a recent series of conversations with CGIAR Knowledge Management teams, Sara Jani and Valentina De Col from ICARDA interviewed members of IITA’s knowledge management team, Olayemi Oluwasoga, Open Data Engagement Manager, and Olawamiwa Adeoluwa, Data Analyst and Archival Specialist. They explored CGIAR’s collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on AGRIS and AGROVOC. AGRIS

Banana is one of the most important staple crops worldwide, following rice, wheat, and maize. In Africa, bananas and plantains are also an important source of income for 5.6 million households and are cultivated on 3.9 million hectares. The forecast is that the production of bananas and plantains over the next 30 years will become 60 million tons annually after

IITA has developed and released 400 high-quality cassava varieties across Africa for four product profiles, namely industry, fresh market, biofortification, and granulated and paste products, with 56 of these varieties released in Nigeria, the largest cassava producer in Africa. Introducing these new varieties can potentially rejuvenate the declining cassava value chain. IITA has had a significant impact through its outreach,

Chinese delegates from the China Agriculture University (CAU), led by IITA-CGIAR Board member Fan Shenggen, visited the institute from 28 August to 1 September. The week-long meeting explored areas of collaboration and discussed partnership engagements between IITA and CAU. IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Simeon Ehui, received the delegates alongside other management staff and IITA research scientists. Speaking on

The Government of Japan and IITA launched a new project to support self-reliance and provide employment opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Northeast Nigeria. This is in response to the insecurity situation in the region, where approximately 1.9 million people have reportedly been displaced. These IDPs continue to rely on emergency humanitarian aid to survive, and for over a

Over 70 IITA staff met in Malawi to strategize and plan to respond to challenges undermining the transformation of agrifood systems in Southern Africa. Southern African countries did not receive adequate rains in 2023/24 production systems and harvested below average yield, constraining household purchasing capacity and causing high levels of poverty and food insecurity. The week-long retreat, with the theme

To empower agripreneurs, youth, and women to adopt a sustainable agriculture practice in Niger, the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique au Niger (INRAN), the national partner of the BBEST Project in Niger held a training workshop on producing and using black soldier fly (BSF)-based products for the youth, women, beneficiaries of the Decentralized Unit and private BSF Units’ owners

IITA–CGIAR hosted the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Pieter Leenknegt, accompanied by Advisor for Economic Diplomacy Genco Sanli, at the institute’s headquarters on 25 August. His visit explored potential collaboration between IITA and the Belgian government to increase agricultural opportunities and foster sustainable development in the sector. IITA West Africa Director and Head of Genetic Resources Center Michael Abberton welcomed and briefed