News Overview

Urbanization converts natural areas into built environments, and scientists are keenly investigating how this global human-induced activity affects biodiversity to propose actionable plans for amelioration purposes. Adewale Awoyemi, Head of IITA Forest Center, delivered a seminar on 19 October titled “Status of urban ecology in Africa: A systematic review”. The presentation was based on his PhD research supervised by Juan Diego Ibanez-Alamo

CGIAR organized a webinar to discuss One Health. IITA–CGIAR Associate Scientist Titilayo Falade, who works with Mycotoxin/Pathology and Aflasafe Unit, co-led the webinar with Dr Vivian Hoffman, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The webinar featured presentations by IITA Molecular Entomologist Rousseau Djouaka, Dr Arshnee Moodley, Team Leader Antimicrobial Resistance Hub, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and other international experts. Experts at the webinar also

IITA–CGIAR recognizes the importance of agriculture in Africa’s development; hence, it is open to transferring technology to private and government institutions. In line with this, IITA hosted Mme Mamadou Djiwo Barry, the Director General of Centre Pilote de Technonolgie Industrielle (CPTI), Guinea, at the Institute’s headquarters from 8 to 11 November. She visited to explore possible areas of partnership with a

Dr Nteranya Sanginga became the Director General at IITA–CGIAR on 1 November 2011. During his term of 11 years, he has brought about a tremendous transformation in the Institute and the African agricultural landscape. His leadership tenure has strategically positioned the Institute to contribute to achieving 150 million fewer hungry people, 100 million fewer poor people, improving food and nutrition security, as well as

The IITA Ibadan campus is fast becoming a leading eco-tourism hub in Nigeria. Beyond producing research-based products and services that enrich African agriculture, lives, and livelihoods, the campus also boasts a rich base for adventure tours, nature walks, and a relaxation center. The IITA Forest Center organized a workshop on 4 November to sensitize partners in the hospitality chain of IITA services on the tremendous potential

IITA–CGIAR considers the private sector a major stakeholder in the development of Africa’s agriculture; therefore, the Institute welcomes collaboration with diverse private-sector entities. From 29 October to 1 November, IITA hosted delegates from AgBiome Inc and 5Metis Inc at the Institute’s headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria. The two US-based companies were exploring collaboration with IITA in the second phase of their grants from the Bill & Melinda

Scientists have agreed to increase inputs in discovering and conserving yam diversity and aim to upscale the progress made over the years in yam research as a crop widely consumed in Africa. They reached this consensus during a yam genetics and omics research workshop at IITA–CGIAR in Ibadan from 9 to 11 November. The three-day event, attended by 50 participants, was organized

British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, visited IITA–CGIAR accompanied by the High Commission’s Head of Prosperity, Kris Camponi, and Senior Advisor, Wale Adebajo, from 17 to 18 November. The delegation discussed IITA’s long-standing contribution to the development of African agriculture, how the UKAid with HarvestPlus is helping scale biofortified seeds and food products to end-users, and ways to contribute further to