To ensure food security globally, CGIAR-IITA, through its African yam bean project at Genetic Resource Center (GRC), has carried out a participatory landrace selection of African yam bean (AYB) at an event in Kano, Nigeria, on 13-14 February. A similar selection exercise was also done in December 2021 on IITA experimental fields in Ibadan and Ikenne stations. The objective is
Maize is one of Tanzania’s most important food crops, and the country is the largest producer in East Africa. Groundnut, another major staple, is one of the chief annual crops cultivated in Tanzania. Both crops, produced mainly by smallholder farmers, are the most affected by aflatoxins—a highly toxic, cancer-causing food contaminant. Tanzania faces lots of challenges in achieving full production
Research shows that women are poorly represented in science, accounting for less than 30% of scientists and researchers worldwide. There is a need for women scientists to arise as mentors to inspire and guide more women to build careers in science. This was the focus of discussion in a recent CGIAR Women in Research and Science (WIRES) meeting organized to celebrate the International
The world is presently facing a myriad of challenges including, climate change, COVID-19, natural disasters, increased cost of living, and conflict. These in turn affect food safety and security—a situation that transcends frontiers across the globe. Conflicts in countries like Ukraine, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Mali, Nigeria, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Palestine, Mexico, and Haiti, among others, are preventing the full potential of
Malnutrition, especially micronutrient deficiency has been associated with anemia, fatigue, and in some cases implicated in blindness and 17% of all deaths in children younger than five years in developing countries. While micronutrient deficiency is a form of malnutrition, it has been implicated in stunted growth in infants, increased oxidation stress, low immunity to infections, and slow mental development. In
Siraj Ismail Kayondo, a Research scientist at CGIAR–IITA, is making a significant impact in the cassava industry with his in-depth research on the genetic architecture of Cassava Brown Streak Virus Disease (CBSD) resistance. Through his PhD research and experience as a forage breeder at the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Kayondo brings a vast pool of knowledge and expertise to his role as part
CGIAR, in collaboration with Wageningen University, has developed a free online course on innovation and scaling with Spanish and French versions. The course is divided into six modules providing answers to queries such as the meaning of innovation, how innovations are scaled as part of packages, understanding why gender and diversity matter in relation to innovation and scaling, and how to support
The EU-DeSIRA Malawi team comprising Program Manager Marco Vacirca and Finance Manager Chapresto Cortes Maria visited on-farm trials at Mulanje and Salima and on-station at Chitala Research Station from 6 to 9 March. The CGIAR centers showcasing their trials were IITA, CIMMYT, CIP, CIAT, ICRISAT, IFPRI, WorldFish, and ICRAF. DeSIRA (Climate-smart innovations to improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability of agriculture and