When PEMNIA WELLNESS products reach households in Nigeria today, from orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) flour in school meals to vitamin A-rich crisps in community shops, they carry the vision of one young woman who turned her curiosity into impact. Opeyemi Adebisi’s journey began in 2022 with a training on OFSP production and value addition organised by the ENABLE-TAAT program at IITA, Ibadan. “That
From 2 to 5 September 2025, the IITA–CGIAR Biotechnology program hosted a four-day training workshop on Genome Editing in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop brought together young African scientists from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, eager to deepen their knowledge and practical skills in this technology. The workshop blended theory with practice. Participants explored the foundations of CRISPR/Cas systems. They
Cassava is the second crop in production volume with an average production of 6.3 million metric tons, and the third most important staple food crop after maize and rice in Tanzania. About 1.9 million stakeholders are involved in business throughout the cassava value chain. The crop’s position signifies the need for strengthening the opportunities for its commercialization for increased government
The IITA–CGIAR biotechnology program has officially launched a new Genome Engineering website. A dynamic digital platform showcasing cutting-edge science that is shaping the future of crops in Africa. The website serves as a hub for knowledge, bringing together information on IITA’s pioneering work in genome engineering and precision breeding in bananas, yams, legumes, and other staple crops. It highlights how researchers are rewriting the
As part of IITA–CGIAR’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of national institutions and partners, the Project Development and Administration Unit (PDAU) held a webinar on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, with 54 participants from 12 partner institutions across locations hosting IITA hubs. The session focused on equipping partner staff with the knowledge and skills to manage development grants effectively, emphasizing donor compliance,
IITA–CGIAR has reaffirmed its commitment to global partnerships that support its mission of alleviating poverty and ensuring food security for millions of farm families across sub-Saharan Africa. On 26 August, IITA welcomed the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nigeria Office, Yuzurio Susumu, to its headquarters in Ibadan. Danbaba Dogara, JICA Technical Staff for the CD Seed Project; Stephen Nwanya,
IITA–CGIAR hosted the close-out workshop of the Building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava Seed System (BASICS-II) project from 25 to 27 August at the headquarters in Ibadan. The three-day event brought together partners and delegates from Nigeria and Tanzania to reflect on five years of achievements and chart the way forward for cassava seed systems in Africa. Funded by the Gates Foundation,
IITA–CGIAR and its partners have achieved a historic milestone in Liberia’s agricultural sector through the Seed4Liberia Project. For the first time in the country’s history, breeder seeds of improved IITA cassava varieties were exported in large quantities, used to establish breeder seed fields, and distributed to 27 pioneering foundation seed producers. These seed entrepreneurs will play a pivotal role in developing