News Overview

During the first Side Event at the recent CGIAR Science Week held in Nairobi, Kenya, thought leaders, policymakers, and researchers convened under the theme, “The power of research and partnerships to scale – Lessons from experience.” Speaking during his opening remarks, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, said the urgency to transform food, land, and water system for a

Poor-quality diets remain the leading cause of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases globally. In response to this pressing challenge, bio-fortified and health-enhancing staple crops are emerging as promising solutions to combat hidden hunger, especially among vulnerable populations. These crops are enriched with essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin A and often include additional health benefits, including low-glycemic-index properties and

At a pivotal side event titled “Strengthening CGIAR Engagement with African Agricultural Research, Innovation, and Education Institutions (AARIEIs) in research and scaling,” a new chapter in Africa’s agricultural transformation was officially launched with the presentation of the CGIAR-AARIEIs partnership engagement framework. The framework, co-developed by Africa-based CGIAR centers and the African Agricultural Research, Innovation & Education Institutions (AARIEIs), is a strategic document

Esq. Abiola Afolayan, the Bread for the World Director Policy and Research Institute, embarked on a strategic visit to IITA headquarters in Ibadan between 12 and 16 April. The visit was shortly after the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) summit and the CGIAR Science Week, where she was introduced to the breadth and impact of IITA’s research activities. The purpose of her visit was to explore

Delegates from Côte d’Ivoire’s Council of Coffee and Cocoa (CCC) and the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA) visited IITA-CGIAR headquarters in Ibadan from 7 to 11 April. The familiarization visit marked the first in a series of engagements to build strategic partnerships, explore research models, and adopt modern technologies to strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural development—starting with its key commodities: coffee and cocoa. Côte d’Ivoire is

IITA–CGIAR welcomed Bayelsa State’s Executive Governor, His Excellency Douye Diri, to its headquarters in Ibadan on 14 April. Despite a busy political engagement in Oyo State, the Governor prioritized the visit to IITA—reflecting his strong interest in youth empowerment and agricultural transformation. Governor Diri was accompanied by a distinguished delegation, including the Commissioner for Youth Development, Alfred Kemepado; Bayelsa State Party Chairman, Solomon

In collaboration with Nigeria’s Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) released a medium-maturing top-cross maize hybrid that combines tolerance to fall armyworm and drought with resistance to Striga hermonthica as SAMMAZ77. Compared to the previously released drought-tolerant and Striga-resistant hybrid commercialized in Nigeria (SAMMAZ50), SAMMAZ77 achieved 5–35% higher yields under combined stressors of fall

By James Allen IV May 5, 2025 In the wake of a series of recent crises that drove up global hunger and food insecurity, the world remains far off track in meeting Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2)—ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030. Now, in a chaotic global environment of still more crises and complications, including cuts in official development assistance, what is