The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) recently organized sensitization training in a correctional facility in Akorede, Ibadan, in Southwest Nigeria. The prison’s Agricultural Service Officer Ibikunle Alonge granted the invitation. Alonge, an experienced extension agent who had previously worked with IITA, works with the Department of Correctional Service (DCS) to train and sensitize farmers. The correctional facility has a community service program
Tanzania’s Agriculture Minister, Hon. Prof Adolph Mkenda, has expressed his appreciation for the scientific endeavors of IITA, which have had a significant impact in finding sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the country’s agriculture sector and assured the Institute of his government’s support. The Minister particularly commended IITA’s work on cassava and banana, which led to the release of new, improved
IITA Director General Dr Nteranya Sanginga was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Aare Afurugbin Ola of the Source (Lead Sower of Wealth and Prosperity of the House Oduduwa) on 11 December in recognition of his outstanding contribution to agriculture, research, and development in Africa. The conferment ceremony at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye, Ojaja II, highlighted
Alice Taylor and Stefan Boessner The global energy system is at the centre of two interlinked challenges. On the one hand, approximately two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions stem from the energy sector. On the other hand, it is also often at the heart of conflicts at an international level, as the current gas supply dispute between the EU
“Telling the stories of the impact agricultural research is making in Africa can only generate positive returns and ensure that those who are invested in the cause of food security are kept abreast of the progress being made and can do more.” IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga said this in December at the Institute’s headquarters during a meeting with his media team. Dr Sanginga
Evaluations offer a chance for reflection, as well as an opportunity for improvement. They unravel the big picture of a program’s journey, the outcomes encountered towards realizing its vision, and uncover hidden gems and “aha” moments. The recent evaluation of the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture delved into the communities of practice (CoPs), like CGIAR’s ontologies CoP work.
The Honda Team from Ogun State visited IITA Headquarters on 8 December to strengthen the partnership between IITA and Honda and explore future areas of collaboration. The team was joined by other representatives from Honda Head Office in Japan, who could not make it down to Nigeria due to restrictions from the newly discovered Omicron variant of the coronavirus. They joined virtually
Sustainable intensification yields multiple benefits in China With approximately 19% of the global population and just 9% of the world’s arable land, China has long sought to improve food production and, in recent decades, potato has played an increasingly important role in that quest. As farmland is lost to urbanization and soil degradation threatens yields, the cultivation of potato in