11 November 2025, Belém: Italy joined the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation (ACF), becoming the newest member of a growing coalition of countries driving better outcomes for people, nature and the climate. The announcement, made at COP30 in Belém, represents a major boost to global cooperation on transforming the way food is produced, distributed, traded and consumed. Launched
Soil is the basis of human existence. After decades of neglect, deforestation, and a lack of reliable data eroding this natural foundation, a bold new initiative launched in Monrovia is set to restore hope, rebuild knowledge, and redefine how Liberia nurtures its soils and land resources. IITA–CGIAR, in partnership with the European Union (EU), International partners, and the Government of
The International Association of Research Scholars and Fellows (IARSAF) held its 28th annual symposium at the IITA–CGIAR headquarters in Ibadan from 28 to 31 October. The four-day event explored how science and systems thinking can serve as powerful levers for building climate resilience and transforming nutrition across Africa’s food systems. Through engaging discussions and mentorship sessions, participants were challenged to rethink their
With one successful year down, the Yam Optimized Architecture through Gene Editing (YOAGE) project team convened in Nairobi for its annual review meeting. The gathering brought together colleagues from IITA–CGIAR and project partners from Pairwise, USA, to assess the progress made and chart the path forward. Dr Nic Bate, Senior Program Officer from the Gates Foundation, also joined in to listen to
In Mozambique, 37% of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, according to government data (2023). The northernmost provinces of the country present a more critical situation, with between 44 and 47% of children under 5 years of age suffering from chronic malnutrition, despite having high agricultural production nationwide. Among the main causes of this challenge are a lack of
IITA–CGIAR hosted another enlightening edition of its monthly Knowledge Café seminar series, featuring a captivating presentation by Molecular Breeder, Agre Paterne. The hybrid seminar, held on 23 October, focused on “Cutting-edge genomic and bioinformatic applications in yam breeding: Current advances.” Moderated by Cassava Breeding Program Lead, Ismail Rabbi, the session spotlighted the remarkable progress achieved in yam breeding through the application of advanced
Across Cameroon, agriculture remains the backbone of rural livelihoods. Yet, most smallholder farmers continue to rely on rudimentary farming tools and traditional methods, often using non-certified planting materials that limit yields and worsen challenges such as food insecurity and malnutrition. Recognizing this gap, the IITA–CGIAR, in collaboration with the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI), has introduced Farmer Field Days
A global research team co-led by the University of Cambridge’s Crop Science Centre (CSC) [https://www.cropsciencecentre.org] is unlocking the potential of Bambara groundnut in a pioneering project to combat food insecurity and climate change. Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) is a crop with huge potential to address global food and nutrition security challenges. It thrives in poor soils, supports soil health through