When people think about agrobiodiversity, they often imagine seed banks, crop trials, or ecosystem services. But behind every saved seed and managed landscape are people–often Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers, and the women who are part of local communities, whose knowledge, labor, and leadership sustain this agricultural diversity. On May 21, 2025, Dr Marlène Elias (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT)
There, under the shade of a tree and in the middle of a candid exchange with community leaders, I heard something that stayed with me: “You can give us all the alternatives to deforestation-free livelihoods, but as long as people in cities keep needing charcoal, someone here will cut down trees to supply it.”
In an inspiring display of leadership, innovation, and community spirit, 11-year-old Joshua Ayankanmi, a grade five student of the International School of IITA, led a special outreach to Akinyele Local Government, Moniya, on 19 June. The initiative, organized as part of Joshua’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) Project Exhibition, focused on the critical theme of sustainable agriculture. Joshua planted vegetables in his
Enhancing efforts in developing agricultural technologies is key to revolutionizing the agriculture sector. Such innovations can significantly reduce losses caused by plant diseases and empower smallholder farmers to make informed decisions throughout the production process. Prof. Amal El-Ghazaly from Cornell University delivered a powerful seminar and valuable insights to the IITA–CGIAR breeders and scientists on “Sensing underground crops to understand the interdependence
In a compelling show of research-community collaboration, the IITA–CGIAR recently hosted its annual Cassava Farmers-Processors Outreach Program—a flagship event jointly organized by Radio IITA and the Cassava Breeding Program (CBP). The event brought together farmers, processors, researchers, and communication experts with a common goal: to transform cassava productivity through innovation, knowledge sharing, adoption of improved varieties, and value addition. Farmers and processors from Osun,
The IITA–CGIAR led BSF for Bio Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability BBEST Project, engaged farmers at the maiden Edition of Channel One TV’s AgriFair, held from 20 to 22 June at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra. During the three-day event, the project exhibited a live display of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) life cycle, attracting livestock and aquaculture producers, vegetable
In a visit aimed at forging a strategic partnership, a team from Lagos Business School (LBS) met with the IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, alongside members of the Institute’s senior management and scientists at IITA headquarters in Ibadan. The collaboration seeks to integrate LBS’s strengths in executive education, leadership development, and agribusiness strategy with IITA’s robust agricultural research and
A high-level delegation from Côte d’Ivoire conducted an immersion at the IITA headquarters in Ibadan from 16 to 18 June. The visit was part of the ‘Programme de Développement des Chaînes de Valeur’ (PDC2V), a national initiative aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, value chain development, and rural livelihoods. The delegation comprised representatives from key Ivorian institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development