News Overview

Agriculture is one of Africa’s most important economic activities, providing employment opportunities and contributing to the average GDP for exported produce. Moreover, African agriculture generates income and enhances food production to meet rapidly growing population demands. IITA, in partnership with two other CGIAR centers, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and Bioversity International, had been implementing the Consortium for

On 15 September, the Business Incubation Platform (BIP) of IITA hosted the official launch of the “Insects4Feed Impact Cluster” project at the Institute’s Conference Center. The Government of The Netherlands awarded the project to Nigeria, and IITA BIP is one of the implementing partners together with the University of Ibadan (UI), New Generation for Nutrition (NGN), etc. The project seeks to raise

CGIAR participated in the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2021 themed: Science and Innovation for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems in Africa through a side event organized by Africa-based CGIAR centers led by IITA. The side event, held on 6 September, had the theme “Pathways to recovery and resilient food systems.” The session introduced One CGIAR and its Africa research, innovation

The Acting British High Commissioner, Her Excellency, Ms Gill Atkinson, and her team visited IITA headquarters to familiarize themselves with the Institute’s activities. Hilde Koper, IITA Deputy Director General, Corporate Services, welcomed the team during the 27 August visit and introduced IITA activities, including its hub and youth programs. The group visited the Germplasm Health, Virology and Diagnostics Unit and Genetic Resources Center,

The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) project scientists demonstrated the use of AKILIMO tools to cassava stakeholders during the Dar es salaam International Trade Fair famously known as “Sabasaba exhibition” in Dar es salaam Tanzania. The exhibition highlighted how farmers could increase cassava productivity using the AKILIMO tools. Sabasaba, a Swahili word for “seven seven” is an annual national holiday occurring

With the increasing unemployment rate among youth in Nigeria, development stakeholders believe that agriculture can serve as a source of alleviating poverty and unemployment, both of which are closely linked. According to a study carried out by Romanus Osabohien, under the IFAD-sponsored IITA–CARE project, youth engagement in agribusiness can significantly contribute to increasing per capita income and reducing poverty in Nigeria. The study

On 20 August, the University of Nigeria (UNN) Alumni Association visited the IITA headquarters to strengthen its partnership with IITA to ensure food security in the country. Hilde Koper-Limbourg, Deputy Director General Corporate Services; Michael Abberton, IITA’s Director for West Africa Hub; and Toyin Oke, Head of Resource Mobilization, Protocol, and External Liaison Office, welcomed the team. Koper familiarized the

Better alignment to the needs and priorities of African countries, demand-driven partnerships to using digital tools to disseminate and scale out research knowledge and technologies to increase agriculture production while taking care of the environment, providing science-based evidence for decision making to increase farmers’ resilience to climate change and addressing youth unemployment… These and others are among the priority interventions