The IITA
CGIAR
No. 2350
17–21 October 2016
IITA kicks off 50th anniversary celebration in Ibadan with IFAD president as guest of honor
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serve your desires upon my retirement in April (2017),” Nwanze said.
ITA commenced its golden jubilee celebration, with a launching event at the headquarters in Ibadan, on Wednesday, 19 October. The launch event featured the president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr Kanayo F. Nwanze, as the guest of honor.
The launch event was attended by partners that included several commissioners of state, local government officials, University Vice Chancellors, and other distinguished guests. The program included an exciting Youth Agripreneur debate, which featured representatives of different chapters of the IITA Youth Agripreneurs, on various agriculture-related topics.
Dr Nwanze talked about the rejuvenation of Africa through IITA’s interventions, and the impact of youth engagement in agriculture. Welcoming the guests to the gathering, Dr Kwesi Atta-Krah, chair of the organizing committee of the 50th anniversary celebration, remarked: “Today we initiate celebration of our institute. However, an institution is nothing without its people. So today, we celebrate the people of IITA. This celebration is about you, us, and everybody who has been contributing to IITA and what it is today.” In his remarks, the IITA Director General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, expressed delight for IITA’s 50 years of achievement. He used the opportunity to seek a continuous partnership with IFAD to continue nourishing Africa. “I welcome you all--the IFAD president and other distinguished guests to IITA. Thank you, all, for making out time to share in our joy. I want to use this medium to offer to the IFAD president, the readiness of IITA, to be used as a ‘tool’ in his plan to create a foundation for youths in agribusiness”. During his keynote address, President Nwanze said: “It is with great pleasure and gratitude to be here, and an honor to initiate the 50th anniversary celebration of IITA. IITA holds a special place in my heart. There is much for IITA to be proud of over the past 50 years; it is an institution that has helped rebuild the resilience of millions of smallholders in Africa. Its work has resulted in less women, men, and children going to bed hungry every night… It is an institute of incubation for the youths who have a bright future in agriculture.”
IFAD President Kanayo Nwanze
He urged the youths to seize the opportunities in agriculture and to never hesitate in exploring the different and ever growing avenues in the agricultural sector, and accepted Sanginga’s request of collaboration and partnership. “Development must begin in Africa, by Africans, and for Africans, because it is an intrinsic process. We must invest in development, and this is where IITA comes in; this is where the IITA-IFAD partnership is very crucial, because we will invest and work as partners”, he stated. “When I retire, I will devote my energies to working with young people—motivate, mentor, and support them…I accept the offer to use IITA as the tool with which to further the cause of the movement… I will
At the end of the program, the IITA youth group presented several gifts to the IFAD President for his support to the youth movement from inception. Among the gifts were a specially designed Agripreneur lapel pins, a plaque, paintings, a photo album, and a banner proclaiming: ”Dr Kanayo Nwanze: the father of the future billionaires of Africa”. Dr Nwanze told the youths that he was touched by their ingenuity, genuineness, and confidence: “I can’t say thank you enough. I should be the one thanking you—you gave me the opportunity to plant the seed 4 years ago that started this youth movement. You honor me with that seed.” And to DG Sanginga, he said: “Thank you for watering and fertilizing the seed, and encouraging our young people. You have transformed this institution.”
Dr Kanayo F. Nwanze addresses the staff and guests during the 50th anniversary launch program, 19 October, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria.
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UC GloCal Health Fellowship selects IITA Cameroon as a new site, announces new window for funding research
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he University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI) GloCal Health Fellowship has selected IITA-Cameroon also known as the Congo Basin Institute (CBI), as one of its new training sites in Africa where supportive mentorship, research opportunities, and a collaborative research environment is provided for young and upcoming scientists. With this new development, the CBI joins 28 other outstanding research training sites in 17 low and middle-income countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, China, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, Panama, Peru, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, and Vietnam. Its researchers and students will now receive guidance from the 10 campuses of the University of California in their studies. CBI was inaugurated in Yaoundé on 20 June 2015 as a center that promotes biodiversity and provides research facilities for both undergraduate and graduate students to undertake studies for the protection of the ecosystem, biodiversity as well as enhancing the food security status of the African continent. It is headed by IITA
Caption here Tom Smith, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, talks to visitors about bird diversity.
senior entomologist Rachid Hanna, who is also the IITA Country Representative for Cameroon. UCGHI GloCal Health Fellowship has also announced 1 December 2016 as the deadline for prospective candidates interested in studying health-related issues to apply to its mentored fellowship in one of its affiliate sites. Read the full announcement here. The Congo Basin Institute was recently featured in a chapter in the online book
“Central African Forests Forever” published by Meindert Brouwer, an independent communication consultant, writer, and speaker based in the Netherlands. He specializes in the economic value and benefits of nature conservation and sustainable use of nature. The book can be accessed online at http://www. centralafricanforests.org/about-the-book/ and a pdf version of CBI chapter downloaded at (http://www.centralafricanforests.org/wpcontent/uploads/CAFF_10_CBI_Meindert_ Brouwer.pdf).
IITA receives special commendation
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uring a working visit to IITA Kalambo Station, Adolphe Mulumba, the General Secretary (equivalent to Permanent Secretary) of the National Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock of the DR Congo, lauded IITA for its initiatives towards reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition and noted that they are in line with government’s development programs. Mulumba who was accompanied by the South Kivu Provincial Governor, His Excellency Marcelin Chishambo Ruhoya, was taken on a tour of the research and agroprocessing facilities in the Station by Chris Okafor, the Officerin-Charge of the Kalambo station. At the Soil Microbiology Laboratory, Mulumba was so impressed by the state-of-the art equipment in the laboratory that he invited IITA to explore the possibility of developing a soil and land-use map of some provinces in DR Congo. He said that better soil and land-use maps are needed to guide interventions and development. He spent ample time with the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IKYA) as he went through their agroprocessing enterprises IITA Bulletin 2350
covering high quality cassava flour processing, soy milk production, and development of food products. The visitors were visibly excited to see “Made in Bukavu” cassava products, professionally packaged for dispatch to supermarkets in Bukavu. Mulumba showed special interest in IKYA’s fish farming enterprise. He visited IKYA’s fish ponds located 18 kilometers from the Station. He praised the initiative and advised IKYA against the importation
of fingerlings which he attributed to be the source of fish diseases in southern Africa. He encouraged the youth to explore local production of fish feed and livestock integration. To conclude his visit, he expressed his appreciation to the Governor for his support to IITA, and to the Director General of IITA, management, and staff he gave his warmest thanks. “IKYA is a role model for youth in the country”, he concluded.
IKYA members giving some agroprocessing products to (L-R) the South-Kivu Governor HE Marcelin Chishambo Ruhoya and General Secretary Adolphe Mulumba.
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Scientists to develop new roadmap for African Yam Bean
Participants to the Africa Yam Bean symposium.
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ver 40 scientists attending the African Yam Bean (AYB) symposium have agreed to develop a roadmap for the improvement of AYB in a bid to rejuvenate research and develop this neglected and underutilized food crop in Nigeria. The symposium was organized on 18−19 October by the IITA Genetic Resources Center (GRC) in Ibadan. It brought together scientists and students working on AYB in Nigeria, to find out why the food crop has been abandoned with negligible funds dedicated to its research. According to the researchers, this lag has made it difficult for the crop to fulfill its potential. The discussions therefore
centered on avenues to build a stronger network for collaboration and a wider program for Nigeria to develop the AYB. The symposium encompassed a series of presentations, discussions, and plenary sessions in the fields of agronomy, genetics, and breeding. Michael Abberton, Head, GRC, expressed disappointment over the lack of support for the crop. “We found out that despite the fact that the GRC receives a large number of requests for AYB seed from researchers and students in Nigeria, showing that many studies are in progress at universities, there remains a low level of funding and awareness that could support further development of the crop
as an option for smallholder farmers,” Abberton disclosed. Abberton also said the symposium will develop a roadmap for the development of the AYB. “We brought together researchers in this symposium, to think about how the crop can be utilized, and then develop a road map on how to move forward on the research of this leguminous plant, the advocacy, development, and promotion of the crop in Nigeria”. The participants agreed to develop and publish this roadmap and also formed a consortium for research collaboration, advocacy, and resource mobilization.
Kinshasa Agripreneurs participate in international agricultural show
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he IITA Youth Agripreneurs in Kinshasa (IYAKIN) were participants at the first ever International Agricultural Fair of Kinshasa which was held on 16 to 25 September. The fair was organized to show the country’s potentials in agriculture, attract new investors, strengthen public− private partnership, and increase business and job creation opportunities through meetings and exchange of experiences. Guided by the theme “Together for a Successful and Sustainable Agriculture”, the fair also provided an opportunity for the promotion of businesses in the agricultural sector that could benefit the youth. It identified new agricultural markets as well as showcased agricultural innovations and promoted locally made products with an emphasis on establishing a network in the animal and fishery sectors. IYAKIN showcased a variety of products from cassava and soybean and also explained how they can be used by young people to develop new enterprises in DRC. Visitors including policy makers, politicians, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, representatives IITA Bulletin 2350
of companies, and NGOs visited the exhibition booth of IYAKIN. In another development, two IITA scientists, Bernard Vanlauwe and Paul Woomer went on a 5-day visit to IYAKIN that took place on 12–16 September and served three main purposes. Firstly, to see the progress of the activities of the Agripreneurs in cassava processing, mushroom production, and the cassava project at the Bukanga-Lonzo AgroIndustrial Park. Secondly, to determine the value chain in which each of the
Agripreneurs within the ENABLE Youth project framework is involved, and thirdly, to initiate vegetable production as part if the Agripreneurs’ efforts. During this working visit, Vanlauwe and Woomer visited the Agripreneurs production units within IITA-Kinshasa station and the Bukanga Lonzo Agroindustrial Park located 260 km from Kinshasa. They also organized working sessions that focused on the search for key information for loan applications and the development of business plans.
Agripreneurs Sandrine (in green) and Lisette (in red) briefing the visitors to the IYAKIN exhibition stand.
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“Big brothers” come back to IITA for commercialization
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econnection and commercialization met on 18−20 October when Dr Moctar Touré from Senegal, and Mr Birama Sidibé from Mali, long-time friends of IITA DG Nteranya Sanginga, visited Ibadan to initiate a partnership− support relationship with the Institute that would benefit many start-up businesses in Africa. The duo were warmly received by DG Sanginga, who gleefully welcomed his old friend Touré, with whom he had interacted in the past around African agricultural research for development. “I am very pleased to see you again after a long time, and knowing that you want to partner with IITA as a private sector actor is delightful news. Your interest is clearly in line with IITA’s vision in terms of engaging the private sector and extending the products of IITA research to the end users,” said DG Sanginga.
DG Sanginga welcoming his old friends.
tour as impressive and fascinating, and applauded DG Sanginga for the rapid growth of the Institute.
Dr Touré is currently a member of the Senegalese National Academy of Sciences, the African Academy of Sciences, and the Global Science Academy. He was a former World Bank Executive and chair of the Africa Corroborating DG Sanginga’s stance, Mr Harvest’s Board of Directors. Mr Sidibé, Sidibé said IITA has helped many private sector organizations grow.
on the other hand, is an executive of AGROBIOTECH (Bamako, Mali) and was a former Director of Shelter Africa, and former VP of the Islamic Development Bank. They are both engaged in setting up a commercial propagation tissue culture lab with the capacity to supply commercial farmers in the ECOWAS region with certified drought- and disease-resistant planting materials.
“There is only one door to knock on for opportunities, technical excellence, and high technology: IITA’s door. We are pleased with the leadership vision here and seek a strategic partnership, mentorship, and training from IITA,” he said. Dr Touré expressed his aspiration for a win−win partnership with IITA. “It is important to note that we are looking for a win−win partnership with IITA, the sort of partnership that will open new doors and opportunities for many startup businesses, similar to the one we are initiating back home,” he disclosed. The duo went on a tour around IITA that showcased various interventions and technologies. They described the From (L-R ) Mr Sidibé and Dr Touré at the Cassava processing unit.
Announcements • Cassava Mechanization Workshop, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 27–28 October. • Visit of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 30 October. • First Regional Cocoa Symposium, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 8–10 November. More details available here. • IITA Open Day, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 12 November • Marketplace Event, Humidtropics, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 15–17 November. • P4D (Partnerships for Delivery) Week, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 21–25 November. • 7th International Nitrogen Initiative Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 4–8 December. More details available her Got a story to share? Please email it with photos and captions every Wednesday to Katherine Lopez (k.lopez@cgiar.org), Jeffrey T. Oliver (j.oliver@cgiar.org), Catherine Njuguna (c.njuguna@cgiar.org), or Adaobi Umeokoro (a.umeokoro@cgiar.org).
IITA Bulletin 2350
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IITA holds first-ever science day in Tanzania
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ITA scientists and senior support and administration staff working in Tanzania gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for a “Science Day” event and listened to over 30 presentations from each other on the ongoing research efforts and activities in the country. The science day was held on 29–30 September. “The event was very successful. We had all the scientists, senior staff, and PhD students based in Tanzania sharing on their work, their approaches, progress, impact so far, and future plans. Through these presentations, everyone was able to get a clear picture of what everyone else was doing and an overview of the breadth and range of activities we are carrying out in the country,” said Victor Manyong, IITA Director for Eastern Africa who led in organizing the event.
Participants to the science day in Tanzania.
looking into gender issues and impact studies to track the Institute’s progress on poverty reduction in line with its refreshed strategy to move 11.5 million people out of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.
The presentations focused on the IITA research areas of the Institute such as crop improvement of cassava and banana— important key staples in the country; control of major diseases such as the cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown streak disease ravaging the crop; and value addition through improved processing technologies.
The seven PhD students currently based in Tanzania presented on their research. These ranged from efforts to tackle soybean rust, to understanding the impact of climate change on the cassava virus diseases pandemic and how the different cassava varieties interact with the cassava brown streak viruses to analyzing the economic efficiency of different cassava processing methods and understand what motivates farmers to Newer research areas in the country were also adopt new innovations. presented such as sustainable intensification of farming systems led by the flagship project Staff from R4D support such as Monitoring Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification and Evaluation, Communication, for the Next Generation (Africa RISING); food Administration, and Facilities Maintenance nutrition and security including efforts to roll were not left behind as well as the Youth out Aflasafe in Tanzania to control aflatoxin Agripreneurs. They too presented on their contamination; and social science research activities.
This is the first ever such event for the Institute. The tradition has been to either to organize hub retreats for all the scientists in the various locations of the hub or to gather all IITA scientists at the Headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria for a one-week event dubbed Research for Development (R4D) week during which scientists and senior staff from all IITA hubs and project country projects get to know each other and their research and activities. However, this year, R4D week has been replaced by a Partnerships for Delivery Week to focus on IITA’s efforts to scale out and commercialize its technologies through partnering with the private sector. The Science Days which will be held in the various countries where IITA works will create a forum where the scientists can learn about the ongoing work. The additional benefit of such a location-based science day is to inform staff about the overall IITA activities in that country.
Fulbright/NATGEO Fellow visits IITA−icipe
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im McDonnell, a journalist on a Fulbright and National Geographic Fellowship, visited IITA’s Central Africa Hub coordination office at icipe in Nairobi. Tim is an environment and science reporter for Mother Jones magazine, a US national affairs magazine in New York whose reporting focuses primarily on climate change. He is currently a research fellow with the Fulbright Program, and his project proposal is about how climate change is complicating the problem of food insecurity. Tim will be undertaking his research in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda and the stories produced will be primarily featured on the National Geographic website. He will be working with IITA in Uganda and also in Nigeria, where he will be based for three months in 2017. IITA Bulletin 2350
Tim made a presentation to IITA staff on his project. He informed the team that his main aim was to bring together science outputs from different research institutes including IITA and deliver the outputs to the audience while putting a human face to the stories. He said that the main reason for his visit to IITA was to interact and learn more about IITA’s work on climate change. After his presentation, IITA scientists and staff involved in the various projects were able to give feedback and suggestions of sites he could visit. One of the proposed sites was Kibwezi where the IITA Kenya Youth Agripreneurs are based. The area is affected by drought and it would be interesting to see how the Agripreneurs have been able to overcome this challenge. Tim was also encouraged to visit farmer cooperatives in Bungoma that had been surveyed under the IITA-COSA project. The IITA
Tim McDonnell gives a presentation to staff in the Central Africa Hub Coordination Office.
team further noted that Tim’s choice of countries would give a good contrast or comparison since in West Africa rainfall quantities were a challenge while in East Africa timing of rainfall was the challenge. page 5