IITA Annual Report 2010 to institutionalize such farmer training approaches within national programs. In another study, we determined that the systematic use of fertilizers can actually reduce the need to clear forests for agriculture and, consequently, prevent the release of massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that contributes to global warming. The study, which looked into land use change scenarios in four West African countries over a period of 10 years, presented empirical data that the significant increases in production in the region during the period would have been possible without the negative side effects of loss of biodiversity and enormous carbon emission and with little or no increase in the land area if smallholder growers used improved varieties and followed seed-fertilizer use recommendations that have been formulated and espoused by agricultural researchers as early as the 1960’s. In southern Africa, we led a multidisciplinary team to survey and catalogue existing pests and diseases of legume crops. The study was aimed at forming the basis to develop a sustainable crop protection strategy for the subregion where legume crops, specifically soybean and cowpea, are being grown in more areas because of their increasing importance in economy and food security. During the year, we rounded up our “Unleashing the Power of Cassava in Africa” project – an initiative designed and implemented in response to the global food price crisis of 2008. Over just two years, the project was able to increase the production of cassava – an important staple – in the participating communities in the seven countries in which UPoCA was implemented by at least 30 percent and enhancing the competitiveness of cassava value chain actors through capacity building and by mobilizing, facilitating access to, and applying fieldproven agricultural technologies. We conducted a re-assessment of the Systemwide Program on Integrated Pest Management (SP-IPM) that we coordinate in order to anticipate and counter future challenges to IPM in the areas of food security and food safety. Related to this, we gathered forward-looking researchers at an expert workshop in Germany in March where researchers presented benchmark IPM technologies and discussed their suitability for different target farmers. New approaches in developing innovative technologies, their adaptability, and methods for delivery were also explored and discussed. During the year, three new projects were initiated that were borne out of close collaboration among the SPIPM member centers, partners, and investors.
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