IITA–CGIAR continues to drive efforts to improve the nutritional content of staple crops, ensuring that communities that depend on them for food have access to a wider range of essential nutrients. In collaboration with its partners, the Institute has already released more than 200 improved crop varieties with significant impact on food security and nutrition.
From 22 to 24 September, IITA welcomed delegates from Groupe Nutriset, NutriK, and Sow AgriTech Limited to its headquarters to explore stronger collaborations in nutrition, Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), and agricultural value chains. The delegates who are partners include Dr Monique Chan Huot from Nutriset, Mr Abdoulkader Yonli from NutriK, and Dr Mounirou Sow from Sow AgriTech Limited. The visit particularly focused on opportunities to expand groundnut production, a key raw material in Nutriset’s nutritional products.
With a global mandate to combat malnutrition, Groupe Nutriset work with partners to develop a variety of groundnut-based nutritional solutions designed to address diverse needs, from treating and preventing malnutrition to providing dietary support for sick patients. These products cater to different stages of life, from infancy through adulthood.
In a meeting with the IITA management team, hosted by Head of Capacity Development Office, Zaina Sore, Dr Chan Huot highlighted the Groupe’s impact. She noted that they have 147 million beneficiaries supported nutritionally with their products since 2015. She added that by 2024, there were 8.1 million beneficiaries supported nationally with the products. “We are interested in expanding collaboration beyond groundnut to other IITA mandate crops,” she said.
The delegation toured IITA’s facilities including Virology Unit, Genetic Resources Center (GRC), the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health, Cassava Processing Unit, Bioscience Unit, Maize, Cowpea and Soybean fields. They commended the innovative value addition efforts with various crops and the quality of the end products, especially the various healthy products made from cassava.
Highlighting their interest, they noted their desire to partner in crops like soybean, cassava, and plantain. The team also indicated interest in short-term partnerships with IITA’s Seed Tracking Program and Youth in Agribusiness initiatives, as well as long-term collaborations on aflatoxin management and research.
Reinforcing their commitment, Dr Chan Huot stated: “We are interested in nutrition-sensitive agriculture with sustainable economic models, and we are happy that this is practiced at IITA in an advanced manner. We have seen a lot of biofortified crops that would help us in developing nutritional solutions to fight against malnutrition, which is our goal.”
She added that her team would follow up with the IITA nutrition and breeding teams, and prepare a concept note for IITA management to frame the partnership in a broader and more impactful way.
Together, IITA and Groupe Nutriset aim to strengthen food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agricultural development across Africa.
Contributed by Ochuwa Favour Daramola and Alice Omoteji
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