Bioscience CENTER
BIOSCIENCE CENTER – Ibadan, Nigeria
The IITA Bioscience Center was established in 1990, at the onset of the genomic revolution, to harness emerging DNA and molecular technologies for crop improvement in Africa. The center’s founding strategy focused on building partnerships with advanced laboratories in developed countries while simultaneously sharing expertise with National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS).
Currently led by Prof. Michael Abberton, the Bioscience Center has continually expanded to remain at the forefront of molecular and genomic innovations, particularly in applying DNA-based tools to enhance crop productivity and resilience.
Mission and objectives
- Decode genetic information linked to desirable crop traits.
- Support crop improvement programs using molecular tools.
- Conduct applied research that directly contributes to agricultural development and food security in Africa.
- Build capacity through training, workshops, and hands-on sessions for students, researchers, and NARS partners.
Key activities and functions
- Molecular and genomic research
- Applying molecular markers to identify traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and nutritional quality.
- Conducting genomic studies to understand genetic diversity and inform breeding decisions.
- Collaborating with breeding programs to integrate molecular insights into crop improvement pipelines.
- Training and capacity building
- Organizing seminars, workshops, and hands-on training for graduate students and scientists.
- Supporting universities and research institutes in Nigeria and across Africa with access to modern infrastructure and advanced facilities.
- Enhancing the skills of researchers in DNA-based techniques, bioinformatics, and molecular diagnostics.
- Partnerships and collaborations
- Engaging with international research laboratories to exchange knowledge and access cutting-edge technology.
- Working closely with national and regional agricultural research systems to strengthen African scientific capacity.
- Supporting collaborative projects that link molecular research to practical agricultural solutions.
Strategic importance
- Providing molecular insights to accelerate crop improvement programs.
- Supporting sustainable agricultural development through science-based interventions.
- Enhancing food security in Africa by ensuring crops are resilient, productive, and genetically diverse.
- Building human capital in molecular sciences to strengthen African agricultural research capacity.
The IITA Bioscience Center is a leading molecular and genomics hub in sub-Saharan Africa, applying cutting-edge DNA technologies to support crop improvement, research, and capacity building. Its work strengthens agricultural development, food security, and regional scientific expertise, positioning IITA as a center of excellence in biotechnology and plant genetics.