In 2009 the National University of Irel and Galway (NUIG) established an MoU with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to establish a collaborative research and training program on agricultural research for development and food security in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A key feature of the MoU agreement has been a focus on the training of NUIG-IITA PhD Research Scholars with the Plant and AgriBiosciences Research Center (PABC) at NUIG. Three of the first NUIG-IITA PhD Research Scholars trained under this scheme have graduated today from NUI Galway, having been conducting their crop research between IITA research stations (Kenya, Nigeria) and NUI Galway over the past four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Girum Azmach from Ethiopia has been conducting his PhD research (funded by Irish Aid) on developing more nutritious maize varieties that contain higher levels of vitamin A. Such biofortified crops are being developed by IITA and partners to combat \u201chidden hunger\u201d malnutrition amongst the rural poor. Dr Azmach has returned to Ethiopia to contribute to the national maize breeding program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Mercy Kitavi from Kenya has been conducting her PhD research (funded by Irish Aid) on East African Highl and banana, a staple crop of smallholder farmers in the Great Lakes region of sub-Saharan Africa. Mercy\u2019s research has revealed that all varieties of East African Highl and banana lack genetic diversity and are at high risk of being wiped out by new strains of the deadly banana wilt fungus. Dr Kitavi now works on capacity building in East Africa for sweet potato research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Gezahegn Tessema from Ethiopia has been conducting his PhD research (funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs) on underst anding the genetic diversity of yam, an important staple crop in Africa. Gezahegn\u2019s research has improved the underst anding of how yam genetic diversity can be better harnessed in breeding programs to make the crop more resilient and productive to meet future challenges such as climate change. Gezahegn is currently working with IITA on developing improved cassava varieties for food security in sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The research of the three IITA-NUI Galway PhD Scholars was co-supervised by Prof. Charles Spillane (PABC, NUI Galway) and the world-leading IITA scientists Dr Abebe Menkir, Dr Melaku Gedil, Dr Jim Lorenzen, and Dr Morag Ferguson. Prof. Spillane commented, \u201cThe innovative crop research work of these three IITA-NUI Galway PhD Scholars contributes significantly to the broader goals of IITA, NUI Galway\u2019s PABC, and Irish Aid of conducting agricultural research for improving food security and nutrition in developing countries, particularly in Africa.\u201d<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 2009 the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) established an MoU with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to establish a collaborative research and training program on agricultural research for development and food security in 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