{"id":18395,"date":"2026-06-20T13:05:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T13:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/cgiar-highlights-africa-china-opportunities-for-resilient-agrifood-systems-in-beijing\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T16:47:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:47:48","slug":"cgiar-highlights-africa-china-opportunities-for-resilient-agrifood-systems-in-beijing","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/cgiar-highlights-africa-china-opportunities-for-resilient-agrifood-systems-in-beijing\/","title":{"rendered":"CGIAR highlights Africa\u2013China opportunities for resilient agrifood systems in Beijing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dr<\/a>
Dr Simeon Ehui with other panelists during the panel session.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nAt the recent 2025 World Agrifood Innovation (WAFI) Conference in Pinggu, Beijing,IITA \u00a0Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, joined global leaders, government officials, researchers, and private sector innovators to deliver a compelling address on the future of resilient agrifood systems and Africa\u2013China cooperation.\n\nSpeaking during the high-level dialogue and the launch of the International Cooperation Initiative, Dr Ehui emphasized that resilience is no longer an abstract goal but \u201cthe design principle we must apply to every seed, every service, and every supply chain.\u201d He underscored the urgency of transforming agrifood systems as climate shocks intensify, supply chains face repeated disruptions, and millions of African livelihoods remain vulnerable.\n\n
\"Dr<\/a>
Dr Simeon Ehui during his presentation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nRepresenting CGIAR and IITA, Dr Ehui highlighted the organizations\u2019 comparative advantage: turning science into scalable innovations. He shared examples of Africa-wide impact, including climate-resilient varieties of maize, cassava, cowpea, soybean, rice, and banana; regenerative agronomy packages; digital advisory services reaching millions via SMS, apps, and radio; and strengthened seed systems that ensure high-quality planting material reaches last-mile farmers.\n\nAfrica\u2013China partnerships for transformation<\/strong>\n\nA central theme of Dr Ehui\u2019s address was the opportunity for deeper, more strategic Africa\u2013China collaboration. He noted China\u2019s strengths in seed technology, irrigation, mechanization, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy also, Africa\u2019s growing markets, youth talent, and need for climate-smart solutions.\n\n\u201cTogether, we can co-create technologies, build value chains, and shape investment models that work at continental scale,\u201d he said.\n\nDr Ehui outlined four priority areas where cooperation can accelerate impact:\n\nCo-creation of climate-resilient technologies:<\/strong> Joint breeding pipelines for heat-tolerant, drought-resistant, biofortified, and pest-resilient crops\u2014co-developed and tested by African and Chinese research teams.\n\nMechanization and postharvest innovation<\/strong>: Scaling affordable two-wheel tractors, planters, threshers, and solar-powered drying and cold storage systems, complemented by local manufacturing networks.\n\nDigital agronomy and open innovation platforms:<\/strong> Building interoperable data ecosystems that integrate weather, soil, crop, and market information using advanced technologies including 5G, IoT, and remote sensing.\n\nBlended finance for resilient value chains:<\/strong> Risk-sharing instruments that mobilize private capital, support seed companies, and reward climate-smart practices.\n\nWith the launch of the International Cooperation Initiative, CGIAR and IITA proposed a five-pillar framework to move from \u201ccooperation to co-creation\u201d:\n
    \n \t
  • Joint R&D and proof-of-scale through multi-country breeding and agronomy pipelines.<\/li>\n \t
  • Open digital infrastructure with common standards and shared data governance.<\/li>\n \t
  • Resilient value chain platforms for priority staples and orphan crops.<\/li>\n \t
  • Performance-based finance that rewards resilience, inclusion, and low emissions.<\/li>\n \t
  • Talent and enterprise exchange for young scientists, engineers, and agripreneurs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nDr Ehui described a vision of success where farmers grow climate-ready varieties, SMEs adopt efficient mechanization, digital advisory becomes borderless, and women and youth lead thriving agribusinesses across Africa.\n\nHe urged governments to align regulatory pathways and invest in climate-smart rural infrastructure; investors to support blended-finance instruments and data systems; researchers and private sector players to adopt shared R&D and data standards; and farmer organizations to co-design and evaluate solutions.\n\n\u201cResilience is achievable and profitable when we design for it,\u201d Dr Ehui concluded. \u201cAfrica\u2013China partnerships can help us move faster and farther\u2014from labs to livelihoods, from pilots to portfolios, from cooperation to co-investment.\u201d\n\nThe participation of IITA and CGIAR at this high-level forum reinforces the institute\u2019s commitment to building globally connected, locally impactful solutions that strengthen food systems and improve livelihoods across Africa and beyond.\n\nContribu\u00e9 par \u2019Timilehin Osunde<\/em>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    At the recent 2025 World Agrifood Innovation (WAFI) Conference in Pinggu, Beijing,IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, joined global leaders, government officials, 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