{"id":32480,"date":"2026-08-04T15:30:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T15:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iita.org\/?post_type=news-item&p=32480"},"modified":"2026-08-04T15:30:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T15:30:31","slug":"cgiar-africa-director-calls-for-african-led-innovation-to-transform-agrifood-systems-at-aasw9","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/cgiar-africa-director-calls-for-african-led-innovation-to-transform-agrifood-systems-at-aasw9\/","title":{"rendered":"CGIAR Africa director calls for African-led innovation to transform agrifood systems at AASW9"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A
A virtual keynote address by IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, during the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW9) and 10th FARA General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Africa has the scientific talent, institutions and innovative capacity needed to transform its agrifood systems, but greater investment, stronger partnerships and a commitment to scaling homegrown solutions are needed to unlock the continent\u2019s full potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the key message delivered during the 9th<\/sup> Africa Agriculture Science Week and 10th<\/sup> FARA<\/u><\/a> General Assembly, where leaders from across Africa\u2019s agricultural research, policy, and development sectors gathered under the theme \u201cInnovation and Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking during his keynote address delivered at the opening, IITA<\/u><\/a> Directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral et CGIAR<\/u><\/a> Regional Director for Africa, Dr Sim\u00e9on Ehui<\/u><\/a>, challenged the long-held perception that Africa is merely a recipient of agricultural innovations. He argued instead that the continent is increasingly generating globally relevant research solutions to some of agriculture\u2019s most pressing challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfrica is not only a beneficiary of innovation. Africa is also a source of globally relevant research knowledge, technologies, and solutions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calling on governments, development partners, the private sector, and other stakeholders to rethink how success in agricultural science is defined, Dr Ehui stressed that innovation cannot improve livelihoods, strengthen food systems, and deliver impact if it is not accessible or if it fails to respond to local realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlighting the urgent need to respond to climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and rising food and nutrition insecurity through science-driven approaches that place farmers at the center of innovation, Dr Ehui urged stakeholders to look beyond the obstacles and recognize Africa’s greatest strengths: its scientific talent, youthful population, rich biodiversity, growing digital connectivity, and millions of innovative farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing these assets together through science, investment, policy, and strong institutions, he said, is essential to building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInnovation must begin with the problem, not with the technology,\u201d he noted, emphasizing that researchers, extension workers and farming communities should co-design solutions from the earliest stages of research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pointed to African scientists developing climate-resilient crop varieties, biological pest controls, digital advisory platforms, and sustainable soil management practices, while farmers continue adapting scientific knowledge with generations of indigenous experience. The next step, he said, is to strengthen African institutions, invest in Africa-led scientific leadership, and ensure the continent strategically contributes to the global agricultural research agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on proven approaches in addressing existing challenges, Dr Ehui called for greater investment in integrated soil fertility management, efficient fertilizer use, agroforestry, and restoration of degraded landscapes to improve both productivity and environment sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To demonstrate that science is already making a difference, he cited initiatives such as the multi-partner Technologies pour la Transformation Agricole en Afrique (TAAT)<\/u><\/a>, IITA’s cassava improvement program, and the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel as evidence that collaborative research is delivering impact at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These successes demonstrate that Africa does not lack proven innovations; the greater challenge is scaling through effective partnerships, strong seed systems, enabling policies, and sustained investment, he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He emphasized that partnerships involving governments, national research institutions, CGIAR, universities, development partners, the private sector, and farmers would determine whether scientific breakthroughs reach millions of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo single institution can transform Africa’s agrifood systems alone. We must work together to co-design solutions, strengthen national systems, and accelerate the adoption of technologies that respond to farmers’ realities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlighting the importance of knowledge management and adaptive learning, he noted that research creates value only when it is accessible, understood, and applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, he announced that CGIAR is developing a new Africa Strategy designed through broad consultation with African stakeholders to ensure future investments align with national priorities and strengthen African scientific leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He invited delegates to participate in the consultation process, describing it as an opportunity to shape an Africa-led vision for agricultural research and innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing the address, he urged participants to move beyond conference discussions toward measurable action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe urgency of our challenges demands implementation,\u201d he said, calling for concrete commitments that will restore degraded lands, strengthen research institutions, improve food security, and create opportunities for Africa\u2019s growing population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Ehui\u2019s speech concluded with a call for the continent to move \u201cfrom imported solutions to African-led innovations\u201d and from promises of transformation to measurable results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa has the scientific talent, institutions and innovative capacity needed to transform its agrifood systems, but greater investment, stronger partnerships 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