During a 3-day inaugural meeting organized recently by the CGIAR Market Intelligence Initiative Work Package 2 (WP2) in collaboration with the Accelerated Breeding Initiative (TRANSFORM), partners from the West Africa Yam Breeding Network, and experts across various disciplines from Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria met at IITA Headquarters to discuss segmenting yam markets in specific African countries and developing target product profiles for identified market segments.
Yam is a significant staple crop in Africa, particularly in West Africa, where it holds great cultural value and is a major income source. Therefore, the IITA-CGIAR breeding efforts focus on enhancing genetic gains by better understanding yam markets and the demand for yams and yam products.
During the meeting, IITA West Africa Hub Director Michael Abberton emphasized the importance of genetic innovation and highlighted various initiatives centered on breeding and genetic gains within the One CGIAR. He mentioned that IITA had aligned its breeding programs and research structure with CGIAR’s.
Abberton also emphasized the strategic role of market intelligence in IITA and One CGIAR’s breeding programs while advising participants to make the most of their time at the meeting.
John Derera, Senior Director of Breeding and Pre-Breeding (One CGIAR), provided an overview of the CGIAR Initiative on Accelerated Breeding. He discussed the major goals of Accelerated Breeding under One CGIAR, strategies for implementing breeding programs, and the alignment of six major crops to end hunger.
Derera mentioned that Accelerated Breeding is one of the five work packages under the One CGIAR initiative—Refocus, Reorganize, Transform, Discover, and Accelerate. He further explained that one of these work packages focuses on identifying markets where breeders can effectively utilize available resources.
Outlining the desired outcomes that Accelerated Breeding aims to achieve by 2024, including improving genetic gains and strengthening capabilities, He also emphasized the need to enhance leadership and data collection within the breeding programs.
Vish Banda, Product Manager for Roots, Tubers, and Bananas and IITA Focal Point for the Market Intelligence Initiative, emphasized the significance of market intelligence and explained how segmenting yam markets and understanding market segments contribute to the yam breeding efforts under the One CGIAR.
Banda stressed the importance of establishing functional transdisciplinary teams at partner organizations for each crop to review market segments and Target Product Profiles annually, incorporating newly available information.
He added that market segmentation and intelligence bring focus to breeding programs, resulting in better outcomes. Understanding the specific activities related to yam cultivation in different countries enables the breeding team to determine the value they can offer and address the needs of farmers, particularly regarding new varieties.
Dr Bish Das, the Leader for the ABI-TRANSFORM work package, provided background information on WP3 – Transform, which focuses on modernizing and establishing a collaborative CGIAR-NARES breeding network. Das described Transform WP as a step-by-step process that brings breeders together as a network and establishes a framework for the network’s functioning, benefiting the region.
The workshop also addressed topics such as the plant breeding costing tool, stages for breeding setup, and Target Product Profiles for specific market segments. Additionally, it included discussion sessions with the IITA Plant Health, Seed Systems (PROSSIVA), Biometrics, Templates for breeding program assessment, facilities assessment and Food and Nutrition teams.
Contributed by Anita Akinyomade and Ochuwa Favour Daramola
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