The IITA
CGIAR
No. 2326
16–20 May 2016
IITA Trustees’ field visits and Kalambo Station’s facility tour highlight Institute’s progress in research for development
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he IITA Board of Trustees held its first meeting of 2016 (10-14 May) in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, DR Congo. Prior to the meeting, the Trustees spent a day visiting field sites in the province. At the Murhesa Center, a collaborative initiative between the Catholic Diocese of Bukavu and IITA, the Trustees were received by the Catholic Archbishop of Bukavu, Monsignor François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo, who briefed them about the strong partnership between IITA and the network of Catholic organizations in South Kivu for improving livelihoods of the population. “In addition to evangelism, the church must also join the fight against food insecurity and poverty through dissemination of improved technologies and varieties”, the Archbishop said. He hoped that the next joint action would be directed towards livestock (cattle and fish) production. In his response, Bruce Coulman, Board Chair, commended the partnership’s initiative and expressed confidence that it would bring about desired changes in the Catholic community. The Trustees were conducted round the research farm provided by the Church to IITA and its partners for research, demonstration, and training. They inspected trials on cassava soil fertility, yam germplasm evaluation, and banana propagation, the Youth Agripreneurs’ maize processing facility, and the HarvestPlus biofortified soybean multiplication plot. The Trustees were also able to see the Youth Agripreneurs maize processing facility at the Center. A major attraction during the field visit was a cassava processing facility, Communitybased Cassava Processing Center (CCPC) owned by COOPTRAF, a farmers’ cooperative located in Katana, 45 km from Bukavu. The facility which is supported by
IITA Kalambo staff with IITA Board of Trustees during the BOT meeting held in Kalambo, DRC
SARD-SC processes about 12 tons of fresh roots into high quality cassava flour every day which it sells mainly through the IITA Kalambo Youth Agripreneurs (IKYA). The group informed the Trustees that with a guaranteed market, they have secured a loan of $5000 to purchase a flash dryer to boost production.
on cassava, soybean, and fish value chains including why they do what they do and how they make money from them. The field visit and facility tours gave insights into the research-for-development work at IITA Kalambo with partners. Impressed by what they saw, Coulman and DG Sanginga told staff and IKYA members; “We are very happy to be here at Kalambo and very impressed by the excellent processing facilities established here and the youth Agripreneurs’ work on cassava and soybean value chains. You have a beautiful station and your work is magnificent”.
Leading the tour of the facilities at the Station, the Officer in charge, Chris Okafor, took the Trustees and members of IITA Management to the laboratories where the Trustees appreciated IITA’s efforts in tackling cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) in the Great Lakes region in collaboration with partners and the advances made by the lab in the production of affordable inoculants The field visit ended with a stopover at the using local strains for improved legume Youth Center in Bukavu town where the Trustees inspected the various products production. displayed for sale at the marketing outlet. At the processing facilities run by IKYA, These include their own products and the coordinator, Noel Mulinganya took the products of various Community-based visitors around the cassava and soybean Cassava Processing Centers as well as processing buildings and their exhibition biofortified beans from HarvestPlus. The center where cassava and soybean-based Youth Center has also a well-equipped consumable products are on display. Resource and Training Unit. The Trustees IKYA members briefed the Trustees acknowledged the efforts and achievements about their activities, especially their work of the youth agripreneurs.
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Structural reforms underline IITA’s commitment to excellence
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he Institute has announced a new organizational structure aimed at addressing longstanding operational deficiencies and providing a broader range of support within IITA and across projects. The changes were announced by Director General Nteranya Sanginga as part of several decisions reached at the recently concluded meeting of the Board of Trustees (BOT) in Kalambo, DR Congo on 11-14 May. The BOT approved a revised budget of US$ 143 million up from US$ 138 million and reaffirmed that instead of the IITA annual R4D week, the focal point this year will be on Partnerships for Delivery (P4D) with a strong emphasis on the massive opportunities and accomplishments of the Business Incubation Platform (BIP) and youth programs. The Institute will also press on with ongoing preparations for marking its 50th anniversary.
Also approved was the Institute’s Code of Conduct which provides guidelines to staff and all associates on standards of professional conduct and ethical choices to be made in the performance of duties and in the course of their relationship with IITA. According to DG Sanginga, the CGIAR is transitioning and the modality for instituting a new system of government within the CG is now being set. “Reports from Bruce Coulman, BOT Chair, on the CGIAR meeting in Rome show that the CGIAR is transitioning. There is a decision by donors and centers to establish a two tier system of governance; the Systems Council -consisting mainly of donors, and a System Management Board- consisting mostly of centers with a Systems Management Office run by an Executive Director responsible to the System Management Board for executing his/her functions. Under these new arrangements there will be only one CGIAR office to be located in Montpellier and considerably more interaction between the different entities of the system. All centers have been asked
to nominate candidates for the System Management Board and IITA will follow with a nomination.” The organizational reforms are a reflection of changes in the size, scope, and strategic thrust of the Institute and will help streamline decision making, foster greater integration and synergy across projects, strengthen relationships with partner organizations, and create a nimble and dynamic Institute better able to deliver its mandate. As part of the restructuring, Hubs will be afforded a greater level of autonomy becoming in essence, self-governing and self-accounting entities with Directors having full responsibility for staffing decisions. This would give them the flexibility required to effectively carry out their functions. To ensure a greater alignment with priorities and objectives of partner organizations to achieve shared goals, a Director for Systems and Site Integration will be appointed with the responsibility of facilitating collaboration with partners and ensuring that all IITA projects share a common thread that enables them to function as a coordinated whole. Further changes include the merger of the Project Development Office and Project Administration Office into a unit within the Research Support Directorate. The Directorate will have oversight functions over a number of units and will work to enhance the visibility of the Institute, provide institutional support through data and information management as well as ensure improved project administration, monitoring and evaluation. Furthermore, the Institute will also recruit two new Financial Controllers to oversee operations in the Finance Directorate. This would enable the Finance Director to focus on strategy and long-term financial planning and work on establishing a self-regulating independent financial framework for the Hubs and Stations. The Institute has placed renewed emphasis on strengthening relationships
DG Sanginga
with donor organizations and agencies to enable improved delivery of agricultural technological solutions with market potential. To this end, the Partnerships and Capacity Development Directorate will be renamed Partnerships for Delivery (P4D) to better reflect this evolution in strategy. The Directorate will house the entrepreneurial and capacity development units of the Institute such as the Business Incubation Platform (BIP), Youth in Agribusiness, Capacity Development, Delivery and Development, and the newly instituted Mechanization initiative aimed at managing IITA’s mechanization programs and increasing the level of mechanization in agricultural operations in Africa. In addition, a Clearinghouse will be established primarily for coordination of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) and ENABLE youth programs of the African Development Bank as well as other World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) development programs involving broad partnerships and spanning a large number of countries. The Clearinghouse will be led by a DDG and will be headed by Kwame Akuffo-Akoto who leaves his position as Deputy Director General Corporate Services (DDG CS). The newly vacant DDG CS position will be advertised in due course and together with the Head of the Clearinghouse will be tasked with overseeing the proposed reforms. These structural reforms will be implemented in a phased manner from June 2016 and is expected to cost around US$0.5 million.
Got a story to share? Please email it with photos and captions every Wednesday to Katherine Lopez (k.lopez@cgiar.org), Jeffrey T. Oliver (j.oliver@cgiar.org), Catherine Njuguna (c.njuguna@cgiar.org), or Adaobi Umeokoro (a.umeokoro@cgiar.org).
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Tony Elumelu Foundation delegation visits IITA
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n 19 May, a delegation of three from the Tony Elumelu Foundation came to IITAIbadan to discuss ways of working together to empower African youths through agribusiness.
Program (TEEP), will be supporting 10,000 African entrepreneurs with training, coaching, and start-up funding. Such collaboration could see IITA play a significant role mentoring and providing agricultural technical know-how The delegation comprised Abimbola to numerous youths across Africa. Adebakin, Chief Operating Officer; Onajite Emerhor, Research and Administration The Tony Elumelu Foundation team was welcomed by IITA’s Kenton Dashiell, analyst; and Folarin Aiyegbusi, IT specialist. Deputy Director General for Partnerships Discussing with IITA management, the and Capacity Development; Kristina Roing de delegation looked at areas for collaboration. Nowina, Proposal Development Coordinator; With a program that trains and mentors Frederick Schreurs, Chief Executive Officer entrepreneurs all over Africa, the Foundation of the Business Incubation Platform (BIP); expressed strong interest in establishing a and Evelyn Ohanwusi, Head of Partnership system where their entrepreneurs would benefit and Marketing of the IITA Youth from IITA’s technical knowledge in agriculture. Agripreneurs. A large number of their entrepreneurs are The visitors went on a tour of IITA’s BIP young and engage in agriculture. and its businesses, where among other Over the next 10 years, the Tony Elumelu activities they interacted with IITA Youth Foundation, under its Entrepreneurship Agripreneurs (IYA).
The Tony Elumelu Foundation delegation and IITA Management team interact with an IITA Youth Agripreneur.
At the close of the meeting, Roing de Nowina, who initiated the contact with Adebakin during the ENABLE Youth meeting in Abuja in April, stated: “I believe strongly that IITA and the Tony Elumelu Foundation have a very good opportunity to collaborate on the many aspects related to improving agriculture as a business in Africa.”
Ethiopian ambassador to Nigeria explores collaboration with IITA
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he Ethiopian ambassador to Nigeria, Samia Zekaria, paid an official visit to IITA Headquarters in Ibadan on 12 May to expand and strengthen partnership ties between Ethiopia and IITA, as well as gain a better understanding of the ENABLE Youth Program-a collaborative initiative between IITA and the African Development Bank that seeks to empower youths through agribusiness. IITA staff led by Melaku Gedil, Acting Director General, welcomed Ambassador Zekaria, who was joined by Counsellor II Alemu Gesuma. During the briefing, Gedil, an Ethiopian national and head of IITA’s Biosciences Center, highlighted the ongoing collaboration between IITA and Ethiopia (e.g. existing projects, capacity development opportunities involving PhD and Masters students, shortterm training involving Ethiopians at IITA), and emphasized IITA’s commitment to capacity development, especially in the areas of bioscience and biotechnology. He further stressed the need to formalize these collaborations for a lasting impact.
to expanding these roles and addressing the food needs in the country and the region”. The Ambassador said that “agriculture is the only way to reduce poverty in Africa”, and indicated that Ethiopia is looking at enhancing collaboration and capacity building areas of its scientists. Their crops of interest include cassava, maize and cowpea. Ethiopia also showed keen interest in participating in the ENABLE Youth Program.
engaged in agribusiness ventures in IYA. “I see a lot of women and I am very impressed. It is very good to see so many young women engaged in this platform. This is an interesting project to boost agriculture. Africa has a large youth population but a problem with youth unemployment. We have the resources and the personpower. It is a matter of putting the resources together. This is a good project. It makes the youth selfsufficient. We will take your message back The briefing was followed by a tour of the home,” she said. IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) set-up, which is the pioneer model ENABLE Youth seeks to At the wrap-up and feedback session, the ambassador commended IITA’s important replicate and expand. work in agriculture and further expressed The ambassador was introduced to the IYA enthusiasm over future collaborations platform by Frederick Schreurs, Chief Executive between her country and the institution. “As Officer of IITA’s Business Incubation Platform an ambassador I act as a bridge. I am glad (BIP). During the tour, she engaged with IITA that there has been some level of cooperation youth agripreneurs and listened to presentations between my country and IITA. However, I look that highlighted their achievements. She was forward to a more formal partnership.” treated to several products developed and In closing, Sylvia Oyinlola,, IITA Western Africa marketed by the agripreneurs. Hub Regional Administrator, thanked the Ambassador Zekaria expressed pleasure over ambassador for her visit and expressed hope the number of young women meaningfully for further collaboration.
During the discussion, Alfred Dixon, Head of Partnership Coordination Office, and project leader for Cassava Weed Management Project, emphasized the need to institutionalize partnerships between IITA and Ethiopia. He said a host country agreement would enhance efficient and effective partnership of various value chains for diverse crops so that IITA could contribute to the agricultural development of Ethiopia. He also expanded on the concept of the ENABLE Youth Program. On moving forward with the collaborations, he said “We need to put a (Left to Right) Melaku Gedil, Alfred Dixon, Samia Zecharia and Alemu Gesuma discuss future road map, an action plan. We look forward collaboration between IITA and Ethiopia. IITA Bulletin 2326
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DDG-R4D visits new southern Africa Hub facility
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rom 16 to 18 May, Deputy Director General for Researchfor-Development (R4D), Ylva Hillbur, was at the new southern Africa Hub campus in Kabangwe, Lusaka Province, Zambia. During the 3-day visit, the DDG familiarized herself with the campus’ facilities, met with Hub-based scientists, learned of the latest developments in R4D projects and activities in the region, talked to local partners, and updated staff of the Institute’s new and ongoing R4D initiatives. “It’s been quite a while since I was at this site. The last time I was here was way back in September 2013,” said Hillbur. She was referring to the ground breaking event of the Southern Africa Research and Administrative Hub (SARAH) campus during that year. “I am very impressed at how this campus looks now. Although I see that there are still some things that need to be finalized, it is good to see that IITA-Zambia now really has a place it can call home,” the DDG added. On the first day of her visit, Hillbur was given a tour of the office and research facilities at the SARAH campus by IITA-Zambia scientists led by David Chikoye, Regional Director for Southern Africa. Hillbur was shown the various field experiments going on at the site, particularly the research trials on cassava, soybean, cowpea, and maize. To complement the field inspections, IITA-Zambia scientists also presented Hillbur with updates of their respective projects being conducted in the region, highlighting research outputs as well as challenges. This continued into the afternoon of the following day.
John Okoth (in red), PhD student being hosted at the Hub, explains to Hillbur about his on-campus cassava fertigation experiment.
In the morning of the second day, the DDG was accompanied by Chikoye and Godfree Chigeza, IITA-Zambia soybean breeder, to private seed companies MRI-Syngenta and ZamSeed, local partners that IITA-Zambia collaborates with in various projects. Here, Hillbur was briefed about the work being done by the companies in relation to seed distribution in the country and how IITA works with them in ensuring that seeds of improved varieties developed by the Institute reach Zambian smallholder farmers. Rounding up her tour of the Hub, Hillbur delivered a presentation on “Internal Review Board and Research Ethics at IITA” on the final day of her visit. During the seminar, the DDG updated IITAZambia staff about the latest institutional and CGIAR-level developments relating to R4D, specifically highlighting the need for scientists to publish their work more. “The only way for IITA’s work to be known and be used by the scientific community, thereby contributing to the advancement of agricultural science, is for us to publish
especially in recognized journals with a high impact factor,” she stressed. “I am happy to report that 2015 saw a substantial increase in the number of publications that IITA scientists produced compared to 2014, but I am encouraging you to do even more this year and in the future,” she added. The DDG briefly discussed the Internal Review Board and the recently introduced Research Ethics Policy of the institute. “I encourage everyone here to read through the policy and familiarize yourselves with its provisions as this will have important implications on how we do our research, particularly those involving human and animal subjects,” the DDG underscored. At the end of her seminar, Hillbur thanked Chikoye and all IITA-Zambia staff for making her visit a fruitful one. “It has definitely been a productive and at the same time enjoyable trip,” she said. “It’s always a pleasure to come to this region, particularly here in Zambia. I will definitely be back again soon. Thank you all,” she concluded.
Announcements • 7th African Soil Science Society ASSS conference, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 29 May - 1 June. • 7th Africa Agricultural Science Week and FARA General Assembly, Kigali, Rwanda, 12-17 June. More information available at http://www.faraafrica.org/aasw7/. • Africa RISING ESA project review and planning meeting, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, 30 June -2 July • Africa RISING - NAFAKA scaling project review and planning meeting, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, 4-5 July • 3rd All Africa Horticultural Congress, Theme: “Horticultural for Improved Livelihoods”, Conference Center, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria, 7-12 August. • 7th International Nitrogen Initiative Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 4–8 December. More details on the conference are available here.
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IITA launches state of the art AgResults-Aflasafe laboratory at the BIP
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he AgResults-Aflasafe laboratory built exclusively for the study of aflatoxin in Africa was officially launched on 6 May by Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director General for Partnership and Capacity Development. The foundation brick of this lab was laid by IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga on 24 March 2015.
The AgResults-Aflasafe project works with private and public sector enterprises (also called implementers) which provide inputs and farm services including AflasafeTMto their constituent farmers at cost. The project pays incentives to farmers and implementers when their crops are verified to contain a high frequency of Aflasafe strains, DDG Kenton Dashiell cuts the ribbon to launch the new AgResults Aflasafe laboratory at the the tell-tale sign that the product was Business Incubation Platform, Ibadan. appropriately applied on the crop. aflatoxin burden in Africa. “Looking at The training of significantly more the big picture of helping greatly reduce national and international researchers The new laboratory was built to cope and eradicate aflatoxin in Africa, this is will aid in reducing the aflatoxin problem with the large number of samples that a very historic day,” observed Dashiell in Nigeria and throughout Africa. On required rapid microbial, DNA and during the launch ceremony. this note, Debo Akande, the AgResults chemical verification tests for payment Aflasafe Pilot Manager, speaking on of incentives to Aflasafe adopters Dashiell was joined by IITA behalf of the project’s donors, stated: by the AgResults-Aflasafe project. management, staff, and a donor “The said the laboratory was primary Built exclusively for the verification representative for a tour of the new built to help with the verification process TM of Aflasafe usage in the AgResults facility. Alejandro Ortega, an IITA plant of the AgResults samples; however, project, the laboratory will also serve pathologist speaking on behalf of we expect this particular lab to help to develop Aflasafe products for other Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, the senior increase the knowledge of the national countries after completion of the IITA plant pathologist and Aflasafe partners on the issue of aflatoxin. This AgResults-Aflasafe initiative. This will team leader, stated that “With this is not just for Nigeria; this is for all of accelerate the scaling up of Aflasafe laboratory, much effort will go to Africa”. and help in greatly reducing the develop effective biocontrol agents for target regions that will allow farmers Lawrence Kaptoge, the Engineer in to produce healthy crops and gain charge, and Benito Zeledon Factory better income. The laboratory will supervisor, provided information on allow us conduct research to both summary costs and savings that have a better understanding of the enabled Aflasafe to construct two aflatoxin contamination process and DNA labs and purchase lab furniture design better aflatoxin management that were not in the initial budget. strategies”. IITA’s flagship biocontrol They walked the group through the product, Aflasafe, reduces aflatoxin Laboratory and elaborated on the contamination by 80-99%. One annual building’s top-of-the-line finishing. application provides multiple years “The antimicrobial tops and seamless and multiple crop benefits. Health and flooring inhibit growth of fungus and economic benefits are achieved through bacteria”, stated Kaptoge. Ibrahim the use of Aflasafe. The laboratory will Sheriff, who was the lead architect, be committed to furthering research on IITA, also joined the tour. Aflasafe. The Aflasafe laboratory is funded by The laboratory will provide ample AgResults, a multi-donor and multispace for a larger number of visiting lateral initiative supported by The researchers who will join to study Gates Foundation, USAID, UK DFID, different aspects of the aflatoxin Canada Finance, AUSAID through contamination process and the methods Deloitte Consulting LLP on behalf of used to reduce aflatoxin contamination. the World Bank. Inside the AgResults-Aflasafe laboratory.
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IITA to partner with KALRO to produce Aflasafe in Kenya
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he top management of the Kenyan Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) paid an official visit to IITA-Ibadan, Nigeria, to learn first-hand about IITA’s work on aflatoxin research in Africa, discuss the modalities of operationalizing production of AflasafeTM in a modular manufacturing plant that is currently being constructed by IITA for KALRO in Katumani, Kenya, and explore opportunities to further strengthen the partnership between the two organizations on various crops and other activities. The Director General, Eliud Kiplomo Kireger; the Deputy Director General in charge of crops, Felister Mambugha Makini; and the Director of Cropping Systems, Lusike Wasilwa comprised the KALRO leadership team. They were accompanied by Charity Mutegi, IITA East Africa Aflasafe Coordinator based in Kenya. The three-day visit, held 2-4 May, included a comprehensive tour of the Aflasafe factory and other start-up businesses in the Business Incubation Platform (BIP) in IITA-Ibadan, meeting with IITA Youth Agripreneurs, and discussions with leaders of the various crop improvement units, Genebank, soil fertility unit, and food processing unit. They also visited the farm of an AflasafeTM adopter to listen to his experiences. Welcoming the delegation, Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director General, Partnerships and Capacity Development, IITA, noted the importance of Kenya starting to produce its own Aflasafe requirements.
The country suffers from high levels of aflatoxins – a carcinogenic fungal toxin that can be controlled by Aflasafe. In recent years, Kenya has experienced multiple aflatoxicosis outbreaks, often resulting in fatalities. Aflasafe, a biocontrol product, reduces aflatoxin contamination by as much as 80 to 99%. “(Kenya) is a place where it is needed more than anywhere else in the world,” Dashiell stated. The delegation was taken through the process of Aflasafe production by the various members of the project. Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, IITA pathologist and Aflasafe project leader, walked the group through a brief background on identifying regional strains and the development of regional products. Aflasafe Process Engineer, Lawrence Kaptoge, who is supervising the construction of the Modular Manufacturing Plant in Katumani, explained the Aflasafe manufacturing and quality control processes. The visitors were impressed by the Aflasafe factory and the new Aflasafe lab. Alejandro Ortega-Beltran, IITA plant pathologist, drew attention to IITA’s efforts to develop a new formulation of Aflasafe using pellets of cassava peel (in partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI), which would incorporate the use of industrial waste and significantly decrease the cost of the final product, making it more appealing to farmers. An indirect benefit of AflasafeTM, the KALRO delegation learned during the field visit, was the adoption of improved agronomical practices of farmers using the product. Deji Degun, a private
KALRO visitors with IITA staff during their sojourn to IITA headquarters in Ibadan.
IITA Bulletin 2326
Ranajit Bandyopadhyay (right) explains Aflasafe production to KALRO management team.
implementer that liaises between IITA and over 500 farmers on the AgResultsAflasafe project, noted an increased attention to better agronomical practices by farmers who used the product. According to him, the results were cleaner and aflatoxin-free yield that fetched premium prices. Ganiyu Mutahiru, a maize and cassava farmer who works with Degun, acknowledged this and expressed satisfaction about the product. Mutahiru now trains 19 other farmers on how to effectively use AflasafeTM. During the wrap-up session, a draft Technology Transfer Agreement was discussed specifically about manufacturing and commercialization of Aflasafe in Kenya. The KALRO leadership team said that during the familiarization visit on aflatoxin research, they were impressed by the breadth and depth of IITA’s research in different areas. KALRO identified several opportunities for collaboration with IITA in addition to Aflasafe. These include exchange of materials and technologies on NoduMax, maize, banana/plantain, yam, Bambara groundnut, cowpea, food processing, and soil fertility. They were equally impressed with the IITA BIP and Youth Agripreneurs. Victor Manyong, Director of IITA East Africa, was also present during the wrap-up session. The IITA-KALRO partnership on Aflasafe production in Kenya will see more Kenyan farmers having access to AflasafeTM and decreased levels of aflatoxin contamination. IITA will play a prominent role in this process particularly in ensuring the high quality of the final product. Production of Aflasafe in Kenya will begin by the end of the year.
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