YOAGE project team holds annual review meeting in Nairobi

6 November 2025

YOAGE team members during the annual review meeting
YOAGE team members during the annual review meeting

With one successful year down, the Yam Optimized Architecture through Gene Editing (YOAGE) project team convened in Nairobi for its annual review meeting. The gathering brought together colleagues from IITA–CGIAR and project partners from Pairwise, USA, to assess the progress made and chart the path forward. Dr Nic Bate, Senior Program Officer from the Gates Foundation, also joined in to listen to the milestones achieved so far and advise on future planning, aligning with the foundation’s strategy.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the team to present updates on ongoing work, exchange insights on technical progress, and strengthen collaborative efforts between the teams. It also featured a visit to IITA’s biotechnology facilities in Nairobi, where participants viewed ongoing gene editing research and interacted with the scientists behind the work.

Pairwise scientists and donor representative in the IITA Gene Editing Lab (with Jeneffer) and Greenhouse (with Dr Jaindra Tripathi).
Pairwise scientists and donor representative in the IITA Gene Editing Lab with Jeneffer

Dr Leena Tripathi, IITA’s Director for Eastern Africa Hub and Leader of the Biotechnology Program, expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments. “It’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come in just one year. The commitment from all the team members of IITA and Pairwise has been incredible,” she said. “Beyond the science, this project is about creating tangible solutions that will make yam farming more productive and sustainable for African farmers.”

Pairwise scientists and donor representative in the IITA Greenhouse with Dr Jaindra Tripathi
Pairwise scientists and donor representative in the IITA Greenhouse with Dr Jaindra Tripathi

Echoing her sentiments, Dr Bate from the Gates Foundation commended the collaboration and results so far. “This project is a great example of how partnerships can accelerate innovation,” he said. “The progress made in such a short time shows the power of combining world-class science with a shared vision for impact.”

Representing Pairwise, Dr Lolita Mathew, Associate Director of the Cherry Program, noted the importance of collaboration in driving innovation. “Working with IITA on the YOAGE project has been an inspiring journey; it’s a true partnership that brings together diverse expertise to make science work for farmers,” she said.

As the project steps confidently into its second year, the team feels even more inspired and ready to push the boundaries to deliver tangible benefits for Africa’s yam farmers.

Contributed by Rose-Harriet Okech