FAO and IITA collaborate to strengthen partnerships for sustainable food systems

20 February 2024

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and IITA–CGIAR have taken a step forward in their partnership journey. FAO Nigeria Country Representative Koffy Dominque Kouacou recently visited the IITA headquarters in Ibadan, marking a significant milestone in their collaborative efforts. IITA Deputy Director General for Partnerships for Delivery (DDG-P4D) Kenton Dashiell led discussions on innovative strategies to address pressing food security and nutrition challenges.

The FAO Country Representative for Nigeria, Koffy Dominique Kouacou engaging in a discussion with Dr. Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General Partnerships for Delivery and the IITA team.
The FAO Country Representative for Nigeria, Koffy Dominique Kouacou engaging in a discussion with Dr. Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General Partnerships for Delivery and the IITA team.

Their deliberations explored strategies to improve the nutritional value of staple foods, with a particular focus on ‘Tom Brown’ – a specially formulated supplementary food powder made from a blend of locally available roasted soya beans, groundnut, guinea corn, maize, millet, fish powder and local spices. Kouacou emphasized the importance of leveraging indigenous resources, stating, “We cannot build our food systems on imports.” This underscores the necessity of empowering local communities and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to achieve long-term food security.

Kouacou commended IITA’s dedication to tackling food security challenges in Nigeria and stressed the need to strengthen this impending partnership to drive sustainable agricultural development.

Their discussion highlighted integrating IITA-developed innovative technologies to improve agricultural productivity and resilience into government ministries and the private sector. Dashiell highlighted the critical role of government support in prioritizing food systems: “The government can only improve food systems if it is its top priority.” He emphasized the importance of scaling up research solutions to meet the needs of farmers and ensure food security for all.

Koffy Dominique Kouacou, Abubakar Suleiman and the IITA team.
Koffy Dominique Kouacou, Abubakar Suleiman and the IITA team.

With a shared vision and a renewed commitment to collaboration, FAO and IITA are poised to create tangible and sustainable change. Together, they are set to tackle malnutrition, promote resilient agri-food systems, and empower marginalized communities, particularly women and the next generation of agricultural leaders.

As this partnership continues to flourish, it promises to deliver tangible benefits for Nigeria’s agricultural sector and foster a brighter future for all its citizens.

Contributed by Jesutofunmi Robinson