IITA in Benin

The IITA Benin Republic station was established in 1985 as a research and training center. The station houses a biodiversity center, which has the largest and best-curated collection of insects in West Africa. These insectaries, with mass production of arthropod biological control are agents for release into diverse agroecosystems. The station also has an IPM outreach unit which engages in capacity building, participatory technology testing, and in-house career development, with a socioeconomics unit that focuses on value-chain analysis. The IITA Benin station is currently developing Jatropha-based biofuel value chains in the country. The project aims at promoting the economy and rural conditions of small-scale farmers through equitable access to financially and economically profitable and sustainable renewable energy. The AfricaYam project is also being carried out in the Station, with the goal of increasing yam productivity while reducing costs and environmental impact by developing and deploying end-user preferred varieties with higher yield and greater resistance to pests and diseases.