IITA and OCP Africa target increased agriculture research impact in Africa

9 July 2024

OCP Africa Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Anouar Jamali discussing with Dr Simeon Ehui and the IITA team.
OCP Africa Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Anouar Jamali discussing with Dr Simeon Ehui and the IITA team.

Following the launch of the Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub building, OCP Africa Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Anouar Jamali met with a team of IITA–CGIAR scientists in Ibadan to align collaborative roles and efforts for transforming agrifood systems, fertilizer use, and soil health. IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, led the IITA team.

During the meeting, discussions focused on ways to develop a roadmap for the first year of partnership between IITA and OCP Africa while exploring digital solutions for addressing some of the challenges existing in farming systems.

Jamali stressed the importance of agricultural research for impact and application, adding that research activities should focus on impact.

IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui with OCP Africa Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Anouar Jamali at IITA, Ibadan.
IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui with OCP Africa Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Anouar Jamali at IITA, Ibadan.

To achieve impact with agricultural research and technology scaling, DG Ehui highlighted the need to examine areas of alignment and how all the parties involved can work together sustainably in the future.

“We need to critically look at areas of alignment, especially in digital farming solutions, as IITA is already working with some digital applications for farmers. In doing this, the partnership can maximize resources, monitor progress, and ensure impact,” DG Ehui said.

IITA Deputy Director General, Research for Development (DDG-R4D), Bernard Vanlauwe, reiterating the significance of understanding areas of alignment, said that while both IITA and OCP are doing much work to add value to the agrifood systems, it is important to bear in mind that a new generation of farmers is coming and digital tools are the resources needed to reach them. “We need to be ready for them with these digital tools that will provide the solutions they need for their agribusinesses,” Vanlauwe added.

Focusing on collaborating and structuring digital farming solutions with some of IITA’s existing digital tools like Akilimo under the IITA Business Incubation Platform, Cassava Seed System Specialist Mercy Elohor Diebiru-Ojo said this will target farming communities and countries.

IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui with OCP Africa Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Anouar Jamali and the IITA team.
IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui with OCP Africa Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Anouar Jamali and the IITA team.

Speaking on exploring cassava as a substitute for wheat in Morocco, Diebiru-Ojo said some of IITA’s pest-resistant and climate-resilient varieties could be explored as High-Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) is being used in confectionery.

With OCP Africa and IITA working together to transform food systems and increase the impact of agricultural research in Africa, both organizations have agreed to develop farming solutions to explore digital tools for learning, innovation scaling, and research demonstration in Nigeria.

“We will leave a legacy that will help farmers access best farming practices and learning that will impact their livelihoods and the lives of millions across Africa,” said DG Ehui.

OCP Africa and IITA are collaborating to transform food systems and increase the impact of agricultural research in Africa.

Contributed by Timilehin Osunde