By Atoyebi Nike
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has announced the release of more than 200 improved crop varieties in partnership with Nigerian research institutions and other collaborators.
Dr. Simeon Ehui, IITA’s Director-General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, made the disclosure at the 3rd International Conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) in Abuja. The meeting, hosted by IITA, focused on “Crop Improvement for Food Security, Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Environment.”
Ehui praised Nigerian scientists and plant breeders for their work in advancing food security but stressed that the next phase of agricultural innovation must address resilience, nutrition, and equity. He said IITA has also supported young professionals through its research scholars’ platform, nurturing the next generation of breeders and scientists.
“We must develop crops that withstand heat, drought, salinity, and pests. This is not just science, it is survival,” Ehui said, adding that plant breeding should deliver nutritious food, diversify diets, and empower smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth.
He called for stronger collaboration across disciplines and greater engagement with the private sector to ensure innovations reach farmers. “Every seed we improve carries the promise of a better life for someone, somewhere,” he noted.
The IITA chief also urged stakeholders to envision an agricultural system where no farmer fears crop failure and no child suffers hunger, stressing that plant breeding remains central to building a climate-resilient future.
