The “father of biocontrol”, Peter Neuenschwander, joined IITA’s biocontrol project against the cassava mealybug in 1983, and retired in 2003. In this interview, he bares his mind on the contribution of biocontrol and strategies on how Africa can check invasive pests.

Rachid Hanna is an entomologist who joined IITA-Bénin in 1998 to lead the cassava green mite (CGM) biological control program. He recently relocated to IITA-Cameroon and has been entrusted in helping to rebuild the research program with a new focus.

Developing countries lose billions of dollars in trade annually to aflatoxin contamination in foods. Worst still, the contamination endangers the health of millions of people in the region. But the good news is that IITA has developed a biocontrol product (aflasafe) to tackle this problem. Ranajit Bandyophadhay relates the journey that led to the development of aflasafe.

Manuele Tamò is the Officer-in-Charge of IITA-Bénin. In this interview, he talks about the outlook regarding invasive pests in Africa and the role of biocontrol.

Director and socioeconomist Steffen Abele points out that IITA studies already show the impact of our research on banana and plantain on benenficiaries, particularly in East and Central Africa.

Maria Ayodele has headed IITA’s Germplasm Health Unit (GHU) since 1998, has made sure that strict phytosanitary measures are in place, and that only clean germplasm materials move through national and international borders every year.

Christian Fatokun, who is in charge of biosafety at IITA, emphasizes the need for the community of scientists to work together harmoniously to solve problems of food security and poverty in Africa.

“I like the applied and hands-on work” says award winning IITA scientist Thomas Dubois…

Tripathi “demystifies” biotechnology and explains its importance in improving crop varieties and helping produce more and better food for Africa.