About 87% of all the bananas grown worldwide is produced by small-scale farmers for local consumption as a food security crop, and for local markets than for international trade. They provide a staple food for millions of people, particularly 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.

Plants, like people, need healthcare. But in Africa, where agriculture is dominated by smallholders, farmers do not have access to reliable plant health advice and management services.

Hartmann talks about how the current food crisis could be used as an opportunity to turn agriculture around to enhance food security, increase incomes, and improve the well being of millions of people in Africa.

IITA has produced 17 high-yielding and disease- and pest-resistant varieties for planting in marginal areas in Africa and developed technologies for revitalizing soybean processing and marketing.

Economist Steffen Abele, based in IITA-Tanzania, discusses the challenges and potentials of marketing organic bananas sourced from Africa.

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Vice President for Policy and Partnerships Akin Adesina, was at IITA recently to talk about how agriculture could transform Nigeria from a food-deficit to a food-exporting country again.