Exploring Partnerships and Strategies to Enhance Root, Tuber, and Banana Crop Breeding Across Africa
Discover the latest efforts to enhance collaboration and alignment within the Roots, Tubers, and Bananas (RTB) breeding network, as representatives from various national systems and research institutions convene at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). With a focus on defining breeding networks and enhancing partnerships, this meeting aims to drive impactful research and innovation in crop improvement for food security and livelihoods in Africa.
The Roots, Tubers, and Bananas (RTB) breeding network meeting at IITA headquarters in Ibadan signifies a concerted effort to strengthen collaboration and alignment within the agricultural research community. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), root and tuber crops play a vital role in food security, providing sustenance for millions of people across Africa.
The meeting brings together representatives from Benin, Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda, along with scientists from IITA and the International Potato Center (CIP), highlighting the importance of partnerships in driving agricultural innovation. As stakeholders discuss strategies to define breeding networks and enhance coordination, the focus remains on improving crop productivity and resilience to benefit farmers and communities across the continent.
