The Bambara groundnut (BGN) (Vigna subterranea), once labeled an orphan crop, has now assumed the status of an important underutilized nutritious, drought-resistant legume crop, and is now positioned as a promising future crop that is serving a varied choice…
Soybeans have steadily emerged as one of the most strategic crops across Africa. Its value spans multiple sectors, including nutrition, livestock feed, and agro-industrial development, making it a cornerstone of rural livelihoods and national economic growth. From soybean oil…
By Mercy Lung’aho, IITA On World Pulses Day 2026, the theme chosen by the Food and Agriculture Organization, “Pulses of the world: from modesty to excellence,” could not be more timely. It captures a quiet transformation already unfolding across…
By Mercy Lung’aho, Food Security, Nutrition and Health Program Lead, IITA Every year, we reaffirm our commitment to women and girls in science. We host panels, share statistics, and celebrate role models. These efforts matter, but in Africa today,…
As the world celebrates World Pulses Day, it’s time to shine a spotlight on one of the most resilient, nutritious, and climate-smart crops on the planet—cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Often called “poor man’s meat,” cowpea has long been a…
The United Nations designated 12 May the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) to raise global awareness of how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development. The 2025 international…
IITA programs focus on effective solutions from nature and use advanced technologies, data, and AI tools to manage various endemic, emerging, and invasive pests that threaten food production in sub-Saharan Africa. Crop pests and diseases (P&Ds) significantly threaten agricultural…
Inaugural releases of biocontrol agents against the mango mealybug, attended by the State Minister for Agriculture Hon. Fred Bwiino Kyakulaga, FAO and senior government officials, and IITA’s Georg Goergen (Image Credit: IITA) Indian Council of Agricultural Research and FAO…