Developing improved yam varieties is a time-intensive process that involves identifying desirable traits, selecting superior breeding lines, and assessing their performance over several growing seasons. However, the scarcity of genomic resources has constrained breeders’ ability to make precise, data-driven selection decisions.
At IITA, Dr Sourou Angelot Paterne Agre is helping to address this challenge by developing genetic resources and molecular tools to make yam breeding more precise and efficient. His contributions have earned him the 2026 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers for his work on “Transforming yam production in Africa through integrated breeding, genomics, and innovation.”
When Dr Agre began working on yam nearly a decade ago, genomic resources for the crop were scarce. Working with IITA’s yam breeding team and research partners, he contributes to research that expands scientists’ understanding of yam’s genetic diversity and has helped develop molecular markers linked to important agronomic and tuber-quality traits.
Dr. Agre, IITA yam breeder and winner of the 2026 Young Agricultural Researcher Award in Japan, stands beside the trial sign at the Second Clonal Generation 1 yam breeding trial in Ibadan.
Building the genetic foundation
An important part of Dr Agre’s work has involved investigating the genetic diversity and evolutionary origins of white Guinea yam, one of Africa’s most important food crops. His contributions to studies published in Scientific Reports and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2020 helped strengthen the scientific foundation for understanding the crop’s genetic variation and evolutionary history.
This knowledge is important because genetic diversity provides raw material for crop improvement. Understanding the differences among yam varieties and their genetic characteristics can help breeders identify useful traits and make better-informed decisions when selecting materials for crossing and further evaluation.
Building on this foundation, Dr Agre also contributed to the development of KASP molecular markers, described in a 2024 study published in The Plant Genome. These markers help translate genomic information into practical tools for routine breeding by enabling scientists to identify genetic variations associated with desirable traits.
By complementing conventional field evaluations with genetic information, the markers provide breeders with additional tools to screen plant materials, identify promising candidates, and make more targeted selection decisions. This can improve the efficiency of breeding programs by helping scientists narrow down the materials requiring further evaluation.
Turning genetic information into faster breeding
For Dr Agre, the goal has been to translate this genetic knowledge into better varieties for farmers. In an interview, he explained that the genomic resources and markers developed through his research could help reduce the time needed to develop new yam products from the traditional nine to 12 years to approximately four or five years.
However, fast breeding alone is not enough. Improved varieties must also deliver the yield, disease resistance, and tuber qualities that farmers, processors, and consumers need. Their performance must be evaluated against these requirements to ensure that scientific advances translate into products with practical value.
Dr Agre’s work also includes research on rapid seed multiplication, an important approach to addressing the limited availability of high-quality planting materials for yam farmers. Developing improved varieties is only one part of the process; farmers must also be able to access sufficient quantities of healthy planting materials to benefit them.
Beyond genetic improvement, Dr Agre’s research also includes rapid seed multiplication, an important approach to addressing the limited availability of high-quality planting materials for yam farmers. Developing improved varieties is only one part of the process; farmers must also have access to enough healthy planting materials to benefit from these advances. Connecting improved breeding methods with more efficient multiplication techniques can therefore help address both the development and availability of improved yam varieties.
IITA Yam Breeding lead, Dr Asrat and Agre at a yam breeding trials at Headquarters Ibadan.
Research that depends on collaboration
Dr Agre credits the support of IITA’s yam breeding team and research partnerships in helping advance the work. He said having a supportive team and the opportunity to explore has contributed to his growth as a researcher.
The collaborative nature of the research also reflects the complexity of improving yam. Genetic analysis, molecular breeding, field evaluation, and seed multiplication require complementary expertise. Bringing these areas together can help move promising research findings toward practical applications in crop improvement.
Reflecting on his award, he encouraged young scientists to remain committed to their work and build strong research partnerships. “With hard work and dedication, everything is possible,” he said, adding that the right partners and support can help researchers pursue new opportunities and achieve their goals.
His recognition highlights the value of applying modern genomic science to yam improvement, a crop central to food security and livelihoods across West Africa, and of translating scientific discoveries into tools that can help breeders deliver improved varieties more efficiently. As research continues to expand knowledge of the crop’s genetic resources, the goal remains to translate these advances into improved varieties that meet farmers’ needs and strengthen yam production across Africa.
Contributed by Anu Oyeleye
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