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International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
“The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA) is an Africa-based international
research-for-development organization, established
in 1967, and governed by a
board of trustees. Our vision is to be
Africa’s leading research partner in finding
solutions for hunger and poverty. We have more than
100 international scientists based in various IITA
stations across Africa. This network of scientists
is dedicated to the development of technologies that
reduce producer and consumer risk, increase local
production, and generate wealth. We are supported
primarily by the Consultative Group for
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)”.
IITA’s headquarters are in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Mission
“To enhance food security and improve livelihoods in
Africa through research-for development.”
Go to
IITA’s website.
Genetic resource activities
Genebank
“Conservation and use of plant genetic resources
related to food security in Africa are the main
objectives of genebank at IITA. IITA’s genebank is
one of the oldest among the genebanks of
International Agricultural Research Centers. We
continue to collect, conserve, maintain,
characterize, research, document, and distribute
germplasm of a wide range of crops and their wild
relatives. Major emphasis is on the major food crops
of Africa namely cowpea, cassava, yam, soybean,
bambara groundnut, and plantain and banana. Other
crops, which are conserved and made available to
researchers are maize germplasm of African origin
and other underutilized or threatened crop species
such as African yam bean, Kersting’s groundnut, and
other miscellaneous legumes. An arboretum of
multipurpose trees is also maintained on the
campus.”
IITA holds over 25 000 accessions of bambara
groundnut, cassava, cowpea, soybean, wild Vigna
and yam in trust for the world community under
agreements signed with the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on behalf
of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on
Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Find out more information about the
IITA genebank.
Agrobiodiversity Project
“The key objectives of this project are the
efficient long-term conservation and use of genetic
resources of staple and underutilized crop species,
and increased efficiency and effectiveness of
research aimed at exploiting their potential.”
To find out more about this project,
click here.
Inter-Centre Working Group on Genetic Resources
Each of the CGIAR Centres has a representative on
the Inter-Centre Working Group on Genetic Resources,
SGRP’s steering committee. The Committee sets the
strategy and priorities for SGRP and meets annually
to review its workplan.
To find out who is IITA’s representative, please go
to our
Contacts page. |
