Genetic Innovation

IITA will continue to achieve genetic gain, measured as year-on-year improvements in key attributes, for new crop varieties meeting the needs of farmers and consumers and reaching markets through increasingly effective and efficient seed systems. This will be powered by genomics, precision genetics, new approaches to phenotyping (including nutrition and product quality) and strong integration between breeding, seed systems and scaling by P4D related programs. To expedite the selection of desirable traits, high throughput phenotyping platforms equipped with sensors and imaging technologies will be established. Leveraging new technologies such as remote sensing, sensor-based tools, 4D imaging and machine learning and artificial intelligence shall be used to analyze large datasets generated by high-throughput phenotyping platforms, breeders can more efficiently select plants with desirable traits more quickly and accurately than traditional methods. Related to the Genebanks, we will focus on clonal crop conservation by cryobanking, mining the diversity of our collections to facilitate breeding for climate change adaptation, enabling more effective use of germplasm inside and outside the CGIAR and partnering to develop the role of under-utilized legumes for improved nutrition and climate resilience.

Abberton, Michael

Abberton, Michael

Director, West Africa Hub

News

Seed systems in the Great Lakes Region are still at the nascent stage, characterized by diversity in actors, and in production and distribution models. These models span from government-led production...
The country banana research leads handing over the signed protocol to Dr Rony Swennen. (Photo: G.Ndibalema/IITA).
IITA–CGIAR and six national agricultural research centers have signed the Mchare and Matooke Regional Target Product Profiles
Science communicators visiting the biotechnology labs at ILRI-Nairobi during one of the trainings.
In a virtual seminar organized by IITA–CGIAR on 12 September, Program Manager of Biotech and Genome Editing Communication in IITA Nairobi

Projects