IITA, Biotalys, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment meet to strengthen biocontrol solutions for food security

IITA–CGIAR hosted a three-day visit with scientists from Biotalys and representatives of Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment from 20 to 22 January 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen collaborative efforts in developing protein-based biocontrol solutions to address food security challenges in Nigeria. A key focus of the visit was to track the progress of a research project led by IITA graduate student Michael Iduh. His studies focus on identifying the causal agents of cowpea leaf-spot disease by Cercospora across different agroecological zones in Nigeria. The findings from this research will provide a foundation for developing targeted sustainable biocontrol solutions for cowpea farmers through the cutting-edge protein-based technology of Biotalys. The project involves the exchange of fungal genetic resources, which requires approval from the Ministry of Environment to comply with appropriate Access and Benefits sharing under the Convention of Biodiversity.

Apart from the laboratory activities in Pathology and Mycotoxin/Aflasafe Unit, IITA–CGIAR facilitated interactions with other units for the visiting Biotalys scientists and Ministry of Environment officers. The visitors interacted with scientists from cowpea, maize, yam, cassava breeding programs, and GRC, Virology, and GHU.

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