Strengthening partnerships: NM-AIST and IITA collaborate on innovative research to boost food security

28 October 2024

IITA and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) have reaffirmed their commitment to a strong partnership, marking an important step in advancing collaborative research, innovation, and capacity-building initiatives. This partnership emphasizes their shared vision to address critical regional challenges, particularly in agriculture and food security.

Since the initial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2014 and its renewal in May 2019, NM-AIST has served as an important host for IITA's highland cooking banana breeding program. This program aims to develop improved, high-yielding varieties of the East African highland cooking banana and Mchare. NM-AIST provides essential support, including office space, access to laboratories, and trial fields for banana research.

In a recent courtesy call in September at NM-AIST's Arusha campus, IITA Eastern Africa Hub Director Leena Tripathi, accompanied by IITA scientists Rony Swennen and Allan Brown, and new NM-AIST Vice Chancellor Prof. Maulilio Kipanyula, reviewed the progress of their partnership. Prof. Kipanyula highlighted the significant partnership milestone achieved with the release of the first cooking banana hybrid in 2021 and the development of Fusarium-resistant Mchare bananas, stressing the positive outcomes of their collaboration and instilling optimism for the future.

Looking ahead, NM-AIST expressed keen interest in expanding the partnership beyond banana breeding to include other research programs. This expansion aims to strengthen research capabilities and contribute to broader development goals such as sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, and rural development. Both institutions also emphasized the importance of community engagement through participatory action research, ensuring that scientific advancements are integrated with societal needs.

Central to their collaboration is a shared mission to combat poverty and hunger through scientific research, focusing on challenges such as agricultural pests and diseases. This effort is crucial in enhancing food safety and security in the region, bringing economic opportunities to local farmers, and contributing to the community's overall development.

By leveraging their combined expertise, NM-AIST and IITA are determined to apply their advanced cutting-edge scientific research to acquire advanced knowledge and skills among future scientists. This partnership strengthens institutional capacities and reinforces their commitment to sustainable development and the well-being of communities across East Africa.

Contributed by Gloriana Ndibalema