IITA

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a Nigerian-based agricultural research organization established in 1967 in Ibadan, Nigeria, with initial support from the Ford Foundation and the Nigerian government. It operates as part of the CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers and coordinates research efforts across tropical Africa.

Headquartered in Ibadan, IITA conducts research on crops that underpin food security for smallholder farmers, including cassava, yam, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, soybean, and banana/plantain. The institute pursues solutions to improve crop yields, resilience, and nutritional quality while addressing soil fertility, pest and disease pressures, postharvest handling, and value-chain development.

IITA’s activities encompass crop improvement through breeding, agronomy, sustainable land and water management, and integrated pest management, as well as efforts in climate-smart agriculture and digital tools for farming systems. The organization emphasizes capacity building, innovation transfer, and partnerships to scale proven technologies.

The institute collaborates with national agricultural research systems, universities, government agencies, development partners, and private sector stakeholders. It maintains a network of research stations and programs across Africa to address regional needs and contexts, supporting policy development and market-oriented approaches for smallholder livelihoods.

Funding for IITA comes from governments, international donors, foundations, and CGIAR partners. Governance is provided by a board of trustees and leadership appointed to advance research that aims to reduce poverty, increase food and nutrition security, and promote sustainable agricultural development in tropical Africa.