The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Bayer have formalised a strategic research partnership aimed at fast-tracking agricultural innovation and strengthening scientific capacity across sub-Saharan Africa, in a move positioned to enhance food production, support smallholder farmers, and drive long-term resilience in the region’s agricultural systems.
The agreement, which runs through 2028, brings together IITA’s long-standing expertise in tropical crop improvement and farmer-focused research with Bayer’s advanced global breeding technologies to develop climate-resilient, high-yielding and nutrient-dense crop varieties tailored to local conditions.
The partnership will focus on key staples central to African diets and livelihoods, including maize, soybean, cowpea, cassava, yam, banana and plantain, as well as Bambara groundnut, with the goal of delivering significantly improved yields for farmers.
The initiative aligns with global development priorities such as food security, poverty reduction, improved nutrition and climate adaptation, while also supporting the ambition of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to enable millions of people to rise out of poverty and build resilient livelihoods.
Speaking on the collaboration, IITA’s Deputy Director General for Research for Development, Bernard Vanlauwe, described the partnership as a model for co-innovation between public and private sectors, noting that the integration of complementary expertise would accelerate the development of next-generation crop varieties while strengthening scientific excellence across Africa.
The agreement is also expected to deepen human capital development within the region, with structured training and knowledge exchange designed to enhance expertise in areas such as genomic selection, molecular breeding, biotechnology integration and data-driven decision-making. This, stakeholders say, will reinforce IITA’s role in building a pipeline of skilled professionals capable of sustaining agricultural innovation.
Beyond capacity building, the collaboration will enhance research capabilities through improved breeding systems, digital phenotyping technologies, statistical modeling and centralized operations, all aimed at increasing the precision and efficiency of crop development.
It will also support the development of breakthrough products, including improved maize varieties suited for West Africa, disease- and pest-resistant crops, and advanced breeding lines for key staples.
Bayer’s Senior Vice President and Plant Breeding Lead, JD Rossouw, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to supporting millions of smallholder farmers in developing countries by the end of the decade, adding that the collaboration would help deliver practical solutions tailored to the realities of farming communities facing climate challenges.
Under the agreement, Bayer will provide significant in-kind support through technical advisory services, training platforms and access to advanced breeding tools, while IITA will lead implementation by leveraging its extensive research infrastructure and regional networks.
The effort will be supported through the Genetic Innovations Public-Private Partnerships platform of the Gates Foundation.
The partnership builds on earlier collaborations between both institutions, including joint work on modern breeding techniques and genetic improvement in crops such as cowpea, and is projected to impact millions of smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa.
IITA’s Genetic Innovation Director, Leena Tripathi, said the integration of advanced genomic tools, gene editing and data-driven breeding approaches with Bayer’s expertise would accelerate the delivery of high-performing crop varieties at scale, strengthening Africa’s scientific leadership while ensuring lasting benefits for farming communities.
The initiative also aligns with Bayer’s broader vision of advancing regenerative agriculture by increasing productivity while restoring natural resources, positioning the partnership as a key step toward building a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future for the continent.
