IITA Uganda

[IITA Uganda @IITA_Uganda]

📢 A Training Workshop on Diagnosis and Detection of Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) Infection in Bananas is #HappeningNow at Namalere post entry quaratine laboratory.
Facilitated by @IITA_CGIAR and @MAAIF_Uganda the focus is practical methods for identifying & diagnosing BBTV

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

#JobOpening

IITA-@CGIAR invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Hub Director-Western Africa Hub & Sahel and Agricultural Policy Expert:
Educational Qualifications and Experience
🎓The candidate should possess an advanced degree (https://t.co/vadCFwz4YC. or Ph.D.) in Agricultural Science or a related field from a reputable institution
📌Minimum of at least 20 years of relevant professional experience, including a minimum of five years in a senior leadership role
🏢Duty Station: Abuja -Nigeria
📌General information: The contract will be for an initial period of three years. IITA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package.
📌Applications: Applications must include a cover letter which should address how the candidate’s
background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, and
names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the
applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Director of People and Culture.
Please complete our online application form using this link: https://t.co/JLHkZLnOH8
Closing Date: 24 July, 2026
IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly
welcoming applications from women.

@Jobbermandotcom @JobbermanGhana @MyJobMag

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

🍌 New fight against Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) starts in Burundi

Banana Bunchy Top Virus can wipe out a banana field in 3 years. Until now, the region had no dedicated facility to screen for resistance.

That changes today. IITA and the Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU) have launched a screen/glasshouse in Bujumbura — East Africa’s first space to test banana varieties for BBTV resistance at scale.
Read how this new facility will fast-track BBTV-resistant varieties to farmers across the region 👉

https://t.co/CDghqjA1qD

#Banana #BBTV #FoodSecurity #IITA #Burundi #CGIAR

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

Partnerships that grow with us 💚 🌱

This week, @CentenaryBank Gayaza honored @IITA_Uganda as one of their best customers with 2 waste bins for a cleaner, safer workspace. The gesture was more than a gift. They came to listen and pledged closer support on staff banking. 🎊🤝🏾

#IITAUganda #CentenaryBank #Partnership

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

The entire IITA family is so proud! 🥳🥂🎊🎉👏
Big congratulations to our very own Professor Rony Swennen and Dr Alejandro Ortega-Beltran for being selected as members of the 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers cohort by The @WorldFoodPrize Foundation!
This prestigious recognition celebrates outstanding contributions to transforming food systems worldwide, in honor of the World Food Prize’s 40th anniversary.
“This achievement is due to devoted banana teamwork and support by the IITA services.” - Prof Swennen.
And we all at IITA-@CGIAR couldn’t agree more. Years of dedication, science, and teamwork across crops, research and continents have now earned global recognition.
@alexob36's work has been equally transformative, advancing research on aflatoxin management and food safety, developing innovative biocontrol solutions to reduce contamination in staple crops, and helping safeguard the health and livelihoods of millions of farmers and consumers across Africa and beyond. His science continues to drive impact where it matters most: making food systems safer, more resilient, and more inclusive.
Speaking on the announcement, IITA Director General Dr @simeonehui said, "Their selection is a testament to their scientific excellence, dedication, and the impact of their work on agricultural development and food security. It is also a recognition of the quality of science and innovation that IITA brings to Africa and the world."

Congratulations to Professor Rony Swennen and Dr Alejandro Ortega-Beltran!!!🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

#HumansofIITA #TopAgriFoodPioneers #WorldFoodPrize #BananaResearch #FoodSafety #FoodSystems #Aflasafe

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

What does it take to breed a better banana? 🍌

@kyambogou University agriculture students spent a day with IITA-Uganda scientists learning the real tools behind banana improvement:

🧪 Embryo culture in the lab
🧬 DNA extraction for molecular breeding
🦠 Disease diagnostics in pathology
🌸 Hand pollination in the field
📝→📱Data management

@IITA_Uganda is training the next generation of African plant breeders.

See the full photo story → https://t.co/3xtyG2ek8x

#KnowledgeSharing #CapacityBuilding #PlantBreeding #IITAxUganda

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

Why bamboo for Uganda’s coffee, cocoa & vanilla farmers? 🎋☕

✅ Grows fast — harvest in few years vs decades for trees
✅ Climate-smart — sequesters carbon, controls erosion, provides shade
✅ Income diversity — poles, shoots, crafts, biochar = multiple revenue streams

@IITA_Uganda's new #WeWorkUG, a bamboo-based project targets +30% yields and +20% income for 750 smallholder farmers in Mukono and Buikwe.

Partners: EKiBBO, @narouganda, @EUinUG, @BelgiuminUganda, @EnabelinUganda, @Educ_SportsUg

See the launch details → https://t.co/JANi3q64Vt

#TeamEurope #GlobalGateway #IITAxUganda #Agroforestry #Coffee #Cocoa #Bamboo

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

#ThrowbackTuesday
Did you miss this one? Let’s catch up! 👇🏾

Sharing an inspiring throwback blog: “ _TAAT Technologies Drive Soybean Yields in Uganda: IITA Youth Harvest Success ”

Mukono Youth Agripreneurs are proving what happens when youth + tech + training come together 💪🏾 Using TAAT-supported Maksoy seeds and inoculants, they harvested up to 1300kg of soybean from a 100m x 100m plot — way above what farmers get with usual practices!

They got there through Field Day training on soybean agronomy: better seeds, inoculants, spacing 5cm x 50cm, timely planting, and more.And they’re not stopping — the target is 2.5MT per hectare to really boost incomes. As Dr Oluwaseun Omikunle put it, “There is need to attain at least 2,000kg per hectare... to better the livelihood of farmers and their households.”

🔗 Full story here: https://t.co/G6QVqCTopj
📷 See the harvest photos: https://t.co/WaJetUFH2d

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

BREAKING GROUND IN CASSAVA BREEDING! 🌟

The East and Southern African Cassava Breeding Network (ESACBNET), led by IITA, is revolutionizing cassava breeding in 12 member countries🌍
Goals - Developing;
- High-yielding, disease-resistant, and biofortified varieties
- Market-specific products for enhanced food security and economic growth

The Regional Product Advancement Meeting (PAM2025) is #HappeningNOW in Uganda! 🇺🇬
December 4-5, 2025, Skyze Protea Hotel

This milestone event is shaping the future of cassava breeding and production, contributing to food security, economic growth, and sustainable agriculture.

#ESACBNET #CassavaBreeding #FoodSecurity #SustainableAgriculture #EastAfrica #SouthernAfrica #NARES

[IITA Uganda @IITA_Uganda]

You're invited to watch the exciting coverage of our Soybean Green Field Day on Bukedde TV (Uganda) tonight at 10:00pm (EAT)!

Join us as we showcase the latest innovations in soybean production, hear from experts, and meet the farmers and youth making a difference in agriculture

[#Technologies to #FeedAfrica @Taat_Africa]

#HappeningNow: #TAATSoybean and #ENABLETAAT both led by @IITA_CGIAR are hosting a mega #FieldDay to showcase and compare #SoybeanTechnologies at the #IITA Namuloge Station in #Uganda #TAATinUganda #TechnologyShowcase #Partnerships #EngageTAAT #FeedAfrica

@AfDB_Group @gatesfoundation @GatesAfrica
@CGIAR @CGIARScaling @IITAYOUTHAGRIP @isdb_group @AFSTA_Seed @SeedFed @ReutersAfrica @Better_Seed @EuroseedsEU @ISTAseedtesting @ScienceAlly @ippcnews @AFP @ReutersWorld @_AfricanUnion @afaasinfo @AUC_CAADP @ASARECA @WorldBank @WorldBankAfrica @giz_gmbh @IFAD @FAO @WFP @jica_direct_en @narouganda @MAAIF_Uganda @farmradioug @CGIARAfrica @NaroKawanda @Makerere @aatfafrica @AfricaRice @Cipotato @FARAinfo @BiovIntCIAT_eng
@mfregene77 @InnocentMus @EnockChikava
@CGIAR_EMD @simeonehui @TJKrupnik @eyunati @RachelMulangala

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

IITA in Uganda was honored to host Dr Jim Lorenzen, Senior Program Officer, Crops R&D, Global Growth & Opportunity, Agriculture, Gates Foundation yesterday!
He got a tour of our banana and cassava breeding facilities, including our new banana kitchen under construction 🌟.
Dr Lorenzen praised our teams for their dedication to modernising breeding programs and stressed the need for breakthrough varieties that meet market demands 🤝.
We're grateful for the visit and look forward to potential future collaborations 📈!

#IITAUganda #Agriculture #Innovation #Partnerships

[IITA Uganda @IITA_Uganda]

🥳🎊🥳🎉Congratulations to @NARO_NaCRRI on 75 years of driving agricultural innovation! @IITA_Uganda is proud to partner with @narouganda in transforming Uganda's agriculture and we look forward to continued collaboration. Here's to many more years of growth and impact! 🍾🥂

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

🥳🎊🥳🎉Congratulations to @NARO_NaCRRI on 75 years of driving agricultural innovation! @IITA_Uganda is proud to partner with you in transforming Uganda's agriculture and we look forward to continued collaboration. Here's to many more years of growth and impact! 🍾🥂

#NARONaCRRIat75 #IITAinUganda #Agriculture #FoodSecurity #Partnerships

[NARO-NaCRRI-Namulonge @NARO_NaCRRI]

We were honored by powerful messages from the @JapanEmb_Uganda @UKinUganda, & development partners led by the #WorldBank and @IITA_CGIAR Country Reps, affirming the global partnerships that shape our journey.
Grateful to @DKinUganda &
#Kenyan High Commission for joining us!

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

Big congrats to Prof Rony Swennen on being appointed Visiting Professor at Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences! 🌟🥇
This honor recognizes his expertise in #banana research and IITA's growing reputation in tropical agriculture. Collaboration here we come! 🌎🌟🥳🎊
#IITAUganda #Agriculture #IITAxChina #FoodSecurity #Partnerships #ResearchImpact

[Scaling for Impact @CGIARScaling]

Scaling champions drive innovation! At Uganda’s workshop, @CGIAR S4I Program, @IITA_CGIAR & @IWMI_ stressed collaboration & govt support.
https://t.co/39Zh2D0cgA

#ScalingForImpact #CGIAR

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

Scaling agricultural innovations requires a collaborative approach and scaling champions at each node!
Lessons from @IITA_CGIAR, @ruforumsec, @totallandcare, @MUASTUniversity, @FARAinfo and @ASARECA show that involving local communities, providing tailored financial support, and engaging with government/policymakers is key for widespread adoption.
Did you know that universities and research institutions can be scaling champions? Choosing partners strategically and aligning with government priorities are key to scaling innovation.

Organized by IITA and @IWMI_ under @CGIARScaling.
.
#ScalingForImpact #ScalingChampions #ScalingAgriculturalInnovations

[IITA Uganda @IITA_Uganda]

#HappeningNow! The Regional Workshop on Strengthening Inclusive Scaling is underway in Kampala, Uganda! Regional partners have come together to exchange lessons and co-develop a framework for identifying and supporting scaling champions. #ScalingForImpact #InclusiveScaling

[IITA @IITA_CGIAR]

🚨 Breakthrough alert! 🚨
IITA's banana breeding research cuts breeding time by 2+ years, unlocking faster genetic gains & sustainable food production!
🌟 Meet Dr Violet Akech, the brilliant scientist behind this game-changing work!
💡 Her work has the potential to make a significant impact on global food security.

Learn more about the research ➡️➡️ https://t.co/x2lmobagUS
.
#BananaBreeding #FoodSecurity #WomenInScience #IITAinUganda