BILL & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) have entered into a partnership to enhance research aimed at improving staple crops cultivated by millions of African farmers.
AATF operates across more than 20 countries in Eastern, Southern, and West Africa, focusing on developing innovations that address low agricultural productivity and uplift the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Notably, AATF has successfully introduced five new hybrid rice varieties tailored to African conditions, resulting in increased yields from three to ten tonnes per hectare.
Additionally, AATF has led a global collaboration to develop and release pod borer resistant (PBR) cowpea in three West African countries. This innovation incorporates a gene that produces a protein lethal to the Maruca pod borer, a significant pre-harvest pest. Given the expanding reach of harmful insects due to climate change, this development equips farmers with an additional tool for climate adaptation.
Dr. Canisius Kanangire, the Executive Director at AATF, expressed excitement about the new partnership with Gates Ag One, highlighting the significant progress made thus far in advancing agricultural productivity throughout Africa.
Established two decades ago, AATF manages public-private partnerships to facilitate the transfer of innovative technologies and improve smallholder farmers' access to the latest advancements in Africa.
Joe Cornelius, the CEO of Gates Ag One, acknowledged AATF as a prominent player in the agricultural sector, working towards the development, adaptation, and commercialization of agricultural technologies that enhance the productivity and climate resilience of smallholder farmers. He expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with AATF, aiming to bring innovations to farmers across Africa to bolster yields and ensure food security.
Gates Ag One, a non-profit affiliate of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focuses on leveraging advancements in global crop science to address the evolving needs of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
