IITA–CGIAR organized a scientific seminar on 27 August, themed “Genome engineering of African staple food crops.” The event, anchored by IITA Director of the West Africa Hub, Michael Abberton, showcased the pioneering research work of IITA Plant Transformation Specialist, Jaindra Tripathi.
In his presentation, Tripathi highlighted the urgency of addressing global hunger and food insecurity, particularly in Africa, where the situation is increasingly critical. He noted that hunger on the continent has been rising since 2010, with approximately 61% of Africans currently food insecure. He added that 38% of the world’s hungry people live in Africa, and 20% of the continent’s population is undernourished. Compounding the problem, the cost of a healthy diet in Africa increased by 53% between 2020 and 2021.