The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida (UF/IFAS) through a new partnership introduces scientific methods to combat hunger, poverty and pollution in Africa.
The agreement was signed during the World Food Day celebration in Des Moines, Iowa, an event which brought together agricultural experts from all over the world to discuss how to improve and sustain the food production and supply system in the world to be able to cater for the booming population.
The agreement is part of the IITA’s efforts to further its activities on the continent.
According to Jack Payne, the leader of the UF/IFAS, Africa has two great sources of appeal from a scientist’s point of view.
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Director General of IITA, Mr. Nteranya Sanginga while speaking with newsmen, said, “IITA and UF/IFAS share a common approach to science. We see discovery as a source of solutions, a catalyst for action, and the foundation for international cooperation.”
He also said the combination of the expertise of the two institutes will accelerate inquiry and will hasten the identification of solutions to address problems.
The five-year pact between UF/IITA expected to lay a foundation for the identification and implementation of specific scientific projects was signed by Payne on behalf of UF, while Nteranya Sanginga signed on behalf of IITA.
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life.
The University has more than 12 research facilities, and it works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s practising agriculture.
