Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has emphasized the need for increased investment in plant breeding innovations, agricultural research, and institutional partnerships to achieve food security. He made this call at the opening of the 4th International Conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) in Abuja. The conference, which took place from September 23 to 24, had the theme "Leveraging Breeding Innovations and Strategic Partnerships for Agribusiness Investments, Stable Supply Chains and National Food Security in a Changing Climate".
According to Kyari, Nigeria's food security challenges require responsive science, purposeful partnerships, sustained investment, and innovations that can move from research centers to farmers and markets. He stressed that plant breeding is a foundational part of this effort and its greatest value will be realized when scientific excellence is connected to functioning markets, farmers' needs, resilient supply chains, and opportunities for investment. The minister was represented by Mr. Bukar Musa, Director, Federal Department of Agriculture.
Kyari highlighted that scientific crop improvement will only achieve its full value when innovations move beyond laboratories and research plots into farmers' fields, markets, and processing facilities. He emphasized the importance of developing and deploying improved crop varieties for both optimum and stress environments as a component of a resilient food system. This, he said, requires strong seed systems, effective extension services, financing, market access, supportive regulation, and greater private-sector participation.
The minister also called for stronger links between research institutions and agribusiness investors, strengthening seed multiplication and dissemination, supporting intellectual property and technology transfer arrangements, and creating clearer routes for promising innovations to reach farmers at scale. He noted that no single institution can transform the agrifood system alone and that government, research institutions, universities, seed companies, agribusinesses, financial institutions, development partners, and farmers all have complementary roles to play.
The conference featured a Research Innovation Exhibition, which enabled research and development institutions to showcase innovations, including officially released crop varieties, while engaging investors and other users of technology. The exhibition provided a platform for translating scientific knowledge into partnerships, enterprises, jobs, and measurable productivity gains. Kyari commended the NPBA for sustaining its conference platform and engagement with public institutions.
Prof. Victor Adetimirin, President of NPBA, said the association is committed to advancing plant breeding as a critical component of agricultural development and national food security. He noted that the association brings together plant breeders and professionals involved in crop improvement to promote scientific exchange, professional development, collaboration, and advocacy. The conference provided an opportunity for researchers, seed companies, farmers, processors, financial institutions, development partners, investors, and government representatives to build partnerships.
The event featured paper presentations, discussion panels, interactive sessions, and engagements among stakeholders in the agricultural value chain. Highpoints of the event included the presentation of awards to key industry players in recognition of their contributions to plant breeding and agricultural development. The conference was attended by representatives of government agencies, research institutions, universities, seed companies, agribusinesses, development partners, and other stakeholders.
Key points
- The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has called for increased investment in plant breeding innovations and institutional partnerships to achieve food security.
- The 4th International Conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) was held in Abuja from September 23 to 24.
- The conference aimed to leverage breeding innovations and strategic partnerships for agribusiness investments, stable supply chains, and national food security in a changing climate.
