We developed tropical maize that is genetically fortified with increased levels of vitamin A by crossing maize from the temperate zones that contain high levels of beta-carotene with tropical maize having intermediate pro-vitamin A content.

We worked with partners to develop a safe and natural biocontrol method that drastically cuts aflatoxin contamination in African food crops. The resulting product is called aflasafe™.

In June 2009, we shipped the second batch of African seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, comprised of about 5000 seed samples of soybean, maize, bambara nut, cowpea, and African yam bean, packed in more than 10 seed boxes.

We undertook a new initiative to genetically characterize pathogen populations and recognize unique stretches of sequences. Called ‘DNA Barcodes’, they can be used as markers for diagnosing pathogens and pests affecting African food crops.

We have been actively engaged in a number of complementary disease-management research to combat the two-pronged threat of BXW and BBTD in Africa - diseases that could potentially wipe out bananas and plantains from the continent.

This year, we undertook studies to further understand the dynamics of the relationships among factors affecting banana and plantain production in Africa and establish some of the underlying causes why it is as it is. This would help us plot a more effective course for our Musa R4D efforts in Africa.

Further to our work on developing a biocontrol product against aflatoxin contamination in food crops, we also developed six new aflatoxin-resistant maize inbred lines with our US-based partners. These maize lines, which have been released to farmers, are also well-adapted to the lowlands.

Resource-poor cowpea farmers in northern Nigeria have seen their profits jump an average of 55 percent due to improved dual-purpose cowpea varieties that we and our partners developed and introduced.

This year, a soybean variety resistant to the disease that we developed was approved for release by the Nigerian National Variety Release Committee (NNVRC). The rust-resistant soybean is the first of its kind to be made available for cultivation not only in Nigeria but also in West and Central Africa.

As the effects of the global economic and food price crises of 2008 rippled strongly during most of 2009, these provided us with terrific opportunities to demonstrate the effectiveness of our R4D strategy in mitigating their impact especially on African farmers and help them cope with the ever-changing agricultural landscape.