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CORAF and its partners, notably the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), closed the third edition of the Agricultural Research Symposium in Accra, Ghana, on November 21, 2024. 

Organized under the theme " Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability: The path to transforming agrifood systems in West and Central Africa ", the closing ceremony was marked by the presentation of prizes for the best research papers. 

A total of six (06) researchers were awarded prizes after a panel of judges assessed their presentations and the added value of their research findings.

In the oral presentation category, first prize was awarded to Mbaidiro Taambaijimd Josue, a researcher at the Institut Tchadien de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, for his work entitled " Susceptibilité de quelques variétés de maïs cultivées dans la province du Lac-Tchad contre l'incidence de la chenille légionnaire d'automne ". The second prize was awarded to Desobgo Zangué Steve Carly for his studies on the " Influence of mixing and process parameters on the staling of bread made from flours composed of wheat and mango kernels (Mangifera indica L.) ". He is a researcher in the Department of Food Engineering and Quality Control at the Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT), University of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. 

Udemba Ibukunolu Oluwadamilola, from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria, won third prize. At the symposium, he presented a synthesis of his research entitled: " Influence of diluted human urine as a fertilizer on soil properties and agronomic performance of amaranth (Amaranthus viridis) ".

In the poster category, first prize for best poster went to Dr Kemoh Bangura, affiliated with the Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) / Rokupr Agricultural Research Center (RARC) in Freetown, Sierra Leone, for his study entitled "Design and performance evaluation of a six-row side deep fertilizer applicator for paddy fields".

Second prize was awarded to ZANNOU Hugue of the Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin, Centre de Recherches Agricoles d'Agonkanmey, as part of the Programme Technologies Agricole et Alimentaire (PTAA), for his poster on "Test de performance technique d'un moulin solaire au Bénin". 

Finally, the poster by Houngue Amour Barthélémy, who presented "l'Analyse des effets de la réhabilitation sur la production des anacardiers au Bénin" (Analysis of the effects of rehabilitation on cashew tree production in Benin), came third in this category. These winners stood out from a total of 93 presentations, including 35 online, 19 posters and 39 face-to-face, which punctuated the activities of the Accra Symposium. 

Presentations were integrated into the six main themes chosen for this symposium, notably those on "Climate change/agroecology: mitigation strategies for biotic and abiotic stresses in agriculture", "Biodiversity, biohazards and biosecurity: application of biotechnology for sustainable agricultural productivity", and "Fertilizers and soil health: sustainable practices for nutrient recycling and soil health awareness" were explored.

Discussions also covered "Sustainable agricultural input systems (seeds): innovative models for better access to seeds", "Partnerships: global initiatives, academic research and public-private partnerships for improving local agri-food systems", and finally "Market, policy, private sector: added value for reducing food waste and improving market opportunities". 

The event enabled participants and researchers from all over West and Central Africa to share their expertise and research work to promote sustainable and resilient agricultural practices in the face of the challenges of climate change and natural resource degradation. 

The symposium also identified research findings that could be of use to development partners and the private sector.