News

Burkina Faso's Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI) recently hosted the ^14th edition of the National Forum for Scientific Research and Technological Innovation (FRSIT) in Ouagadougou from October 24 to 28, 2023. The theme of the event was the contribution of scientific research and innovation to sustainable solutions to humanitarian challenges in Africa.

CORAF took an active part in this event, providing an ideal opportunity to showcase the technological and innovative advances developed over the last ten years. Despite the financial challenge of research, CORAF highlighted its role in scaling up agricultural technologies, in collaboration with partners such as Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT, the Swiss Cooperation and the World Bank, among others.

At this event, CORAF took an offensive approach, showcasing its agricultural technologies and innovations beyond traditional distribution channels. The aim was to make these advances accessible to small-scale producers and processors of agricultural products.

The event was marked by technical presentations from CORAF, highlighting several agricultural technologies generated by the Regional Center of Excellence on Fruits and Vegetables and the Regional Center for Aquaculture Specialization in Nigeria. These technologies include improved cassava and sweet potato varieties, fish processing techniques, and the valorization of cotton stalks.

The meeting attracted a great deal of interest from experts from the world of agriculture, as well as from the young students who turned out in large numbers for this exchange and sharing event.

An important part of the session was devoted to the scaling-up strategy for agricultural technologies, covering mechanisms such as the creation of online and physical markets (MITA), the sharing of technology packages, the registration of improved seed varieties in the regional catalog, and the establishment of solidarity seed fairs.

A panel discussion featuring industry experts explored the challenges and sustainable actions to accelerate the scaling-up of agricultural technologies in the face of climate change. Key points included the need to strengthen regulatory frameworks, adapt technologies to the needs of small-scale producers, and foster collaboration between players in the agricultural sector.

In conclusion, CORAF, with the support of its partners, continues to play a central role in the promotion and scaling-up of agricultural technologies in West and Central Africa. This event was an opportunity to showcase innovative solutions and facilitate discussion on current issues in the agricultural sector.