The African Plant Breeders Association (APBA) will this week honour Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) President Dr Agnes Kalibata and two alumni of Cornell University for their contribution to improving food security on the continent.

Prof. Eric Danquah of the University of Ghana, who is also president of the African Plant Breeders Association in a statement said, “the Executive Committee of the APBA is delighted to recognise one of Africa’s illustrious daughters for her outstanding contribution to the establishment and functioning of the APBA and the development of agriculture on the continent.”

Dr. Kalibata of farmer-centered organisation AGRA, and the others will receive their awards at the second annual conference of the association which is currently underway in Rwanda.

Over 700 participants from over 62 countries are participating in the conference, the first edition of which was held in Accra – Ghana in 2019.

Dr. Kalibata will receive the Distinguished Award for Meritorious Service in recognition of her "immense contribution to the transformation of agriculture in Africa".

Also, to be recognized at a pre-opening-ceremony symposium on Plant Breeding Education in Africa are two Cornell University alumni, Dr Ronnie Coffman and Dr Joseph D. DeVries.

They are being awarded for their instrumental role in the development of plant breeding human capacity in Africa. Dr. Coffman is International Professor of Plant Breeding and Director of International Programmes at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University. Dr DeVries is the President of Seed Systems Group.

Dr. Kalibata, Amb. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the Africa Union Commission; Dr Barbara Wells, Global Director for Genetic Innovation, CGIAR; and Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, Rwanda’s Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources will deliver keynote addresses at the conference.

There will be a high-level panel on Inclusive Transformation of Agriculture in Africa to be moderated by Dr. Robert Bertram, Chief Scientist of the Bureau of Resilience and Food Security, USAID.

The African Plant Breeders Association is an initiative of experienced agricultural scientists, students and professionals in Africa from higher education institutions, research organizations and private companies who see the need to change the narrative of crop improvement and the seed sector in Africa.

It is a forum dedicated to promoting scientific plant breeding and related research, developing human capacities, identifying solutions to food and nutrition insecurity in Africa and providing tangible solutions to governments, seed companies, non-governmental organizations and farmers.

The APBA was inaugurated at the University of Ghana in October 2019. The inaugural conference was a resounding success.

Over 400 scientists from 30 countries converged in Accra, Ghana to share ideas and develop a plan of action.

At the business meeting held to approve the constitution and elect officers, it was resolved that the APBA platform would drive an agenda for innovation in plant breeding on the continent to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger and the aspirations of the African Union, “the Africa We Want” by 2063 as documented in the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).