The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has announced that it will soon introduce a new artificial intelligence-powered system designed to strengthen agricultural research, improve food security and accelerate the adoption of innovations across Nigeria’s food sector.
Speaking during a stakeholder consultation workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, the CGIAR Country Convener in Nigeria, Ms Aline Mugisho, said the event was organised to gather expert input on scaling agricultural technologies under the theme “scaling for impact”, as well as to receive feedback on the AI-driven platform known as the Demand Intelligence Framework ahead of its launch.
CGIAR, which serves as the umbrella organisation for global agricultural research centres, coordinates 14 key institutes, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, WorldFish, the International Livestock Research Institute, Africa Rice Centre, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and the International Water Management Institute.
Mugisho, who also heads IITA’s Youth in Agribusiness Unit, explained that despite the presence of about seven CGIAR centres operating in Nigeria and developing new technologies, many innovations still struggle to reach the private sector and farmers.
She stated that this disconnect reduces the potential impact of research outcomes.
She stated that the new Demand Intelligence Framework would identify bottlenecks and ensure that research outputs, such as improved crop varieties, align more closely with farmers’ needs, thereby driving agricultural productivity across Nigeria and the wider African region.
The AI-powered tool is expected to go live in Nigeria by early 2026 before being adapted for use in other countries on the continent.
Also speaking, Dr Murat Sartas, Scaling and Artificial Intelligence Scientist at IITA, said the DFI would reshape research adoption and long-term impact, adding that CGIAR had requested a design that can be applied beyond agriculture.
Sartas noted that AI is accessible to users at different levels and has the potential to optimise the entire agricultural value chain, connecting productivity with markets, finance and policy for better outcomes.
In a related contribution, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development, represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Salman Alhaji Salman, stated that several bills aimed at strengthening national food security are currently before the National Assembly.
He added that since the Federal Government declared a state of emergency on the food sector, lawmakers have prioritised legislation that will expand food production and strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
Source: Punch
