IITA–CGIAR and OCP Africa have signed a 5-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to contribute to the sustainable development of African agriculture.
IITA, committed to generating agricultural innovations to combat malnutrition, poverty, and hunger in Africa, and OCP Africa, a multicultural African company, working hand-in-hand with farmers and partners across the continent, share a common goal to boost nutrition and food security in Africa.
OCP Africa develops fertilizer solutions customized to local conditions and crop needs. They work with governments, public and private enterprises, and other partners to connect farmers to knowledge, resources, fertilizers, and other agricultural services.
IITA’s signed partnership with OCP Africa is set to develop digital soil health and fertility maps, build unified databases for best soil health and fertility agronomic practices, carry out extensive site-specific soil health research, and provide improved productivity and fertility solutions based on soil, climate, and cropping systems.
Mobilizing financing resources
Both parties will jointly mobilize financing resources and strengthen the capacities of national institutions responsible for soil fertility and soil health. They have also identified potential cooperative activities to establish a Regional Center for Soil Health and Fertility to be hosted by IITA.
The African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) will provide knowledge and support in bringing the 4Rs to the core of fertilizer application and recommendations for farmers and other end-users in an Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) procedure.
The 4Rs—right source, right rate, right time, and right place—guide farmers to important management and fertilizer application practices that help keep nutrients for plants in the field.
Both parties will work with partner contributors from universities and other research institutions as needed.
The Regional Center for Soil Health and Fertility will work closely with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), a Moroccan non-profit, private research university, in its Center of Excellence in Soil and Fertilizer Research in Africa (CESFRA).
This partnership looks forward to empowering farmers for improved food productivity through research-driven soil health and fertility solutions.
