The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has called for increased investment in plant breeding innovations, agricultural research and institutional partnerships in order to achieve food security.
He made the call in his address at the opening of the 4th International Conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The conference, holding from Sept. 23 to 24, has the theme: “Leveraging Breeding Innovations and Strategic Partnerships for Agribusiness Investments, Stable Supply Chains and National Food Security in a Changing Climate”.
The minister, represented by Mr Bukar Musa, Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, said Nigeria’s food security challenges required responsive science, purposeful partnerships, sustained investment and innovations that could move from research centres to farmers and markets.
“Plant breeding is a foundational part of that effort, and its greatest value will be realised when scientific excellence is connected to functioning markets, farmers’ needs, resilient supply chains and opportunities for investment,” he said.
He said scientific crop improvement would only achieve its full value when innovations moved beyond laboratories and research plots into farmers’ fields, markets and processing facilities.
“The development and deployment of improved crop varieties for both optimum and stress environments is therefore an important component of a resilient food system,” he said.
According to him, farmers need varieties and production technologies capable of performing under different stresses while maintaining productivity, quality and market relevance.
He said this required strong seed systems, effective extension services, financing, market access, supportive regulation and greater private-sector participation.
“This includes improving links between research institutions and agribusiness investors, strengthening seed multiplication and dissemination, supporting intellectual property and technology transfer arrangements, and creating clearer routes through which promising innovations can reach farmers at scale,” he said.
The minister said the Research Innovation Exhibition at the conference would enable research and development institutions to showcase innovations, including officially released crop varieties, while engaging investors and other users of technology.
According to him, such platforms can help translate scientific knowledge into partnerships, enterprises, jobs and measurable productivity gains.
Kyari, however, stressed that no single institution could transform the agrifood system alone, noting that government, research institutions, universities, seed companies, agribusinesses, financial institutions, development partners and farmers all had complementary roles to play.
He urged participants to use the conference to identify practical collaborations, investment opportunities and policy actions that could extend beyond the event.
The minister also called for stronger South-South and other international collaborations while building Nigerian capacity and institutions in agricultural research and innovation.
According to him, the participation of scientists and stakeholders from Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world will provide opportunities to share evidence, technologies and lessons that could be adapted to local conditions.
Kyari commended the NPBA for sustaining its conference platform and engagement with public institutions, saying plant breeding remained important to discussions on food security, agribusiness, economic development and livelihoods.
Earlier, Prof. Victor Adetimirin, President of NPBA, said the association was committed to advancing plant breeding as a critical component of agricultural development and national food security.
Adetimirin said the association brought together plant breeders and professionals involved in crop improvement, including geneticists, biotechnologists and seed scientists, to promote scientific exchange, professional development, collaboration and advocacy.
He said the conference provided an opportunity for researchers, seed companies, farmers, processors, financial institutions, development partners, investors and government representatives to build partnerships capable of translating scientific innovations into products and enterprises.
According to him, the association was also committed to developing young plant breeders, researchers and agricultural scientists.
He said NPBA had supported 30 students across the country through its Students Travel Grants for the 2026 conference.
The conference features paper presentations, discussion panels, interactive sessions and engagements among stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.
Highpoints of the event included the presentation of awards to key industry players in recognition of their contributions to plant breeding and agricultural development.
The event is attended by representatives of government agencies, research institutions, universities, seed companies, agribusinesses, development partners and other stakeholders.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that NPBA is the professional body that brings together plant breeders and other professionals involved in crop improvement, genetics, biotechnology, seed science and related disciplines in Nigeria.
The association provides a platform for scientific exchange, professional development, collaboration, advocacy and the advancement of plant breeding as a critical component of agricultural development and national food security.
It is the official affiliate of the African Plant Breeders Association, the body of plant breeders on the African continent.(NAN)
