In a powerful demonstration of scientific collaboration, the Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) led a high-level delegation to the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) main research station in Mbé, reinforcing the partnership between these sister CGIAR centers. As food sovereignty emerges as Africa's defining challenge, AfricaRice and IITA are taking their collaboration to new heights—placing science at the heart of their strategy to transform agricultural challenges into engines of sustainable economic growth.

Epicuticular wax crystals are synthesized and secreted by the epidermal cells of aerial tissues in terrestrial plants and are transported to the outer surface, where they crystallize on the cuticle. The absence of these wax crystals conferred a glossy phenotype to plant leaves, which is beneficial for enhancing the commercial quality of leafy vegetables. Fourteen glossy leaf mutants were isolated from an EMS-mutagenized doubled haploid line ‘FT’ of Chinese cabbage

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the world’s most widely cultivated and consumed vegetables, and its fruits are highly valued for its vibrant color, culinary versatility, and nutritional benefits (Yu et al. 2025). China leads global tomato production, with an output of approximately 70 million tons in 2023, contributing to a worldwide yield exceeding 192 million tons (FAO 2025). Fragrance significantly enhances the sensory appeal and flavor quality of food, thereby influencing the consumption and market price of agricultural products