AATF Inaugural Report - African Agricultural Technology Foundation

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A New Bridge to Sustainable Agricultural Development in Africa • International institutions and agencies [Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and other advanced research institutes]; • Local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs); • Agricultural industry holders of intellectual property (Monsanto, DowAgro, Pioneer/DuPont, Syngenta, and BASF); • African trade and agribusiness organisations; • National governments in sub-Saharan Africa. Priority Problems Being Addressed AATF is developing projects relating to eight major problem areas relevant to sub-Saharan African farmers: 1) Controlling the parasitic weed known as Striga; 2) Improving cowpea productivity; 3) Improving the productivity of bananas and plantains; 4) Enhancing the nutritional quality of cereals; 5) Improving drought tolerance in cereals; 6) Reducing mycotoxins in food grains; 7) Increasing the productivity of cassava; 8) Improving insect resistance in maize. AATF Milestones AATF Design Advisory Committee Walter Alhassan, Consultant (Ghana) Gerard Barry, Monsanto Company (USA) Allan Chiyembekeza, ICRISAT (Malawi) Sam Dryden, Emergent Genetics, Inc. (USA) Vincent Gwarazimba, Zimbabwe Seed Trade Association (Zimbabwe) Romano Kiome, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kenya) Josette Lewis, USAID (USA) Violet Mandishona, Zimbabwe Farmers Union (Zimbabwe) Barry McCarter, SeedCo (Zimbabwe) Gavin McGillivray, DFID (UK) Ronald Meeusen, Dow Agro Sciences LLC (USA) Kinyua M’Mbijjewe, Lead-Africa, Monsanto Africa (South Africa) Joseph Mukiibi, National Agricultural Research Organization (Uganda) Andrew Mushita, Community Technology Development Trust (Zimbabwe) Cyrus Ndiritu, Genetics Technologies Ltd. (Kenya) Christopher Ngichabe, Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (Kenya) William Niebur, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (USA) Kanayo Nwanze, WARDA (Cote d’Ivoire) Eugene Terry, AATF (USA) Barry Thomas, Aventis CropScience, UK Ltd. (UK) Carl-Gustaf Thornstrom, University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden) Godber Tumushabe, Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (Uganda) Florence Wambugu, A Harvest Biotech Foundation International (Kenya) Klaus Winkel, DANIDA (Denmark) AATF was officially launched by Kenya’s Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Kipruto arap Kirwa, on 16th June 2004 at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kabete Campus, Nairobi, Kenya. The President of The Rockefeller Foundation, Dr Gordon Conway, presented the keynote address in which he underscored the important role of the African governments in selecting technologies suitable to African agricultural problems. The occasion was graced by diplomats, top scientists, government officials, farmers, and NGOs and private sector representatives from Africa, Europe and the United States of America. See page 42 and http://www.aatf-africa.org/launch.php 6
AATF at a Glance June 2002 Implementing Director appointed Initial Meeting of the AATF Design Advisory Committee The Design Advisory Committee (DAC) was created to systematise consultations with a representative group of stakeholders during the development of the AATF business plan and to provide guidance on key operational issues. The DAC played a critical advisory role, guiding the formation of AATF. It provided guidance on the business plan, selection of board members, selection of the Foundation headquarters, and the development of criteria for the selection of pilot projects. See page 10 and http://www.aatf-africa.org/dac.php 2000 2002 DESIGN 2000–2002 Biotechnology Dialogues Aware of the widening gap between the agricultural science controlled by the developed countries and the needs of the poor in the developing world, during 2000-2002 the Rockefeller Foundation supported a series of consultations with stakeholders within a program called the Biotechnology Dialogues. See pages 9–10. January 2003 Rockefeller funding secured AATF established as a UK-based company limited by guarantee First Board of Trustees Meeting Business Plan Approved April 2003 AATF registered in Kenya as a foreign private company limited by guarantee January 2004 DFID funding secured June 2004 Executive Director appointed Formal Launch of AATF Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Development Agency (USDA) Sepember 2004 First progress review by donors 2003 IMPLEMENTATION 2004 LAUNCH 2005 September 2003 USAID funding secured Board Advisory Committee constituted The Board Advisory Committee (BAC) was set up to work with the AATF Board on a wide range of strategic issues relating to the Foundation’s operations and it currently comprises 10 individuals. See http://www.aatf-africa.org/bac.php AATF joins Striga Project See page 34 and http://www.aatf-africa.org/projects.php Cowpea Productivity Project Initiated See page 35 and http://www.aatf-africa.org/projects.php Banana and Plantain Productivity Project Established See page 36 and http://www.aatf-africa.org/projects.php Pro-Vitamin A Project Established See page 38 and http://www.aatf-africa.org/projects.php AATF joins IRMA Project See page 39 and http://www.aatf-africa.org/projects.php August 2004 Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (USA) January 2005 AATF registered as a charity in England and Wales 7
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AATF Inaugural Report - African Agricultural Technology Foundation

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