The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture has celebrated Nigerian researcher Dr Mercy Elohor Diebiru-Ojo for her groundbreaking work with semi-autotrophic hydroponics technology. She was named a winner of the 2025 Africa Food Prize at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, alongside Professor Mary Abukutsa Onyango of Kenya.
The Africa Food Prize is the continent’s most prestigious award for agricultural innovation. It carries a cash reward of one hundred thousand US dollars, to be shared equally by the two laureates.
Dr Diebiru-Ojo’s research focuses on semi-autotrophic hydroponics, a technology that enables rapid multiplication of cassava and yam seedlings. The method provides farmers with clean, disease-free, vigorous planting materials. It works with all cassava and yam varieties, offering a solution to long-standing problems in seed systems.
At a press briefing in Abuja, the Director General of IITA, Dr Simeon Ehui, described the award as a landmark moment for African agriculture. He said it was a proud day for the institute and a significant milestone for the continent. He praised Dr Diebiru-Ojo’s leadership in advancing the use of the technology for cassava and yams, crops that remain vital to food security in Africa.
He explained that the clean, nursery-based method multiplies disease-free plantlets at scale, lowers risk, shortens the time to field, and strengthens seed systems end to end. He also commended her entrepreneurial drive and her efforts to build partnerships that make improved planting materials more accessible and affordable for farmers.
In her remarks, Dr Diebiru-Ojo acknowledged the support of IITA, CGIAR, the National Root Crops Research Institute and other partners. She recalled how the research began with cassava before being adapted to yams. Starting from a small laboratory, the goal was always to solve the challenge of limited access to quality planting materials.
She noted that the technology has eased a major bottleneck in seed distribution. For many years, farmers struggled to access improved cassava and yam varieties, which slowed adoption and reduced productivity. The new method has changed that situation. Farmers are now able to obtain disease-free seedlings that improve both yield and livelihoods.
Dr Diebiru-Ojo showcased samples of the seedlings, describing them as “cassava in the box.” She explained that the plantlets grow faster and stronger than traditional cuttings once they reach the field. She also pointed out that the method is highly scalable and replicable. It is now being used in more than fifteen African countries.
Her recognition as an Africa Food Prize laureate underscores the impact of her work. The innovation is expected to strengthen food systems, boost farmer productivity, and support agricultural transformation across Africa.
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