The five-year pact lays the foundation for the identification and implementation of specific, joint scientific projects. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has pursued the…

The five-year pact lays the foundation for the identification and implementation of specific, joint scientific projects.

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has pursued the initiative with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to step up the science of fighting hunger, poverty, and pollution.

Jack Payne, leader of UF/IFAS signed the agreement during the World Food Prize events in Iowa, a gathering of the world’s leading experts in agriculture who deliberated on ways to lift people out of poverty and to feed a world population expected to rise to 10 billion by 2050.

Director General Nteranya Sanginga signed the agreement on behalf of IITA. He did so after participating in a panel discussion organised by UF/IFAS on the fall armyworm’s threat to African food security.

IITA is marking its 50th year as an agricultural research institute working with international partners to improve livelihoods and nutrition, and preserve natural resources. UF/IFAS celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014.

The five-year pact between IITA and UF/IFAS is a broad framework for cooperation. It lays the foundation for the identification and implementation of specific, joint scientific projects.