Africa Rice Center

19/09/2026

This morning at , Africa Rice Center Director General Dr. Baboucarr Manneh took the stage alongside fellow African research leaders to chart a more impactful path for China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology cooperation. 🌾🌍🇨🇳

His message was clear: Africa has proven innovations. What's missing are the delivery systems to take them from research stations to millions of farmers' fields.

From hybrid rice to mechanization, from seed systems to postharvest technology — the complementarity between Chinese agricultural science and Africa's needs is real. The challenge now is scaling it.

18/09/2026

Africa Rice Center welcomed a high-level parliamentary delegation to its Mbé Research Station today — led by H.E. Fatoumata Traoré Diop, Vice-President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire (Assemblée nationale de Côte d'Ivoire). 🌾🇨🇮

Engaging parliamentarians in the realities of rice research and innovation is essential. Policy shaped by science delivers better outcomes for farmers, communities, and national food security.

We are grateful for this visit and the dialogue it opens. 🤝

18/09/2026

Africa Rice Center — part of the CGIAR system — has launched the first-ever Council of Ministers Award of Excellence in Rice Research and Development. 🌾🏆

Africa's rice production doubled between 2008 and 2018. Behind that progress are scientists, researchers, and innovators whose work deserves recognition.

This biennial award honours exceptional contributions across:
🔬 Scientific excellence & peer-reviewed impact
🌾 Tangible outcomes for farmers and food systems
🤝 Collaboration, capacity building & open science
💡 Innovation, knowledge sharing & IP development
🎯 Institutional values, equity & ethical conduct

Two laureates will be recognised at the 34th Ordinary Session of the AfricaRice Council of Ministers — each receiving a signed plaque and USD 5,000.

Open to individuals and teams from NARS, public institutions, private sector, and AfricaRice across all member countries.

⏰ Application deadline: 24 September 2026

👉 Full criteria & application: africarice.org/copy-of-capsha

18/09/2026

Africa Rice Center was honoured to join the opening of in Beijing. 🌾🇨🇳

Themed "Green and Low-Carbon Transformation of Agrifood Systems", the conference brings together policymakers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and farmers from across the globe — united around a shared challenge: decarbonising food systems without compromising food security.

It's a conversation that goes to the heart of what AfricaRice does every day across .

17/09/2026

On the sidelines of , Africa Rice Center Director General Dr. Baboucarr Manneh opened a new chapter in Africa–China scientific collaboration — meeting with the Beijing Institute of Technology and China Agricultural University. 🌾🇨🇳

The discussions focused on three priorities:
📈 Moving African rice yields from current low levels toward 4–5 tons per hectare
🤖 Integrating Artificial Intelligence for smarter agricultural data management
🤝 Strengthening the capacities of actors across the rice value chain

Connecting science, technology, and shared ambition for Africa's food future.

16/09/2026

Your work deserves recognition. 🌾🏆

Africa Rice Center is proud to launch the first-ever Council of Ministers Award of Excellence in Rice Research and Development — honouring outstanding scientists, teams, and organisations transforming 's rice sector.

Open to individuals and teams from NARS, public institutions, private sector actors, and AfricaRice across all member countries.

Two laureates will be recognised at the 34th session of the Council of Ministers and each will receive:

🥇 A plaque signed by the COM Chair
💰 USD 5,000
⏰ Deadline: 24 September 2026

👉 Apply now
English: https://on.cgiar.org/4Ab21yR
Français : https://on.cgiar.org/4risMNF

16/09/2026

Votre travail mérite d'être reconnu. 🌾🏆

AfricaRice est fière de lancer le tout premier Prix d'Excellence du Conseil des ministres en matière de Recherche et Développement rizicoles — pour honorer les chercheurs, équipes et organisations qui transforment le secteur rizicole en Afrique.

Ouvert aux individus et aux équipes issus des SNRA, des institutions publiques, du secteur privé et d'AfricaRice dans l'ensemble des pays membres.

Deux lauréats seront récompensés lors de la 34e session du Conseil des ministres et recevront chacun :

🥇 Une plaque signée par le Président du Conseil des ministres
💰 5 000 USD
⏰ Date limite : 24 septembre 2026

👉 Postulez dès maintenant : https://on.cgiar.org/4Ab21yR

15/09/2026

15/09/2026

What does rice have to do with diplomacy? More than you might think. 🌾

In a moving opinion piece published in The Citizen, 's Chargé d'Affaires to Côte d'Ivoire, Ambassador Mukhtar Bilal Abdelsalam, traces a decade-long journey — from early rice trials in Sudan to a meeting with Africa Rice Center Director General Dr. Baboucarr Manneh in Abidjan — that could see Sudan become the newest member of 's 28-nation family.

Sudan's agricultural potential is vast. And this story shows what's possible when science, diplomacy, and shared ambition come together. 💚

👉 Read the full piece: https://on.cgiar.org/4cO4MMh

By: Ambassador Mukhtar Bilal Abdelsalam In the corridors of diplomacy, relations are not measured solely by written agreements, but rather by the living stor

11/09/2026

The Africa Rice Center delegation's visit to continues — and the momentum is building. 🇨🇲🌾
Productive audiences today with H.E. Gabriel Mbairobe, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), and Dr. Madeleine Tchuinte, Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI).
Key highlights:
🌱 Expanding the AfricaRice–Cameroon partnership to include the VIVA-Logone Project alongside VIVA Bénoué
👩‍🌾 Setting up rice innovation platforms led by women and youth — in line with President Biya's 2nd Generation Agriculture vision
🏦 Establishing gene banks for rice and other crops to safeguard future food security
🔬 Scaling proven, environmentally sustainable innovations developed with IRAD - Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement du Cameroun — including the GEM parboiling technology

The vision? Rice on every family's table — grown here, for Cameroon.