SEO Riders:
– AATF West Africa head wins World Food Prize Top Agri‑Food Pioneer award.
– PBR Cowpea varieties boost farmer incomes in Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso.
– Honoured among 39 global changemakers, set to speak at Borlaug Dialogue in October.
Dr Jean Baptiste Tignegre, Regional Representative for West Africa at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and project lead on the Pod Borer‑Resistant (PBR) Cowpea initiative, has been named a 2025 Top Agri‑Food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation. He is one of 39 innovators from 27 countries recognized for transforming global food systems. Tignegre will receive the award during the prestigious Norman Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, in October 2025.
With over 30 years of experience in plant breeding and biotechnology, Dr Tignegre has spearheaded the introduction of high-yielding, pest-resistant cowpea varieties in Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. The first genetically modified food crop in Nigeria—released in 2019—these varieties have significantly reduced crop losses, enhanced livelihoods, and propelled regulatory milestones: Ghana’s first GM crop deployment in 2024 and strengthened approval frameworks in Burkina Faso. His achievements span the development of multiple improved staples and securing major grants from USAID, AGRA, and the Gates Foundation, underscoring his role as a leader in Africa’s agricultural innovation landscape.
