Blog MITA conference sees strong demand for innovations that combat pest and disease outbreaks
During the 2024 Market of Agricultural Innovations and Technologies (MITA 2024), organized by the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), AICCRA and its regional partners showcased innovations that address pest and diseases outbreaks.
The annual Market of Agricultural Innovations and Technologies (MITA) was launched by CORAF, the sub-regional research organization working with 23 national agricultural research systems in West and Central African countries, to disseminate agricultural technologies and innovations across the region, attracting key players involved in the supply, transfer, and use of these technologies.
In 2024, MITA was built around the theme: ‘Facilitating access to agricultural technologies and innovations for integrated management of plant and animal pests and diseases’. Climate change has aggravated the spread of pests and diseases, posing an increasingly significant challenge to agriculture across West and Central Africa.
In line with the theme, the event provided a strategic opportunity to engage regional partners and stakeholders in a new Regional Pest and Disease Outbreak Preparedness and Response Plan for West and Central Africa, opening access to (and encouraging the use of) innovations incorporated into the plan to reach more farmers across more countries.
AICCRA at MITA 2024
Through its mandate to drive a climate-smart future in Africa powered by science and agricultural innovation, AICCRA played a significant role in MITA 2024, showcasing innovations from West Africa with examples from Ghana, Mali, and Senegal. Solutions highlighted including those for managing plant and animal pests and diseases while also presenting opportunities for scaling innovations. The success of these technologies and innovations lies in their ability to address climate-induced challenges in real-time.
To this end, a dedicated AICCRA session on ‘Accelerating access and use of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and climate information services (CIS) for managing plant and animal pests and diseases in West Africa,’ sparked interest among a diverse audience of policymakers, researchers, and agricultural practitioners.
