The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has called for increased investment in plant breeding innovations, agricultural research and institutional partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s food security.
Kyari made the call in an address delivered on his behalf by the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Mr Bukar Musa, at the opening of the 4th International Conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The conference, which held from Sept. 23 to 24, had the theme: “Leveraging Breeding Innovations and Strategic Partnerships for Agribusiness Investments, Stable Supply Chains and National Food Security in a Changing Climate.”
Kyari said Nigeria’s food security challenges required responsive science, purposeful partnerships, sustained investment and innovations capable of moving from research centres to farmers and markets.
“Plant breeding is a foundational part of that effort, and its greatest value will be realised when scientific excellence is connected to functioning markets, farmers’ needs, resilient supply chains and opportunities for investment,” he said.
He said scientific crop improvement would achieve its full potential only when innovations moved beyond laboratories and research plots into farmers’ fields, markets and processing facilities.
“The development and deployment of improved crop varieties for both optimum and stress environments is therefore an important component of a resilient food system,” he said.
According to him, farmers need crop varieties and production technologies that can perform under different stresses while maintaining productivity, quality and market relevance.
He said achieving this would require strong seed systems, effective extension services, financing, market access, supportive regulation and greater private-sector participation.
“This includes improving links between research institutions and agribusiness investors, strengthening seed multiplication and dissemination, supporting intellectual property and technology transfer arrangements, and creating clearer routes through which promising innovations can reach farmers at scale,” he said.
Kyari said the Research Innovation Exhibition at the conference would provide research and development institutions with an opportunity to showcase innovations, including officially released crop varieties, while engaging investors and other technology users.
He said such platforms could help translate scientific knowledge into partnerships, enterprises, jobs and measurable productivity gains.
The minister stressed that no single institution could transform Nigeria’s agrifood system alone, noting that government, research institutions, universities, seed companies, agribusinesses, financial institutions, development partners and farmers all had complementary roles to play.
He urged participants to use the conference to identify practical collaborations, investment opportunities and policy actions that could extend beyond the event.
Kyari also called for stronger South-South and international collaborations while strengthening Nigeria’s capacity and institutions in agricultural research and innovation.
He said the participation of scientists and stakeholders from Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world would provide opportunities to share evidence, technologies and lessons that could be adapted to local conditions.
Kyari commended the NPBA for sustaining its conference platform and engagement with public institutions, saying plant breeding remained important to food security, agribusiness, economic development and livelihoods.
Earlier, the President of NPBA, Prof. Victor Adetimirin, said the association was committed to advancing plant breeding as a critical component of agricultural development and national food security.
Adetimirin said the association brought together plant breeders and professionals involved in crop improvement, including geneticists, biotechnologists and seed scientists, to promote scientific exchange, professional development, collaboration and advocacy.
He said the conference provided an opportunity for researchers, seed companies, farmers, processors, financial institutions, development partners, investors and government representatives to build partnerships capable of translating scientific innovations into products and enterprises.
According to him, the association was also committed to developing young plant breeders, researchers and agricultural scientists.
He said the NPBA had supported 30 students across the country through its Students Travel Grants for the 2026 conference.
The conference featured paper presentations, discussion panels, interactive sessions and engagements among stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to key industry players in recognition of their contributions to plant breeding and agricultural development.
The event was attended by representatives of government agencies, research institutions, universities, seed companies, agribusinesses, development partners and other stakeholders.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NPBA is the professional body that brings together plant breeders and other professionals involved in crop improvement, genetics, biotechnology, seed science and related disciplines in Nigeria.
The association provides a platform for scientific exchange, professional development, collaboration, advocacy and the advancement of plant breeding as a critical component of agricultural development and national food security.