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TAAT, partners chart future of scaling technologies through innovation platform model – EnviroNews
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The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Programme, in collaboration with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the CGIAR, and Advanced Agricultural Research and Educational Institutions (AAREIs), has reaffirmed its position as Africa’s premier agricultural technology delivery platform during a high-level opening day side event at the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW-9), which commenced on Monday, July 27, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital city.
Bringing together policymakers, research leaders, development partners, private-sector actors, farmer organisations, and innovation practitioners from across the continent, the events focused on accelerating the scaling of proven agricultural innovations through stronger Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS), strategic partnerships and sustainable technology delivery mechanisms.
Held under the overarching AASW-9 theme, “Accelerating the Scaling of Agricultural Innovations for Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa,” the TAAT Capacity Development and Technology Outreach (CDTO) Compact organised the technical Side Event on “Strengthening Agricultural Innovation Systems for Scaling Technologies in Africa.”
The event highlighted the remarkable journey of TAAT from a technology deployment initiative into one of Africa’s largest and most effective agricultural innovation ecosystems, while setting the strategic direction for TAAT Phase III (TAATIII).
A Continental Platform for Scaling Proven Technologies
Opening the event, leaders from the CGIAR and AAREIs emphasised that Africa’s greatest agricultural challenge is no longer the generation of innovations, but ensuring that proven technologies reach millions of farmers quickly, efficiently and sustainably.
Speakers underscored that TAAT was established under the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy to address this critical gap by creating a coordinated continental ecosystem that connects research institutions, CGIAR Centres, National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES), governments, private-sector organisations, farmer organisations, and development partners around a shared objective of accelerating agricultural transformation.
Reflecting on the TAAT Journey
A presentation by Dr. Solomon Gizaw, the Head of TAAT Clearinghouse, traced the programme’s evolution from its inception in 2018 through TAAT I and TAAT II, showcasing how coordinated partnerships, innovation platforms, capacity development, policy engagement and technology delivery systems have enabled proven agricultural innovations to reach farmers across multiple countries and value chains.
Participants reflected on the programme’s growing contribution to climate-smart agriculture, improved crop and livestock technologies, digital agriculture, youth engagement, institutional strengthening and agribusiness development, while recognising that the next phase must focus on transforming entire agrifood systems rather than scaling technologies in isolation.
Calls for Stronger Agricultural Innovation Systems
The panel discussion brought together representatives from government, the private sector, research institutions and the TAAT Commodity Compacts to examine practical approaches for building sustainable technology delivery systems.
Resource Persons including Dr. Fadlullah Olayiwola Issa and Dr. Godfrey Onagwa agreed that successful scaling depends not only on scientific excellence but also on strong Agricultural Innovation Systems that connect research, policy, extension services, markets, finance and farmers.
Discussions highlighted several priorities for TAAT III, including:
- Strengthening country ownership of technology delivery programmes.
- Expanding private-sector participation in technology dissemination and commercialisation.
- Building stronger innovation platforms that facilitate collaboration among stakeholders.
- Integrating digital coordination systems to improve knowledge sharing and decision-making.
- Enhancing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems to better measure impact.
- Embedding Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) throughout technology scaling initiatives.
- Promoting greater participation of women and youth in agricultural innovation ecosystems.
TAAT Commodity Compact Leaders like Prof David Ojo (IITA), Mr. Justin Mabeya Machini (Alliance Bioversity and CIAT), Dr. Tunde Amole (ILRI), and Dr. Adebayo Abass, Dr. Tadesse Wuletaw (ICARDA) shared practical experiences from across Africa, demonstrating how partnerships with governments, research institutions, extension services and agribusinesses have accelerated technology adoption while improving productivity, resilience and farmer incomes.
Advancing Agricultural Innovation Systems
The afternoon Side Event shifted attention to strengthening Agricultural Innovation Systems as the institutional foundation for sustainable technology scaling.
Participants examined approaches to improve country and private-sector engagement, validated the TAAT Innovation Platform Training Manual, harmonised Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems, strengthened digital coordination mechanisms, and integrated Environmental and Social Safeguards into technology delivery.
The discussions reinforced the importance of innovation platforms as collaborative spaces where researchers, policymakers, private-sector actors, extension agencies and farmers jointly identify challenges, exchange knowledge, and coordinate solutions. Stakeholders also emphasised that stronger Agricultural Innovation Systems are essential for ensuring that technologies remain demand-driven, locally relevant, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.
Strategic Outcomes
The engagements generated a broad consensus on several strategic priorities that will underpin TAAT III’s implementation. Participants endorsed the need to strengthen Agricultural Innovation Systems across Africa through improved institutional coordination, stronger partnerships and greater country ownership.
The sessions also advanced work toward validating the TAAT Innovation Platform Training Manual, harmonising Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning frameworks, integrating Environmental and Social Safeguards into technology delivery approaches and expanding digital coordination systems across the TAAT ecosystem.
Importantly, participants reaffirmed the central role of the private sector, farmer organisations, research institutions and development partners in accelerating the scaling of proven agricultural innovations and mobilising investments for sustainable agrifood systems transformation.
Transitioning to TAAT III
As TAAT transitions into its next phase, participants agreed that the programme is well-positioned to move beyond technology deployment toward broader agrifood systems transformation.
Dr. Abdulrazaq Ibrahim, the TAAT CDTO Compact Leader stated that TAAT III would build on lessons learned over the past eight years by strengthening Agricultural Innovation Systems, promoting climate-resilient production, advancing digital agriculture, increasing commercialisation, supporting youth and women-led enterprises, mobilising investment and reinforcing institutional sustainability through stronger partnerships.
“The discussions at AASW-9 reaffirmed a shared vision that Africa’s agricultural transformation will depend not only on developing innovative technologies, but also on creating sustainable systems capable of delivering those innovations at scale,” Dr. Ibrahim added.
The CDTO Leader believes that, with renewed commitment from governments, the African Development Bank, research institutions, CGIAR Centres, development partners, the private sector, and farmer organisations, TAAT will continue to demonstrate that coordinated partnerships and science-based solutions can accelerate the continent’s journey toward resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems.
The TAAT Programme is an African Development Bank initiative implemented in partnership with CGIAR Centres, National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems, universities, governments, the private sector and development partners.
Established under the bank’s Feed Africa Strategy, TAAT accelerates the deployment and scaling of proven agricultural technologies to increase productivity, strengthen resilience, improve food and nutrition security, create employment and transform agrifood systems across Africa.
