March 20, 2026
Maize feeds more than 700 million people across sub-Saharan Africa, grown on over 40 million hectares. Yet demand is rising rapidly. By 2050, maize yields will need to double to keep pace. Without this increase, the region could face a 76 million ton import gap and would need to bring an additional 28 million hectares of land into production.
The Resilient Maize Hybrids for Sub Saharan Africa project inception and planning meeting was held on 16 and 17 February 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together national agricultural research systems, seed companies, development partners, and technical collaborators from across Eastern, Southern, and West Africa to align on a shared pathway from genetic gain to farmer impact.
Group photo of Team from across Eastern, Southern, and West Africa taken in Nairobi during the meeting (Photo; Maria Monayo).
The meeting convened partners from 13 countries, including representatives from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, the Gates Foundation, Corteva Agriscience, Qualibasic, IITA, CGIAR centers, and seed sector leaders.
Opening the meeting, CIMMYT Global Maize Program Director, Dr. Ashish Saxena reflected on the broader purpose behind the initiative.
“Maize is more than a crop. It is food security, it is income, it is dignity,” he said. “Incremental gains are no longer enough. We need transformative solutions and we must ensure African farmers have access to the technologies shaping global agriculture.”
Dr. Gary Atlin of the Gates Foundation emphasized the long term investment behind maize improvement efforts and the responsibility to translate that investment into measurable results.
“We have invested approximately 200 million dollars in maize breeding in the region over the last two decades,” he said. “The outputs are there and impact has been real. Now we must ensure we continue delivering on that investment.”
Building on advances from DTMA, STMA, AGGMW, TELA, and MLN gene editing, the project aims to achieve at least 25 percent higher maize yields within the next 10 years.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization Director General Dr. Peter Ketiem highlighted the importance of adoption beyond release.
“Our challenge today is not only innovation,” he said. “It is ensuring that technologies move beyond the research station and reach farmers at scale.”
Strengthening the pathway from breeding to delivery
Discussions focused on strengthening the full value chain from breeding pipelines to seed production and farmer access. Participants reviewed the objective of the project in developing short duration, multi stress tolerant hybrids that combine drought tolerance, heat tolerance, and resistance to major pests and diseases. These hybrids are designed to perform reliably under increasingly variable climatic conditions.
Yoseph Beyene, Project lead shares key insights on strengthening breeding pipelines and delivering resilient maize solutions at scale (Photo; Maria Monayo).
Yoseph Beyene, project lead for the Resilient Maize Hybrids initiative, emphasized that the work builds on decades of scientific investment while sharpening focus on deployment.
“We are not starting from zero,” Beyene said. “We already have elite germplasm, strong breeding pipelines, and validated stress tolerant lines. Our task now is to assemble these building blocks into breakthrough products and ensure they move efficiently through seed systems to farmers’ fields.”
MLN field trials at the CIMMYT KALRO research station in Njoro. The clear contrast in the field shows how resilient maize genetics can make all the difference when crops face severe disease pressure (Photo; Maria Monayo).
Larger gains are expected in West Africa, where open pollinated varieties are widely grown and farmers face strong pressure from fall armyworm and Striga. In Southern Africa, the focus is on developing short duration hybrids that can better tolerate drought and heat.
He noted that over the past five years, CGIAR stress tolerant certified maize seed has covered 7.5 million hectares annually across sub Saharan Africa, distributed through more than 100 seed companies in 13 target and 7 spillover countries. This has benefited around 50 million people each year and generated 2.7 billion dollars in economic gains, demonstrating both the scale of impact and the strong return on investment.
Seed production systems were also central to the conversation. Seed Production Technology for Africa (SPTA)was highlighted as a way to improve hybrid seed production efficiency and reliability for seed companies while maintaining strong performance in farmers’ fields.
Corteva Agriscience shared insights on the technology and its stewardship requirements, while Qualibasic emphasized quality assurance systems ensure consistency and regulatory compliance.
“By strengthening seed production systems, we improve reliability for seed companies and access of quality seed for farmers,” Sarah Collinson from Corteva noted. “Innovation must work in practice, not only in theory.”
Aligning markets, policy, and inclusion
The meeting also examined market dynamics, including discussions around yellow and orange maize demand. Participants underscored that breeding success depends on clear demand signals from processors and feed industries, as well as effective communication and regulatory clarity.
Gender and social inclusion were integrated throughout the discussions. Teams emphasized that women and youth farmers must be deliberately included in testing, training, and seed access strategies to ensure equitable adoption and impact.
Planning for measurable outcomes
The second day of the meeting focused on operational planning. Breakout sessions clarified product roadmaps, regulatory engagement pathways, partner roles, and milestones required to move validated hybrids into commercial production and distribution.
Ashish Saxena presents a token of appreciation to Gary Atlin of the Gates Foundation, recognizing long-standing support and investment in maize improvement across sub Saharan Africa (Photo; Maria Monayo).
With support from the Gates Foundation and in collaboration with national research institutions, Corteva, Qualibasic, seed companies, and CGIAR partners, the project aims to strengthen seed systems and accelerate the delivery of resilient maize hybrids at scale.
Reflecting on the significance of the gathering, Dr Ashish Saxena emphasized shared accountability.
“The seeds of the future are not only genetic,” he said. “They are institutional, collaborative, and visionary. Through science and partnership, we can shape a more food secure Africa.”
Maize remains foundational to household nutrition, farmer income, and national food systems across Sub Saharan Africa. Turning scientific advances into trusted seed in farmers’ hands will require sustained collaboration, clear deployment pathways, and continued investment in innovation.
The Resilient Maize Hybrids for Sub Saharan Africa initiative marks a coordinated step toward that goal.
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