Fostering a new era of agriculture, IITA, and its partners leverage technologies to enhance crop breeding efficiency, precision, and productivity; organized a 2-day training for breeders on the Enterprise Breeding System (EBS) at the institute’s headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria, to align users’ understanding of the EBS tool, streamline workflow, and fast-track processes.

The event started on 23 August 2023 with presentations, practical demonstrations, trial and location creation, management of occurrence data, and hands-on experiences with the EBS tool. The training is a testament to the dedication and vision of individuals who strive to transform agriculture into a dynamic and innovative field.

At the training, one of the participants, Jelili Adedoja, expressed his excitement about the tool designed to streamline workflow and fast-track breeding projects.

“It’s not just software; it is a pathway to efficiency, accuracy, and ultimately, a sustainable future,” he said.

EBS is believed to be more than just a tool—it is a catalyst for change and sophisticated software designed to bring harmony to agriculture.

IITA Research Administrative Manager in the Maize breeding unit, Olubunmi Bossey, shed light on the software, stating that the core aim of the tool is to align users’ understanding and information, thus paving the way for unprecedented agricultural advancement.

“The prospect of crop improvement is no longer bound by traditional methods but rather accelerated through the power of technology and collaboration,” she said.

With the EBS software, farmers and researchers would experience increased harvest and yield.

Contributed by Omowumi Ayodele & Jamila Mohammed-Audu