By Nkechi Eze
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) is strengthening efforts to transform agricultural research into practical technologies, improved crop varieties and commercially viable opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.
According to a statement by the PRO to the Executive Secretary, ARCN, Khadijat O. Ameen, the council, under the leadership of its Executive Secretary, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban, is advancing a research-commercialisation agenda aimed at ensuring that innovations generated by research institutions translate into tangible economic and agricultural impact.
The council’s new Country Snapshot on Research Commercialisation in Nigeria, presented by Dabban at the Scaling Innovation for the CAADP Kampala Agenda session in Dakar, placed Nigeria at Stage 2 of the research-commercialisation journey, described as the capacity-building phase.
The ARCN said it has developed more than 400 agricultural innovations and improved technologies, while 578 adopted villages and schools have been reached through its programmes.
Dabban also disclosed that more than 3,200 farmers had been reached through six Agricultural Research Outreach Centres (AROC) in the Federal Capital Territory, while over 100,000 farming families had been reached nationwide.
According to the council, the achievements reflect growing linkages between research institutions, farmers, extension actors, communities and private-sector stakeholders.
However, ARCN identified gaps in intellectual property management, technology transfer, industry engagement, investment, licensing and funding for commercialisation as challenges that must be addressed to move agricultural innovations from research institutions into viable market products.
To bridge these gaps, the council is advocating stronger Technology Transfer and Commercialisation Offices, improved intellectual property and licensing frameworks, proof-of-concept funding, stronger linkages between investors and agribusinesses, as well as the establishment of spin-off companies by research institutes.
Dabban stressed that agricultural research must go beyond laboratories and research shelves to reach farmers, create value and connect with the market.
He said the council’s focus remained on “turning agricultural research into impact” by strengthening the pathway from innovation to adoption and commercialisation.
