International Potato Center (CIP) and Blackpace Group to cooperate in advancing potato production in Africa

The International Potato Center (CIP) and BlackPace Africa Group (BPA) executed a Technical and Scientific agreement to advance potato production in Africa. This Inter-Institutional Framework Collaboration Agreement (“COA”) will further support development of both Irish and sweet potatoes in Africa.

The objective of this Collaboration Agreement is to establish the basis for a technical and scientific collaboration between CIP and BPA. It will enable the management and implementation of capacity building activities by both institutions through the exchange of information and knowledge.

Dr. Hugo Campos, CIP’s Director for Research:

“We are excited at this partnership with BlackPace Africa Group.”

“Together, we look forward to improving the livelihoods of 136,000 smallholder households in Rwanda by use of high quality seed of robust, market preferred and biofortified varieties.”

He added that the initiative should exploit the crops largely untapped potential, creating opportunities along the entire potato value chain.

According to the Executive Chair of BlackPace Africa, Olusegun Paul Andrew, Executive Chair of BlackPace Africa Group:

“Africa should aim for the best by investing in R&D and tapping the best brains in the continent and the entire world to achieve superior returns and develop the products Africans deserve.”

“We should also collaborate with respected institutions such as CIP to upscale the quality of our potatoes and processing capacity.”

The two organizations will develop joint research on technical, economic and social aspects of development of new varieties, improved seed systems, processing, markets development.

It will also promote consumption of potato and sweet potato, sustainable intensification of agro-systems, the relationship between climate change, agriculture and sustainable management of natural resources and fragile agro-ecosystems (wetlands).