Abidjan, November 28, 2024 - The WAVE Regional Excellence Center, focused on managing cross-border plant pathogens, held a media exchange day in Bingerville to present its research efforts.
Executive Director Pr. Justin Pita highlighted the initiative's goal of informing the press about scientific advancements in plant health, which is crucial for food security in West and Central Africa.
Journalists learned about WAVE's research efforts in detecting diseases such as the Ugandan strain of the cassava mosaic virus, identified in 2023 in East Africa and two West African countries. They also toured laboratories to understand viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases affecting cassava, including bacterial blight, anthracnose, and root rot.
Pr. Pita recalled a 2021 technical dialogue that led to recommendations for establishing surveillance and early warning systems. This initiative resulted in national response plans in 10 countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. These plans, validated by governments, have been updated through national workshops.
To mitigate the impacts of these diseases, he recommended ensuring the sanitary quality of planting materials through early diagnostics. The WAVE Research Center is committed to developing sustainable methods to combat pathogens and prevent their spread, contributing to resilient agricultural production.