he African Agricultural Technology Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation designed to facilitate and promote public/private partnerships for the access and delivery of appropriate proprietary agricultural technologies for use by resource-poor smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Striga Control Project Striga (witchweed) is a parasitic weed that seriously constrains the productivity of staples such as maize, sorghum, millet and upland rice in Sub-Saharan Africa. Striga infests as much as 40 million hectares of smallholder farmland in the region and causes yield losses ranging from 20–80% and even total crop failure in severe infestation. Project News • Striga Project in the News The Striga project made news lately, thanks to its outputs that have greatly contributed towards the elimination of hunger in Africa View All News   Visit Project Website

Cowpea Improvement The pod borer (Maruca vitrata) inflicts severe damage to cowpea leading to yield losses of between 70–80% in severe infestations. Spraying with insecticide has not been widely adopted by farmers due to the prohibitive costs. AATF is addressing this problem by facilitating the development of Maruca-resistant transgenic cowpea varieties, thereby minimising insecticide use and its effects on health and the environment. Project News • Aussie TJ Higgins receives GRDC Seed of Light Award One of Australia's leading researchers in plant gene technology, Dr TJ Higgins, has been recognised for his advocacy of and commitment to communicating the outcomes of scientific research. View All News   Visit Project Website

Banana Improvement Banana bacterial wilt disease threatens production of banana in the Great Lakes region, leading to a 50% decline in household incomes from banana sales and a corresponding increase in banana prices. Disease control methods currently in use have not been successful and hence the need for exploring feasible alternatives. AATF has brokered access to a gene from Academia Sinica in Taiwan that is currently being used to transform bananas for resistance against BBW. Project News • Reduced cost of tissue culture banana can help control spread of Banana Bacterial Wilt in Great Lakes region The cost of tissue culture banana plantlets can be reduced by up to 60% through effective and efficient banana tissue culture practices. View All News   Visit Project Website

Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project Drought is the most important constraint of African agriculture severely af­fecting maize, the most important African staple food crop. The WEMA partnership was formed in response to a growing call by African farmers, leaders, and scientists to address the effects of drought in a way that is cost ef­fective to African smallholder farmers.