Preface: 2nd Edition of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development’s Symposium on “Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products in West and Central Africa: Achievements and Opportunities for Private Sector Engagement”

Tenkouano, Abdou; Njukwe, Emmanuel; Kpadonou, G. Esaïe; Ganyo, Kyky Komla; Lamien, Niéyidouba; Kenou, Christel; Ogunbayo, Ayoni; Yaye, Aissatou Drame

doi:10.3390/proceedings2025118001

Open AccessEditorial

Preface: 2nd Edition of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development’s Symposium on “Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products in West and Central Africa: Achievements and Opportunities for Private Sector Engagement”

by

Abdou Tenkouano

¹,

Emmanuel Njukwe

¹,

G. Esaïe Kpadonou

^1,*

,

Kyky Komla Ganyo

¹,

Niéyidouba Lamien

¹,

Christel Kenou

¹,

Ayoni Ogunbayo

¹ and

Aissatou Drame Yaye

²

¹

West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), Dakar BP 48, Senegal

²

Faculté d’Agronomie, Université Abdou Moumouni, Niamey BP 10896, Niger

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Proceedings 2025, 118(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025118001

Published: 8 May 2025

Download Versions Notes

1. Introduction

1.1. Context

The agricultural sector faces new challenges, including pest and disease outbreaks, land degradation, and the effects of climate change. These challenges can be addressed through new technologies and practices, combined with appropriate tools and approaches for communication and knowledge management. These innovative technologies, practices, and approaches have the potential to increase production and productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, improve the quality of products and services, and make food systems more resilient and sustainable. Moreover, they provide a critical foundation for ensuring that agriculture remains a viable and thriving sector in the face of ongoing and future challenges.

In recognition of the pivotal role of research and development in addressing these challenges, CORAF organized an international symposium from 21st to 23rd November 2023, in Lomé, Togo. The theme of the symposium was, “Processing and transformation of Agricultural Products: Achievements and Opportunities Available to the Private Sector for Job and Wealth Creation in West and Central Africa”. The symposium, which was attended by 147 participants, started with a call for abstracts, and 265 abstracts were received from authors spread across the West, Central, and Eastern Africa region, out of which 31 papers were accepted as full research papers with 18 manuscripts finally accepted for publication after the peer-review process.

This symposium was more than just a gathering of minds; it was a confluence of ideas, a testament to the power of collaboration in advancing agricultural research and development. It provided a unique opportunity for plant breeders, researchers, students, private companies, national agricultural research systems, and policymakers to discuss their findings, share their achievements, and forge new partnerships. These interactions are the seeds from which future innovations will grow, paving the way for a more prosperous and resilient agricultural sector in West and Central Africa region and beyond.

The symposium’s outcomes and discussions, presented in this Proceedings volume, reflect the commitment of CORAF to advancing agriculture in the region, addressing contemporary challenges, and fostering innovative solutions for the benefit of West and Central Africa. Let it spark new ideas, foster deeper understandings, and ignite the drive to continue exploring and innovating in the field of agriculture.

1.2. Organizers

The Symposium is an annual regional scientific meeting in West and Central Africa focusing on current and important topics in the agricultural research and development areas. It is organized by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) and its partners. CORAF is a sub-regional organization made up of the national agricultural research systems (NARS) of 23 countries in West and Central Africa. It was established in 1987, with a mandate to coordinate and facilitate innovative and cutting-edge research products needed to unlock the agricultural potential of West and Central Africa.

1.3. Scopes and Topics

The 2023 symposium focused on “Processing and transformation of Agricultural Products: Achievements and Opportunities for Private Sector for Job and Wealth Creation in West and Central Africa”. For this proceeding, it covered three topics:

Foods processing and nutrition;
Postharvest management and conservation;
Foods security.

2. Committee Members

2.1. Organizing Committee

◾: Dr. Emmanuel NJUKWE, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Ayoni OGUNBAYO, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Niéyidouba LAMIEN, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. G. Esaïe KPADONOU, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Kyky Komlan GANYO, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Caroline MAKAMTO SOBGUI, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Réana FALL DIAGNE, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr Fatou DIENG GUEYE, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Yao LOMBO, Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (ITRA), Togo
◾: Dr. Kossi Koudjega, ITRA, Togo
◾: Mr. Christel KENOU, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Mr. Etsri ANANI, ITRA, Togo
◾: Ms. Haby TAMBEDOU, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Ms. Poko Alida NADINGA, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Mrs. Pauline Ngandoul DIOUF, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Ms. Henriette KABA, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Mr. Mouhamadou LAMINE NIASS, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Mrs. Sophie Yandé Ngning KAMONY, CORAF, Senegal

2.2. Scientific Committee

◾: Prof. Aissatou DRAME YAYE, Université Abdou Moumouni, Niger
◾: Prof. Mauricette OUALI-N’GORAN, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire
◾: Prof. Fonteh Florence ANYANGWE, University of Dschang, Cameroon
◾: Prof. Isaac Oludayo DANIEL, University of Manitoba, Canada
◾: Prof. Emmanuel K. AJANI, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
◾: Prof. Shehu Garki ADO, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria
◾: Prof. Emmanuel MBETID-BESSANE, Université de Bangui, Centrafrique
◾: Prof. Isaac Roger TCHOUAMO (retd), University of Dschang, Cameroon
◾: Dr. Rachidatou SIKIROU, Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin, Benin
◾: Dr. Robert ZOUGMORE, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Senegal
◾: Dr. Pauline LIMI-MOUNJOUENPOU, Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, Cameroun
◾: Dr. Maïmouna CISSE, Institut Sénégalais de Recherche Agricole, Senegal
◾: Dr. Emmanuel NJUKWE, West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, Senegal
◾: Dr. Ekpetsi O. Chantal BOUKA GOTO, Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique, Togo
◾: Prof. Kwasi Dzola AYISAH, Université de Lomé, Togo
◾: Prof. Fousseni FOLEGA, Université de Lomé, Togo
◾: Dr. Ayoni OGUNBAYO, West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, Senegal
◾: Dr. Caroline MAKAMTO SOBGUI, West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, Senegal
◾: Dr. Kyky Komlan GANYO, West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, Senegal
◾: Dr. G. Esaïe KPADONOU, West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, Senegal

2.3. Advisory Committee

◾: Dr. Moumini SAVADOGO, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Abdou TENKOUANO, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Alioune FALL, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Ousmane NDOYE, CORAF, Senegal
◾: Dr. Yacouba DIALLO, CORAF, Senegal

2.4. Independent Reviewers

◾: Prof. Rasak OLAJIDE, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
◾: Prof. Sylvain DABADE, Université d’Abomey Calavi, Benin
◾: Prof. Akeem Babatunde DAUDA, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Nigeria
◾: Dr. Felix Kwashie MADILO, Ho Technical University, Ghana
◾: Dr. Paul HOUSSOU, Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin, Benin
◾: Dr. Oluwafunmilayo Olarewaju AMINU, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Nigeria
◾: Dr. Adegbite S. ADEYEMI, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Nigeria
◾: Dr. Sedo Eudes Landry ANIHOUVI, Université d’Abomey Calavi, Benin
◾: Dr. Victoria NWADILI, National Root Crops Research Institute, Nigeria
◾: Dr. Vincent Awe EZIN, Université d’Abomey Calavi, Benin
◾: Dr. Christian ADJIBA, Université de Parakou, Benin
◾: Dr. Ekpetsi O. Chantal BOUKA GOTO, Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique, Togo
◾: Dr. Mahyao ADOLPHE, Centre National de Recherche Agronomique, Côte d’ivoire
◾: Dr. Oluwadiran Olufunmilola OLUDOYIN, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Nigeria
◾: Dr. André ADJOGBOTO, Université de Parakou, Benin
◾: Dr. Elysée M. HOUEDJOFONON, Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin, Benin
◾: Dr. Adrien DOGO, Université de Parakou, Benin
◾: Dr. François ASSOGBA, Faculté des sciences agronomiques, Université d’Abomey Calavi, Benin
◾: Dr. Herbert Afe IKOH, Faculté des sciences agronomiques, Université d’Abomey Calavi, Benin
◾: Prof. Ahmed M. ABDEL-AZEEM, Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Egypt
◾: Dr. Amarachi OSI, Université polytechnique de Bucharest, Roumanie

3. Sponsors

CORAF appreciates support of the Swiss Cooperation in funding the implementation of Technologies and Innovations for Increasing the Resilience of Production Systems and Family Farms in West and Central Africa (TARSPro) Program in West and Central Africa region.

Acknowledgments

Our deepest gratitude goes to the Swiss Cooperation, all the authors, reviewers, and contributors who made this symposium and the resulting publication possible. We are grateful to Dr. Moumini Savadogo for his guidance and encouragement. We also acknowledge the invaluable support of our partners, stakeholders, and collaborators. We appreciate our partners from the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in the 23 countries, your unwavering belief in the transformative power of research fuels our collective mission and propels us forward.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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MDPI and ACS Style

Tenkouano, A.; Njukwe, E.; Kpadonou, G.E.; Ganyo, K.K.; Lamien, N.; Kenou, C.; Ogunbayo, A.; Yaye, A.D. Preface: 2nd Edition of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development’s Symposium on “Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products in West and Central Africa: Achievements and Opportunities for Private Sector Engagement”. Proceedings 2025, 118, 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025118001

AMA Style

Tenkouano A, Njukwe E, Kpadonou GE, Ganyo KK, Lamien N, Kenou C, Ogunbayo A, Yaye AD. Preface: 2nd Edition of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development’s Symposium on “Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products in West and Central Africa: Achievements and Opportunities for Private Sector Engagement”. Proceedings. 2025; 118(1):1. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025118001

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tenkouano, Abdou, Emmanuel Njukwe, G. Esaïe Kpadonou, Kyky Komla Ganyo, Niéyidouba Lamien, Christel Kenou, Ayoni Ogunbayo, and Aissatou Drame Yaye. 2025. "Preface: 2nd Edition of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development’s Symposium on “Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products in West and Central Africa: Achievements and Opportunities for Private Sector Engagement”" Proceedings 118, no. 1: 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025118001

APA Style

Tenkouano, A., Njukwe, E., Kpadonou, G. E., Ganyo, K. K., Lamien, N., Kenou, C., Ogunbayo, A., & Yaye, A. D. (2025). Preface: 2nd Edition of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development’s Symposium on “Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products in West and Central Africa: Achievements and Opportunities for Private Sector Engagement”. Proceedings, 118(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025118001

Article Menu

Preface: 2nd Edition of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development’s Symposium on “Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products in West and Central Africa: Achievements and Opportunities for Private Sector Engagement”

1. Introduction

1.1. Context

1.2. Organizers

1.3. Scopes and Topics

2. Committee Members

2.1. Organizing Committee

2.2. Scientific Committee

2.3. Advisory Committee

2.4. Independent Reviewers

3. Sponsors

Acknowledgments

Conflicts of Interest

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