By Sylvester Thompson

World Food Prize Foundation has named Dr Jean Tignegre, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Regional Representative for West Africa, as one of the recipients of 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneer (TAP).

This is contained in a press statement issued by Mr Alex Abutu, AATF Communication Officer for West and Central Africa, on Friday in Abuja.

Abutu said the TAP recognition honours global leaders who are advancing innovation in agriculture and food security.

Tignegre is Project Manager of the Pod Borer-Resistant (PBR) Cowpea initiative.

Abutu said the TAP award was introduced as part of the Foundation’s 39th anniversary and recognises 39 outstanding individuals from 27 countries who were driving agricultural innovation and transforming global food systems.

“Tignegre and fellow honourees will be celebrated at the prestigious Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, in October 2025.

“A globally respected plant breeder with over 30 years of experience in legume and vegetable improvement, Tignegre has made significant contributions to agricultural development across West Africa.

“He previously served as Principal Investigator for the Burkina Faso component of the PBR Cowpea Project before assuming full leadership of the initiative at AATF in 2023,’’ Abutu said.

He said under Tignegre’s guidance, the PBR Cowpea project delivered high-yielding, pest-resistant cowpea varieties that reduced losses and improved livelihoods for farmers in Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.

He also helped steer Burkina Faso through the regulatory process for environmental approval.

Abutu said Tignegre’s recognition as a TAP awardee reflected his commitment to innovation, food security, and farmer empowerment.

He said among other achievements, Tignegre led the team that released four high-yielding cowpea varieties in Burkina Faso, improved onion, tomato, shallot, okra, and African eggplant varieties in Mali and Ghana.

He also secured and managed competitive grants from USAID, and the Generation Challenge Programme, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anunne