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Biotechnology Research Programme


Prof. Inuwa Shehu Usman

The programme was established in 2010 and saddled with the responsibility of carrying out Basic and Applied Research in Agriculture using tools of molecular biology, genetic engineering, and biotechnology. Concerted efforts were made to harness the scientific capacity of the Institute to exploit the potentials of Biotechnology in improving productivity, crop health and product development in our mandate crops specifically and Nigerian Agriculture in general. Specifically, the programme focuses on development of transgenic and other advanced genetic manipulation approaches for quality and quantity improvement as well as basic research in plant molecular biology. The program has been supporting plant tissue culture with the main objective of developing regeneration protocols of economically important crops. The outstanding achievements since its inception was the establishment of equipped laboratory, confinement and containment facilities, introgression of Bt transgenic into local cowpea, development of protocols for micro-propagation of pineapple and sugarcane, development of protocols for cryopreservation of groundnut, and protocol for large scale production of Artemisinin.


INTRODUCTION

The programme was established in 2010 and saddled with the responsibility of carrying out Basic and Applied Research in Agriculture using tools of molecular biology, genetic engineering, and biotechnology. Concerted efforts were made to harness the scientific capacity of the Institute to exploit the potentials of Biotechnology in improving productivity, crop health and product development in our mandate crops specifically and Nigerian Agriculture in general. Specifically, the programme focuses on development of transgenic and other advanced genetic manipulation approaches for quality and quantity improvement as well as basic research in plant molecular biology. The program has been supporting plant tissue culture with the main objective of developing regeneration protocols of economically important crops. The outstanding achievements since its inception was the establishment of equipped laboratory, confinement and containment facilities, introgression of Bt transgenic into local cowpea, development of protocols for micro-propagation of pineapple and sugarcane, development of protocols for cryopreservation of groundnut, and protocol for large scale production of Artemisinin.

 

CONTRIBUTIONS OF IAR TO CONTROL THE GINGER EPIDERMICS IN KADUNA STATE.

As part of its’ contribution towards curbing the occurrence of ginger diseases in Kaduna and Nigeria, the executive Director on the 28th August 2024 donated 5,000 disease-free ginger seedlings that were raised by the programme to the Kaduna State Government. A fall back on this king gesture, is the call for IAR to submit a proposal for up-scaling the micro and macro propagation to backstop the demand for disease free ginger seed in Nigeria through the establishment of a National Ginger Seed Project. The proposal was presented to the Presidential Initiative for Combatting Ginger Disease and the response of the committee is being awaited.  Some NGOs and individuals have indicated interest in partnering with IAR on clean ginger seed production and talks are still on-going.

 

DISSEMINATION OF TISSUE CULTURED BANANA AND PINEAPPLE SEEDLINGS TO FARMERS UNDER THE IAR ADOPTED SCHOOL AND VILLAGES

Tissue cultured seedlings of Banana and pineapple were distributed to farmers under five (5) adopted villages of IAR. Namely, Dusten Abba, Barewa College, Yakasai, Marwa and Kwarbai. The seedlings were given out to the farmers by the Executive Director, IAR to create awareness and bring the benefits of the technology to farmers within the enclave of IAR. The August event took place on the 17th October 2024.

 

TETFUND INSTITUTION BASED RESEARCH AWARDS   

I am glad to inform you that Two (2) of our scientists have won IBR research grant on (1) Development of temporary immersion bioreactor system for rapid micropropagation of Ginger (Ginger officianales L.), Lead scientist Dr R. A Sami and (2) Development of a model soilless crop cultivation system in Nigeria, Lead Scientist Prof Inuwa S Usman

 

ONE-DAY SYMPOSIUM ON IAR BIOTECH CROPS

This event that held at the Assembly Hall, ABU, Main campus on 15th January 2025, was organized under the theme - Biotech Crops in Nigeria: Myth, Fallacies and Facts were well attended by the university community and the general public. Four (4) scientists of the programme – Prof S. G. Ado, Prof. M. F. Ishiyaku, Prof R. S. Adamu and Prof M. L Umar took their turns to explain IAR journey so far on development and release of transgenic cowpea, maize and cotton and in the process addressed concerns and misconceptions on GMOs

 

RESEARCH REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS

 

Member                                                          Discipline Represented

A. A. Yusuf                                                    Executive Director

M. F. Ishiyaku                                                 Plant Science Department

B. D. Tarfa                                                      Soil Science Department

A. A. Muktar                                                   Agronomy Department

M. M. Abdulmalik (Mrs)                                Plant Science Department

G. L. Luka                                                       Programme Leader

A.A. Muhammed                                            Agronomy Department

O. O. Ugbabe                                                  Agric. Economics

M. Abubakar                                                   Agric. Engineering

M. L. Umar                                                     Plant Science Department

A. I. Yahaya                                                    Plant Science Department

A. Kwanashi                                                   Crop Protection

T. A. Lawal                                                     Secretary

 

PARTICIPATING RESEARCH STAFF

 

Member                                                          Discipline Represented

M. F. Ishiyaku                                                 Plant Science

I. S. Usman                                                     Plant Science

M. M. Abdulmalik                                          Plant Science

A. A. Yusuf                                                    Soil Science

F. Abubakar                                                    Soil Science

M. L. Umar                                                     Plant Science

L. B. Hassan                                                    Plant Science

H. O. Ahmed                                                  Plant Science

 

PARTICIPATING TECHNICAL STAFF

 

Member                                                          Discipline Represented

S. Umar                                                           Biotechnology Research Programme

Mrs. H. Gambo                                               Biotechnology Research Programme

Mrs. K. M. Zakariya                                       Biotechnology Research Programme

N. Bello                                                           Biotechnology Research Programme

J. M. Suleiman                                                Biotechnology Research Programme

A. Jibrin                                                          Biotechnology Research Programme

A. Ibrahim                                                       Biotechnology Research Programme

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