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By Stella Odueme
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) is intensifying efforts to transform agricultural research into practical technologies, improved crop varieties and commercially viable opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.
The Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban, disclosed this while presenting the council’s Country Snapshot on Research Commercialisation in Nigeria at the Scaling Innovation for the CAADP Kampala Agenda session in Dakar.
According to the statement by the Public Relations Officer to the Executive Secretary, Khadijat O. Ameen, Nigeria is currently at Stage 2, described as “Building Capacity,” on the research-commercialisation journey.
Dabban said ARCN had recorded more than 400 agricultural innovations and improved technologies, while 578 adopted villages and schools had benefited from its interventions.
He added that more than 3,200 farmers had been reached through six Agricultural Research Outreach Centres (AROC) in the Federal Capital Territory, while over 100,000 farming families had been reached nationwide.
The achievements, according to ARCN, reflect the growing linkages between research institutions, farmers, extension actors, communities and private-sector stakeholders.
However, the council acknowledged that significant gaps remain in intellectual property management, technology transfer, industry engagement, investment, licensing and funding for commercialisation.
It said addressing the gaps would be critical to moving agricultural innovations from research institutions into bankable products capable of creating jobs, generating income and strengthening food production.
ARCN identified stronger Technology Transfer and Commercialisation Offices, improved intellectual property and licensing frameworks, proof-of-concept funding, stronger investor and agribusiness linkages, as well as the establishment of institute spin-off companies as key priorities.
Dabban reiterated that agricultural research must go beyond laboratories and research shelves to reach farmers, create value and connect effectively with the market.
He said the council remained committed to turning agricultural research into measurable economic and social impact across Nigeria.