The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is set to roll out a new Artificial Intelligence-powered platform, the Demand Intelligence Framework (DIF), designed to strengthen agricultural research, scale innovations, and improve food security across Nigeria and Africa.
Speaking at a stakeholder consultation workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, CGIAR Country Convener in Nigeria, Ms. Aline Mugisho, said the session held under the theme “Scaling for Impact” was organised to gather expert input on how to expand agricultural technologies and refine the DIF ahead of its launch.
CGIAR, a global umbrella body for agricultural research institutions, works through 14 specialised centres, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), WorldFish, Africa Rice Centre, International Livestock Research Institute, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, and the International Water Management Institute.
Mugisho, who also heads the IITA Youth in Agribusiness Unit, noted that despite Nigeria hosting seven CGIAR centres that develop agricultural technologies, many innovations still fail to reach private sector players and farmers.
“We discovered a gap between research outcomes and real impact. Some of our technologies are not getting into the hands of farmers who need them. The Demand Intelligence Framework will help us identify bottlenecks and align our innovations with the actual needs of farmers,” she explained.
According to her, the AI-driven solution will go live in Nigeria by early 2026, with plans to scale it to other African countries afterward.
Dr. Murat Sartas, Scaling and Artificial Intelligence Scientist at IITA, said the DIF would transform research adoption and value-chain efficiency. He added that the platform was intentionally designed to be applicable beyond agriculture.
“AI is not complicated it is usable by everyone. The DIF can improve agricultural productivity, but it can also optimise entire value chains by integrating markets, finance and policy elements to create broader value,” Sartas said.
Representing the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development, Senior Legislative Aide Salman Alhaji Salman highlighted ongoing legislative efforts to reinforce national food security.
“Since the President declared a state of emergency in the food sector, several bills have been introduced to strengthen food production and unlock the country’s full potential. With Nigeria’s rapidly growing population and climate-related challenges, increasing agricultural output has become even more urgent,” he stated.
The Demand Intelligence Framework is expected to become a critical tool in reshaping Nigeria’s food system, improving innovation uptake, and supporting long-term agricultural growth.