Who we are
The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) is a partnership between the University of Ghana (UG) and Cornell University, USA that was established in June 2007 with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) at the University of Ghana to train Plant Breeders in Africa working on the improvement of African crops train in local environments for farmers in Africa. The Centre has expanded its scope to train Seed Scientists in Africa and today established itself as a world-class Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) dedicated to transforming African agriculture through scientific innovation and human capacity building.
Mission & Vision
WACCI’s primary mission is to provide high-quality, interdisciplinary training for a new generation of plant breeders and seed scientists. Its vision, encapsulated in the "WACCI 3.0" roadmap, aims to evolve the Centre into a preeminent agricultural innovation ecosystem. This involves moving beyond the laboratory to bridge the gap between research, entrepreneurship, and policy, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs directly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Jointly organized by:
What does WACCI do?
Training the human resources needed for strengthening plant breeding programs of the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
WACCI is training Plant Breeders and Seed Scientists for the sub-region on classical plant breeding and complementary molecular biology technologies needed for efficient development of superior and adaptable crops. WACCI is one institution among many that are working towards eradicating food insecurity in the sub-region through the training of the people needed to breed and to improve access to high quality seeds to improve food security crops for the rural farmers who currently cultivate unimproved low yielding varieties. WACCI is contributing the needed human resources for the strengthening breeding and seed science programs of the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in SSA.
WACCI today
WACCI has gained visibility in the world and is today, the largest institution for PhD education in plant breeding in Africa by current enrollment.
Since its inception, WACCI has enrolled 160 PhD students in Plant Breeding and 110 MPhil students in Seed Science and Technology from 19 African countries and has graduated 120 PhDs and 72 MPhils. These graduates are now game-changers and history-makers in 15 African countries. The Plant Breeding students are at various stages of their PhD training programme, and the graduates are in the process of releasing new improved varieties of crops such as maize, rice, millet, cassava, and sweet potatoes tailored to their specific agro ecologies. WACCI graduates have demonstrated the value of quality plant breeding education in the region, making the WACCI programme a model for SSA and beyond. Currently, the programme includes students from Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Togo, Benin, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Liberia, Tanzania, and Malawi.
The MPhil in Seed Science and Technology graduates are making significant contributions to the seed industry, with many establishing successful businesses in the sector.
In summary, WACCI serves as a critical engine for Africa’s "Green Revolution," combining rigorous academic excellence with a "Seed to Impact" philosophy to ensure continental food and nutrition security.