The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in collaboration with the government of Kenya will host the 19th edition of the triennial symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC) in Nairobi, Kenya, from November 21 to 25, 2022.
The symposium recognised globally as a platform that brings together key stakeholders at national and international levels to foster, stimulate and support the improvement of tropical root crop production and utilisation will be co-hosted by both collaborating bodies.
A statement issued by AATF’s secretariat for the 19th ISTRC symposium noted that: “The 2022 19th ISTRC Symposium will be an excellent opportunity for those interested in root and tuber crops from around the world especially Sub-Saharan Africa, to showcase their expertise and share and compare knowledge on how they can contribute to transforming the global agri-food systems,” said AATF director, programme development and commercialization, Dr Emmanuel Okogbenin.
The historical process leading to the establishment of the ISTRC began in 1964 in Trinidad and Tobago. A group within the University of the West Indies conceived the idea of holding a series of crop-orientated symposia and, given local relevance, “Tropical Root Crops” was selected as the first topic.
Since then, the symposium has moved around the globe with countries in Africa like Ghana and Nigeria hosting previous editions.
Okogbenin, who is also the first vice-president of the 19th ISTRC 2022 Symposium and chairs the local organizing committee in Kenya, promised that the 2022 symposium will provide a great opportunity for Africa to advance its production and utilisation of tropical root crops.
