The Impact of IRRI’s Regional Crop Improvement Hub on Regional Food Security in Africa

by Melanie Connor, Alexis Ndayiragije, Joseph Bigirimana

The Republic of Burundi lies in the center of East Africa and has emerged as a pivotal player in advancing regional food security through the strategic activities of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Since the establishment of the IRRI Regional Crop Improvement Hub in Bujumbura in 2013, it has become a center of excellence for rice research, breeding, pathology, agronomy, and training. It has generated about 12 million cumulative project funding from 2013 to 2024. Over the years, it has expanded its infrastructure and now owns laboratories, greenhouses, disease screening facilities, and mechanization equipment.

In 2018, IRRI signed a host country agreement with the Government of Burundi, which enabled the formal establishment of the hub and solidified IRRI’s legal and operational presence not only in the country but also across the region, since it is the only country in Africa where IRRI has this legal status with diplomatic privileges. The hub aims to address Burundi’s domestic food challenges and now serves as a regional platform for innovation, training, and collaboration, supporting national agricultural systems, other CGIAR institutions, and contributing significantly to catalyzing agricultural transformation and food security efforts across the continent.