The Technology Validation Committee
This is the TAAT Technology Validation Committee, which has responsibility for vetting and validating the technologies we offer in our e-catalogs.
An automated pre-validation step, based on Scaling Readiness, is used to confer the status of "Pre-validation" for technologies that are ready to scale: both in terms of maturity of the idea, and maturity of the level of use. But for a technology to be fully validated it will need to be reviewed by the Validation Committee which will decide, case-by-case whether technologies can be validated and promoted by TAAT.
To offer validated technologies in the e-catalogs, we recognize the need for flexibility in some cases, and in all cases the need for fairness and impartiality.
This is why the automated vetting needs to be validated by a committee of highly experienced specialists with in-depth knowledge of agricultural technologies and innovations, but neutral in terms of technology production.
The remit of the committee is to ensure that the information submitted in the database is trustworthy and to confirm (or question) the results of the Scaling Readiness score.
Members of the Committee
Dr. David Bergvinson
Dr. Bergvinson is the Senior Advisor to Dev.Global and Founder of BeSustainable.io to deliver science-based solutions to empower farmers. David’s knowledge of Dryland Agriculture (DG of ICRISAT), Digital Agriculture (initiated at BMGF in 2012) and weather insights (Chief Scientist for aWhere) enables him to work with diverse partners to deliver resilient and nutritious food systems across Africa. David's diverse experience in crop improvement, agronomy, pest and disease management, and policy formulation is now being leveraged to scale Regenerative Agriculture in Africa and North America to empower farmers to adapt to climate change and market variability while preserving soils and biodiversity in farming systems.
Dr. Tony Gathungu
Tony is the Head of Seeds2B for the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation – Africa (SAF-A), a new organization formed out of the legacy Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) that will be winding down at the end of 2024.
Seeds2B is legacy SFSA’s (and now SAF-A) seed systems initiative that helps farmers access quality, affordable seeds of improved varieties for the crops they need. Tony leads the strategy and long-term planning for Seeds2B, including exploring new institutional arrangements for scaling and developing new partnerships. Tony is also the CEO of Seeds2B Africa Limited, a social enterprise incubated by SFSA to support the commercialization of improved seed technologies in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Tony has a strong background in seeds and business development and previously worked at Bayer (formerly Monsanto) as the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Lead. He has also worked extensively in the USA leading various initiatives in sustainable food packaging solutions.
Tony is passionate about agriculture and especially eager to see smallholder farmers across the globe benefit from improved agricultural technologies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business from USIU-Africa and an MBA in Global Business Development from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in Chicago, IL.
Dr. Chiji Ojukwu
Dr. Ojukwu is Managing Director, Africa Projects Development Centre (APDC) Abuja, a youth-run organization for youth and women empowerment through training and incubation in agribusiness and creative arts. He is skilled in policy analysis, strategic planning, international development finance, and programme management.
He served at the African Development Bank (AfDB) for 21 years rising to the position of Regional Director for seven Southern African and Indian Ocean Island Countries before retiring in 2018 as the Director, Agriculture & Agroindustry Department. Dr. Chiji led the approval of the AfDB Feed Africa Strategy and spearheaded the establishment of key flagship programmes, including the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), the ENABLE Youth Programme, the Leadership for African Agriculture (L4Ag) Initiative, among others, which have fostered agricultural transformation and brought many African youths and women into agriculture as a career choice. Since retiring from the AfDB, Dr. Chiji established the APDC in Abuja, where the Centre has empowered over 3,000 youths and women in agribusiness and the agro-food sector and over 100 women in the Fashion and Creative Arts industry (Fashionistas) and employs close to 60 youths.
Dr. Chiji Ojukwu has a BSc. in Agriculture from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and MSc. and PhD. in Development Economics & Project Planning from the University of Bradford, UK.
Dr. Eugene Terry
Eugene Terry joined the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, in 1973 as a Plant Pathologist with the Root and Tuber Crops Improvement Program rising to the position of Director Internationals and Training. He was invited to join the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) in 1987 to lead the transformation of this regional Rice Testing Association into a full fledged CGIAR Research Centre.
Eugene retired from the position of Director General of WARDA to join the Rural Development and Agriculture Division of the World Bank in 1997. He was then invited in 2003 to take on the position of Founding (Implementing) Director of the African Agriculture Technology Foundation dedicated to the development and transfer of Agricultural technologies for African Farming systems.
Eugene has served on various Advisory boards of directors dedicated to providing guidance and leadership in agricultural research, development and training for African agricultural scientists.
H.E. Rhoda Tumusiime
H.E. Rhoda Tumusiime is a distinguished leader with over 30 years of expertise driving transformative development across Africa, with a focus on rural advancement, agricultural innovation, gender equity, and sustainable economic growth. She holds a Master’s Degree in Economics, Planning, and Managing Rural Development and served as Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union from 2008 to 2017. In this role, she oversaw critical sectors, including crop agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry, land, water, environmental conservation, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and rural development. Her strategic vision and commitment to addressing Africa’s food and nutrition security challenges have been instrumental in shaping policies that enhance resilience and self-sufficiency across the continent.
With a proven track record of securing multi-million-dollar funding for impactful development projects, she has driven high-level policy initiatives and fostered powerful international partnerships, advocating for systemic change at global forums such as the G8 and G20. Known for her dedication to youth and women’s empowerment in agribusiness, she champions the establishment of incubation and innovation centers to foster inclusive growth. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of HOPE (Household Opportunities for Poverty Eradication), an organization that supports environmentally sustainable, and agriculture-based innovations in Ugandan communities. She also holds board positions in several international organizations, bringing her deep strategic insight, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to the sustainable transformation of global food systems.
Featured technologies
With QualiSani, no more toxic compounds such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in your smoked fish and grilled meat, and reduction of cancer risk for consumers. Traditional methods of grilling and smoking food, particularly in African countries, have long been associated with health risks due to the formation of harmful compounds such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). These carcinogenic substances are produced when food is exposed to smoke and high temperatures, and their presence in grilled and smoked products has raised significant public health concerns. Studies conducted in Benin country have revealed alarming levels of PAHs in smoked and grilled meats and fish, often exceeding international safety standards. This contamination is linked to the direct exposure of food to smoke, the type of fuel used (often wood), and the inefficient design of traditional processing equipment. The accumulation of PAHs not only poses a cancer risk to consumers but also hampers the marketability of these products in regions with stricter food safety regulations. Addressing this challenge requires innovations in food processing technologies that can reduce or eliminate the formation of PAHs while maintaining or improving the efficiency and productivity of the smoking and grilling process. The development of improved equipment, such as QualiSani, represents a significant step towards safer food processing practices. These advancements aim to protect consumers' health, enhance the quality of grilled and smoked products, and support the sustainable development of small to medium-sized food processing enterprises.
From Advocacy to Action: Replicating Success with Lasting Investment This model promotes sustainable cassava seed systems by embedding innovations—such as SAH, nodal cuttings, and digital certification—into national policies and programs. It replaces short-term interventions with long-term strategies based on advocacy, local ownership, and coordinated partnerships. The model has influenced seed policies in over 10 African countries and enabled USD 26.6 million in seed system investments. Results include stronger entrepreneurship, better varietal access, and improved food system resilience.
An economically sustainable integrated cassava seed system! Cassava is a major food and industrial crop in many African countries. However, until recently, there was no formal seed system for cassava. Most farmers relied on replanting old stems that were low-yielding and often infected with diseases. This traditional practice limited productivity and spread pests and diseases. The Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System (BASICS) model was developed to address this. It creates a complete and sustainable cassava seed system. It links farmers, seed entrepreneurs, regulators, and processors into one coordinated framework. The goal is to ensure that disease-free, improved varieties reach farmers reliably and consistently. This model has already been tested and applied in Nigeria and Tanzania.