Waterloo, ON- MEDA’s Senior Director, Global Program Operations, David Eagle, and MEDA’s Tanzania Country Project Manager, Stephen Magige have contributed to a chapter in the Agricultural Science book, “Root, Tuber and Banana Food System Innovations – Value Creation for Inclusive Outcomes.” Together with other industry experts and partners, they co-wrote Chapter 15, “Commercially Sustainable Cassava Seed Systems in Africa” which outlined how building strong Cassava seed systems creates value for Cassava seed entrepreneurs and their value chains. The book is available for download on Springer Link.
David and Stephen’s valuable contribution helped to shed light on the critical role that crops, such as Cassava, play in bolstering the food security of people in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Roots, tubers and banana crops including cassava are critical for food security and economic development generating inclusive job opportunities in many tropical countries. It is important to have publications that widely share the innovations developed during projects such as BEST Cassava so that they can be replicated, improved and scaled to benefit even more people in countries that depend on cassava, banana and other similar crops.”
— David Eagle
MEDA’s BEST Cassava project was a prominent example of how the organization is building sustainable and resilient food systems. Created in 2017, BEST Cassava increased the agricultural productivity and incomes of 430 small-scale cassava farmers by providing them with access to improved cassava seeds.
MEDA is committed to contributing to the long-term food security of the countries in which it works. By strengthening the entrepreneurial capacities of our clients and the market systems that they work in, we can achieve long-term, sustainable change that uplifts communities in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions in the Global South.
