Our mission is to enhance food security and improve livelihoods in Africa through research for development (R4D).
We use the R4D model in setting a research course that addresses major development problems in Africa rather than simply contributing to scientific knowledge. It has proven to be an effective mechanism for agricultural research development. We and our partners have delivered about 70% of the international research impact in sun-Saharan Africa in the last three decades.

The R4D model is unique in that

1. It focuses on long-term development needs to guide our research design and choice of partners
2. It incorporates two critical elements absent in traditional models: a mid-process initial research outcome and an explicit EXIT strategy for IITA.