By The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has honoured Nigerian scientist Dr. Mercy Elohor Diebiru-Ojo after she was named a 2025 Africa Food Prize laureate for pioneering the application of Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology in multiplying cassava and yam seedlings.
The award, announced earlier this month at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, recognises her groundbreaking work in improving seed systems for two of Africa’s staple foods.
Dr. Diebiru-Ojo shared the prize with Kenyan scientist Professor Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, with each receiving part of the US$100,000 award.
Dr. Diebiru-Ojo’s SAH technology enables rapid, clean multiplication of cassava and yam planting materials that are disease-free and vigorous, addressing longstanding challenges in seed multiplication that have traditionally limited crop yields and food security.
Unlike conventional methods where planting material multiplication is slow and prone to pests and diseases, SAH provides farmers faster access to high-quality seedlings at scale. The technology has been deployed in more than 15 African countries, including Nigeria, where multiple production facilities are operational, some with government support to empower local farmers.
IITA Director General Dr. Simeon Ehui hailed the achievement as a landmark for African agriculture, noting:
“It is a proud day for our Institute and a significant moment for African agriculture. Dr. Diebiru-Ojo’s leadership has been pivotal in advancing Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) node culture for cassava and yam, two of Africa’s most important staples. SAH is a clean, nursery-based method that rapidly multiplies disease-free plantlets at scale, lowering risk, shortening time to field, and strengthening seed systems end-to-end.”
Dr. Diebiru-Ojo, a plant breeder with a PhD from the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, expressed gratitude to IITA, CGIAR, Nigeria’s National Root Crops Research Institute, and other partners who supported the research. She emphasized that the award is a beginning rather than an end, urging continued efforts towards food security in Africa.
The affordability of the SAH technology, dubbed “cassava-in-a-box,” makes it accessible to smallholder farmers, costing around ₦800 per 25 plants in Nigeria, with farmers appreciating its reliability and yield benefits.
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