Abuja: World Food Prize Foundation has named Dr Jean Tignegre, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Regional Representative for West Africa, as one of the recipients of the 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneer (TAP).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this information is contained in a press statement issued by Mr Alex Abutu, AATF Communication Officer for West and Central Africa. Abutu stated that the TAP recognition honours global leaders who are advancing innovation in agriculture and food security. Dr Tignegre is the Project Manager of the Pod Borer-Resistant (PBR) Cowpea initiative.
Abutu mentioned that the TAP award was introduced as part of the Foundation’s 39th anniversary and acknowledges 39 outstanding individuals from 27 countries who are driving agricultural innovation and transforming global food systems. Dr Tignegre and fellow honourees will be celebrated at the prestigious Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, in October 2025.
A globally respected plant breeder with over 30 years of experience in legume and vegetable improvement, Tignegre has made significant contributions to agricultural development across West Africa. He previously served as Principal Investigator for the Burkina Faso component of the PBR Cowpea Project before taking full leadership of the initiative at AATF in 2023.
Under Tignegre’s guidance, the PBR Cowpea project delivered high-yielding, pest-resistant cowpea varieties that reduced losses and improved livelihoods for farmers in Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. He also helped steer Burkina Faso through the regulatory process for environmental approval.
Abutu highlighted that Tignegre’s recognition as a TAP awardee reflects his commitment to innovation, food security, and farmer empowerment. Among other achievements, Tignegre led the team that released four high-yielding cowpea varieties in Burkina Faso and improved onion, tomato, shallot, okra, and African eggplant varieties in Mali and Ghana. He also secured and managed competitive grants from USAID and the Generation Challenge Programme, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.