The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture has launched Africa’s first soybean speed breeding facility in Zambia, marking a major breakthrough in efforts to accelerate crop improvement and strengthen food systems across the region.
Soybean has emerged as one of the most strategic crops in Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting nutrition, livestock feed, and agro-industrial development. From soybean oil and soymilk to its critical role in the poultry industry, the crop is increasingly driving rural livelihoods, income generation, and economic growth.
With rising global demand, particularly from Asia, and shifting international market dynamics, Africa is well positioned to expand its role in soybean production. However, achieving this potential depends on faster development of improved varieties that meet the needs of farmers and markets.
Traditionally, developing improved soybean varieties has been a lengthy and resource-intensive process, taking between six to eight years before new seeds reach farmers. This delay slows innovation and limits farmers’ ability to respond to emerging challenges.
In Southern Africa, pests and diseases compound these challenges, particularly soybean rust, which can significantly reduce yields. For many smallholder farmers, the cost of fungicides and the technical expertise required for disease management remain out of reach, highlighting the urgent need for early- to medium-maturing, high-yielding, and disease-resistant varieties.
The newly launched facility introduces speed breeding, an advanced technique that accelerates plant growth by optimizing environmental conditions such as light, temperature, and humidity. This enables researchers to produce multiple crop generations within a single year, dramatically shortening breeding cycles.
With this innovation, the time required to develop new soybean varieties is expected to drop from six to eight years to just four to five years.
The facility is the first of its kind for soybean in Sub-Saharan Africa and only the second on the continent, following a similar facility in Morocco focused on wheat and barley. Its focus on soybean and other tropical crops, including cowpea, makes it uniquely suited to the region’s agricultural priorities.
By accelerating breeding cycles, the facility is expected to increase the number of improved soybean varieties available, reduce the time it takes for new seeds to reach farmers, enhance yield potential, and strengthen resilience to climate stress and diseases such as soybean rust.
Speaking during the inauguration on 30 March 2026, Zambia’s Director of Agriculture, Chizumbna Shepande, emphasized the significance of the investment, “This facility strengthens our ability to respond to the growing global demand for soybeans, particularly in light of shifting international market dynamics.”
The facility aligns with Zambia’s national target of producing one million tons of soybean by 2030. Achieving this goal will depend on access to improved, high-yielding varieties and stronger seed systems.
Soybean plays a critical role in crop rotation, improving soil fertility, supporting livestock feed, particularly for poultry and driving agro-processing industries that create jobs and economic opportunities.
As Dr Shepande said, “Achieving this target requires innovation, improved seed systems, and access to high-performing varieties.”
While the facility primarily supports research, its impact extends across the agricultural ecosystem, benefiting universities, national research systems, and regional breeding networks, including the Soybean Improvement Network supported by the Gates Foundation.
Dr David Chikoye, Director of IITA’s Southern Africa Hub, and IITA Zambia Country Director highlighted the importance of partnerships and farmer-centered innovation.
“Our focus is on developing early- to medium-maturing soybean varieties that are high-yielding, climate-resilient, and resistant to diseases such as soybean rust – traits that are critical for smallholder farmers. Through collaboration with partners, we are strengthening soybean breeding systems across Africa and accelerating agricultural transformation.”
Jeff Ehlers, Senior Program Officer at the Gates Foundation, added, “This investment is targeted toward smallholder farmers, who are often underserved by the private sector. Through on-farm varietal testing, we can better understand farmers’ preferences and ensure improved varieties meet their needs.”
The launch of the soybean speed breeding facility represents more than new research infrastructure, it marks a turning point in how crop improvement is approached in sub-Saharan Africa.
By combining science, innovation, and strategic partnerships, the facility is set to accelerate breeding timelines, expand access to improved varieties, boost farmer productivity and incomes, and strengthen food systems across the region.
As climate change, population growth, and global market pressures continue to reshape agriculture, innovations such as speed breeding are not just beneficial – they are essential.
