ARCN Targets Greater Impact as Dabban Advances Agricultural Research Commercialisation

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) is intensifying efforts to transform agricultural research into practical technologies, improved crop varieties and commercially viable opportunities for farmers and investors.

The initiative, being driven under the leadership of the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr Adamu Abubakar Dabban, is aimed at strengthening the link between research institutions, farmers, extension services, communities and the private sector.

According to a statement signed by the Council’s Public Relations Officer to the Executive Secretary, Khadijat O. Ameen, a new ARCN Country Snapshot on Research Commercialisation in Nigeria places the country at Stage 2 of the research-commercialisation journey, described as “Building Capacity.”

The snapshot was presented by Dabban at the Scaling Innovation for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Agenda session in Dakar.

The Council said it had recorded more than 400 agricultural innovations and improved technologies, while 578 villages and schools had adopted its research outputs.

It added that more than 3,200 farmers had been reached through six Agricultural Research Outreach Centres (AROCs) in the Federal Capital Territory, while over 100,000 farming families had been reached nationwide.

ARCN said the achievements reflected a growing connection between agricultural research institutions and end-users, including farmers, extension actors, communities and private-sector stakeholders.

However, the Council acknowledged that significant gaps remained in intellectual property management, technology transfer, industry engagement, investment, licensing and funding for commercialisation.

It said addressing the gaps would be critical to transforming research innovations into bankable products capable of attracting investment and creating economic opportunities.

To accelerate the process, ARCN identified the need for stronger Technology Transfer and Commercialisation Offices, improved intellectual property and licensing frameworks, proof-of-concept funding, stronger linkages between investors and agribusinesses, as well as the establishment of spin-off companies by research institutes.

Dabban stressed that agricultural research must move beyond laboratories and research shelves to deliver tangible benefits to farmers and the wider economy.

He said the Council was committed to ensuring that research outcomes reached farmers, created value and connected effectively with the market.

The initiative, according to ARCN, is part of its broader drive to turn agricultural research into measurable economic and social impact.