What this life looks like
You improve the plants that feed the world. Crop Scientists — working in plant breeding, genetics, and biotechnology — develop new varieties of crops that yield more, resist diseases, tolerate drought, and provide better nutrition. Africa's food security depends on crops that can perform under the continent's increasingly extreme climatic conditions, and the scientists developing these varieties are among the most consequential researchers on the planet.
What she actually does
You design and conduct crop breeding experiments, apply genetic techniques to develop improved varieties, evaluate new varieties under different environmental conditions, work with farmers to test varieties in real field conditions, collaborate with seed companies for commercial multiplication, publish scientific findings, and advise on variety release and adoption policies.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| CGIAR Centres | IITA (Nigeria), CIMMYT (Kenya/Ethiopia), ICRISAT (Niger/Mali), CIP (Kenya) — international crop research |
| National Research | National Crop Research Institutes across Africa — in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia |
| Seed Companies | Seed Co International (Pan-Africa), DLF Seeds Africa, SeedCo, Kenya Seed Company — commercial plant breeding |
| Universities | Agricultural faculties across Africa conducting crop improvement research with postgraduate programmes |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa is home to extraordinary crop diversity — many important crops originated here — and faces extraordinary crop challenges, including Striga weed, aflatoxin contamination, fall armyworm, and the growing impacts of climate variability on traditional varieties. International centres like IITA, CIMMYT, and CIP have invested decades in improving African crops. African crop scientists who can advance this work with deep local knowledge are essential.
Your pathway in
- Study Plant Science, Agronomy, or Agricultural Biotechnology at university
- Pursue a master's or PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or Molecular Biology — postgraduate qualifications are essential for research careers
- Gain research experience through placements at CGIAR centres: IITA, ICRISAT, CIMMYT, CIP, or the African Seed Access Index
- Develop skills in molecular breeding tools: marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and CRISPR gene editing are the frontier of crop science
- Build a publication record — crop science is a research career and peer-reviewed publications are essential for advancement
Skills you will need
- Plant breeding and genetics
- Field trial management
- Molecular biology techniques
- Statistical data analysis
- Scientific writing
- Stakeholder engagement with farmers
A woman in this field
Dr. Damaris A. Odeny
Kenya
Damaris is a highly distinguished Kenyan plant geneticist and crop scientist based at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Nairobi. She acts as a Theme Leader for Biotechnology across Eastern and Southern Africa. Her cutting-edge work applies molecular biology, genomics, and modern biotechnology to accelerate the breeding of resilient, climate-smart African orphan crops—specifically sorghum, finger millet, pearl millet, and pigeonpea. Her research directly translates complex laboratory genomic sequencing data into high-yielding, drought-tolerant, and pest-resistant seeds utilized by millions of smallholders in dryland areas.
Take your first step
- Research IITA at iita.org and explore their work on cowpea, cassava, maize, and banana improvement — these are the crops that feed most Africans and understanding the science behind their improvement is foundational
- Study the basics of genetics and plant breeding: Mendelian genetics is the foundation, and free resources are available on Khan Academy
- Research the Next Generation Cassava Breeding Project and similar pan-African crop improvement initiatives — they demonstrate how modern crop science is being applied in African contexts
- Apply for school or university science competitions related to plant science or biology — building a competitive science profile early opens doors to research internships