Benue State University’s Center for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Farm4Me Agriculture Limited to collaborate in agricultural research and development in diverse areas including use innovative solutions for the use of natural preservation for control of post-harvest food losses, and the use of Food Technology and Packaging for control to boost food security in Nigeria.
Their collaboration also encompasses joint activities in the use of solar drying for control of post-harvest food losses. According to the terms of memorandum, “areas of cooperation may be expanded to include other fields of interest as felt desirable and feasible by either party.”
CEFTER, which was recently accorded the status of African Centre of
Excellence (ACE) by the World Bank in its quest for strategic partners for effective implementation of the ACE project decided to team up with Farm4Me, Nigeria’s leading agricultural technology company and an award-winning agribusiness firm.
The MoU signed on July 15, 2021, tenable for two years and renewable by mutual consent, tasked Farm4Me, among other responsibilities, the obligation of patronising preservation solutions developed by CEFTER and its partners, and to also fund food processing research and the establishment of food analysis laboratory at the centre.
Stakeholders and investors in the agric sector considered the collaboration between CEFTER and Farm4me another milestone in the ongoing revolution of agriculture in Nigeria, as it further gives Farm4Me the opportunity to broaden the scope of innovations it is bringing into agribusiness in the country.
The MoU was signed by the Vice Chancellor of Benue State University and the Head of Strategic Planning and Research of Farm4Me, Dr Godwin Ekoja.
Honorable Kenneth Iyo led the Farm4Me team to Benue State University for the MoU signing ceremony. He tasked the both parties to restore and retain Benue’s position as the food basket of the nation. He believes that this partner will reduce hunger and poverty in Nigeria.
The Director of the Centre, Dr Barnabas Ikyo is optimistic that his partnership will birth great innovations that will be exported to other countries in the coming years.
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