Tamale, Ghana and Zaria, Nigeria (December 12, 2025) Two of West Africa’s leading cowpea research institutions, the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute of Ghana’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR SARI) and the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) in Nigeria, have earned international stewardship certification that strengthens the foundation for safe and trusted agricultural innovation across the region.
Both institutions have successfully completed the Excellence Through Stewardship (ETS) Global Audit Process administered by the Global Stewardship Group (GSG), which verifies that organizations have robust stewardship programs and quality management systems in place for the full life cycle of agricultural biotechnology products. Earning this certification signals a strong commitment to safe research practices, responsible innovation and continuous improvement.
Although the ETS Global Audit Process is most commonly pursued by private sector companies looking to demonstrate rigorous stewardship, CSIR-SARI and IAR have shown that public research institutions can also meet these comprehensive requirements. Their accomplishment illustrates the strength of their internal systems, enhances confidence in their research practices and underscores their leadership’s commitment to responsible innovation within the public sector. It is the first time in history that two African National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) achieve this certification.
“The Global Stewardship Group congratulates the Institute for Agricultural Research and CSIR-SARI on their successful ETS audit completions,” said GSG CEO Chris Holdgreve. “Plant product stewardship is crucial in sub-Saharan Africa because it ensures agricultural innovations are used responsibly, supporting farmer livelihoods, environmental protection, and long-term food security. We look forward to continuing to support their stewardship efforts.”
CSIR SARI and IAR play central roles in their national research ecosystems and contribute significantly to cowpea improvement efforts across the region. Their successful completion of the ETS audit reinforces ACIA’s focus on ensuring that innovation is guided by responsible stewardship, strong scientific practice and alignment with national priorities.
About the Excellence Through Stewardship Program: Excellence Through Stewardship is a program of the Global Stewardship Group that promotes best practices in product stewardship and quality management systems for agricultural biotechnology products throughout their life cycle.
About the Alliance for Cowpea Improvement in Africa: The Alliance for Cowpea Improvement in Africa (ACIA) is an Africa-focused agricultural research partnership embracing the opportunities and addressing the challenges of cowpea production and consumption. More information is available at Alliance for Cowpea.
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