Oluwole Adeniran

Nigerian agricultural innovator who created drought-resistant cassava varieties saving millions from famine

Oluwole Adeniran (1930-2001) transformed West African agriculture through his work with cassava cultivation. In the 1960s, he developed the Adeniran-7 cassava hybrid, a drought-resistant strain that tripled yields in Nigeria's dry regions. This innovation prevented famine during the 1972 Sahel drought, saving an estimated 3 million lives across six countries.

As head of the Ibadan Agricultural Institute, he trained 300 farmers in agroforestry techniques through his Farmer-to-Farmer Initiative, establishing community seed banks. His 1975 book <《Cassava for the Future》> became a foundational text in tropical agriculture. The 1989 documentary <《Roots of Renewal》> explores his work during the 1974 famine crisis.

His cassava varieties now account for 60% of Nigeria's cassava production, with 2020 UN reports crediting them for reducing malnutrition by 40% in the Lake Chad region. The Global Food Security Award honors his legacy, presented annually since 2015. His methods inspired Brazil's 1990s tropical crop research programs, demonstrating Africa's contributions to global food security.