**3.5 DR Congo Agricultural Transformation Agenda**

The Agenda for the Transformation of Agriculture in the Democratic Republic of Congo (ATA-DRC) is fulfilling a Presidential promise to modernize agriculture [68]. The Government appointed IITA to lead this Agenda in early 2022. While it has a nationwide mandate, its first phase commenced in five carefully selected locations, focusing on maize, beans, soybeans, cassava, rice, banana, and aquaculture, the first three of which are particularly important within maize-based systems. It increases agricultural production by using improved crop varieties and building a solid seed system in close collaboration with the national agriculture research system and regulatory bodies. In addition, ATA-DRC provides other production inputs and good agricultural practices and adds value at the community level by engaging private

sector operators in ways that build agro-industrial capacity and reduce food imports. Its goal is to create wealth and jobs through modernized agriculture by consolidating and building upon IITA expertise and several ongoing and planned future development projects. IITA works closely with Bio Agronomic Business (BAB), appointed as a national counterpart by the Ministry of Agriculture, with initial attention focused on realizing the potential of large state farms in different parts of the country.

In its short lifespan, ATA-DRC has produced some remarkable results. Starting with the 2022–2023 growing season, this program established 1518 ha into modernized crop production, including 547 ha of maize, 864 ha of cassava, and 81 ha of soybean. Most of this area is on previously underperforming state farms (83%) but with increasing attention on establishing vibrant out-grower networks. Seed production occurs on an additional 434 ha, including 188 ha of IITA's improved cassava varieties, soon destined to provide about 38 million cuttings. To date, 979 tons of improved maize, soybean, bean, and rice seeds have been produced for distribution to national partners. IITA's Semi Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) Technology is producing improved, disease-free cassava plantlets in two locations and is drawing investors to expand the SAH technology to other sites. IITA expertise is applied to existing cassava processing facilities, increasing production of High-Quality Cassava Flour from negligible to 4 tons per hour. This engineering expertise is also used in the milling of grains and will be applied to the production of animal feeds and biogas. Organizing the "Brigade du Pain" allows cassava flour to substitute for imported wheat flour across hundreds of bakeries partially. Over 100,000 fish fingerlings were produced in Kinshasa to promote aquaculture, and 10 tons of Aflasafe were made at the IITA Kalambo factory to spearhead food safety (see Section 2.11). DRC-ATA has put in place the essential building blocks to create impact at scale in the short run, including improvements in the maize value chain.

The agenda is charting a proven pathway to modernized agriculture across DRC in close collaboration with its national counterparts and private sector operators. It works with a Special Advisor to the President and even consults directly with H.E. Felix Antoine Tshisekedi. Seed systems gains are moving toward private and communitybased seed producers. The production and processing facilities at the state farms are unlocking the great potential to serve as the models forpublic–private partnerships, demonstrating the profitability of agro-processing to lure further private-sector investment. Out-grower networks are forming around these facilities to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of raw materials and access to steady markets. IITA also partners with the African Agricultural Leadership Institute at the national level to engage in promoting a conducive policy environment and, at the field level, has been instrumental in establishing a nationwide "Brigade des Jeunes" (Youth Brigade) based in part upon many of the approaches of the IITA Youth Agripreneurs [72]. Farm mechanization is essential for scaling up operations, and the Brigadiers have introduced small-scale fields and processing equipment to help achieve this. Most importantly, DRC-ATA serves as an example for scaling operations to be replicated by the Dakar 2 process and its Country Compacts, starting with efforts in DR Congo.
