Promise II - First Annual Meeting

The first annual meeting for Promise II was held in Senegal in the last week of January. The three-day event brought together all project team members for in-depth discussions to reflect on the project's progress and align research objectives for the coming year. Updates from each work package were shared, followed by feedback from the Scientific Advisory Board on successes and areas for improvement. The consortium also finalized plans for next year's work. 

As part of the meeting, the team visited local farms to observe field conditions and understand first-hand the challenges farmers face. They also explored ISRA (Institut Sénégalais de Recherche Agricole), where they visited research facilities and met with experts in biological crop protection. Discussions focused on advancing the use of soil- and plant-associated microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, to develop sustainable solutions to control Striga. This hands-on experience enhanced the team's understanding of the real-world impact of the project. 

We would also like to thank our incredible ISRA team for their hard work and dedication in organizing this annual meeting in Senegal. 

The meeting strengthened collaboration among team members and set a clear plan for this year to focus on developing innovative, sustainable, and affordable strategies to control Striga and improve crop yields for small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.