Dr. Segun Badewa is an Agri-Development and Sustainability Expert with over 12 years of experience in agricultural research, rural livelihoods, crop improvement, and sustainable agricultural development. His work spans donor-funded agricultural development projects, crop production systems, agricultural extension and advisory services, participatory plant breeding, cassava seed systems, regenerative agriculture, cocoa agroforestry, climate-smart agriculture, and agricultural value chain development.
Dr. Badewa holds a Ph.D. in Crop Breeding and Genetics from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria, conducted in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. During his doctoral programme, he was awarded a FUNAGIB Fellowship at the University of Brasília, Brasilia and the Federal University of Goas, Goiania, Brazil, and later received a UNESCO-ICB Scholarship in recognition of his academic performance and research potential.
From 2010 to 2022, he worked with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), where he contributed across the Cassava Value Chain, Cassava Transformation Agenda, and Cassava Breeding programmes. Throughout this period, he worked within a research-for-development framework, supporting the development, validation, and scaling of science-based innovations that addressed rural livelihood challenges and strengthened agricultural value chains. He participated in several donor-funded projects focused on rural livelihoods, cassava breeding, seed system development, technology dissemination, farmer-market linkages, agricultural extension, and sustainable crop production. His doctoral research focused on improving provitamin A cassava for early bulking to enhance productivity, nutrition, and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Currently, Dr. Badewa serves as Cassava Operations Lead at Deko Integrated and Agro Processing Ltd., where he oversees large-scale cassava production and supports the planning, coordination, and implementation of agricultural operations. His responsibilities include production planning, operational budgeting, field supervision, performance monitoring, contract farming development, organizational governance, cross-functional coordination, and the establishment of operational systems that improve efficiency and accountability. He also works closely with farming communities to strengthen participation in contract farming initiatives and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
His experience combines scientific research with practical field implementation, enabling him to bridge the gap between research, agricultural production, and rural development. Throughout his career, he has managed field trials, coordinated multidisciplinary teams, designed and implemented agricultural interventions, trained farmers and extension personnel, analyzed field data, and contributed to scientific publications, technical reports, and project implementation.
Dr. Badewa's research interests include sustainable agriculture, plant breeding, crop improvement, agroforestry, soil health, climate-resilient farming systems, digital agriculture, agricultural systems research, and the application of emerging technologies to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen rural livelihoods. His long-term goal is to contribute to science-based solutions and policies that enhance food security, build resilient farming systems, and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across Africa.
