Additional file 1
Cowpea Improvement Project core partners
The Network for the Genetic Improvement of Cowpea for Africa (NGICA) (http://www.entm.purdue.edu/NGICA/) is a voluntary association of scientists and other stakeholders in cowpea. NGICA takes a novel approach to maximizing the benefits of this crop in Africa – NGICA seeks to address the entire spectrum of shortcomings of the cowpea production and utilization system.
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) (http://www.aatf-africa.org/) is a not-for-profit organization designed to facilitate and promote public-private partnerships for the access and delivery of appropriate proprietary agricultural technologies for use by resource-poor smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) (http://www.iita.org/about) is Africa’s leading non-profit research partner in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Our award-winning research for development (R4D) addresses the development needs of tropical countries. We work with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth and agriculture.
The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) (http://www.abu.edu.ng/institutes/iar/iar.htm) The Institute for Agricultural research (IAR), Samaru was established in 1924 as the research division of the Department of Agriculture for the then Northern Provinces of Nigeria. IAR was formally transferred by law to the newly established Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) on October 14, 1962. With the Federalization of the University in 1975, the IAR was established in accordance with statute 14 of the University. Since its establishment, IAR has been the bed-rock of crop research and improvement in the savanna region of Nigeria.
The Kirkhouse Trust (http://www.kirkhousetrust.org/) is a small Scottish charity that has identified "agricultural crop improvement research for the developing world" as its current funding focus. The Trust's main activities centre on grain legumes. The Trust is working with plant breeders in eight countries of West Africa to improve cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and in five countries of East Africa to improve the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) by marker assisted breeding. Within these programmes, the Trust provides support through scholarships, fellowships, for training trips and for attendance at international conferences. The Trust donates equipment and consumables to the participating institutions.
The National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) are the research infrastructure in Sub-Saharan African countries.
The Monsanto Company (http://www.monsanto.ca/about/company/default.asp) is an agricultural company. We use the tools of modern biotechnology to make seeds easier to grow, which allows farmers to do more with fewer resources. Globally — with its head office based in St. Louis, Missouri — Monsanto Company invests almost $1.5 million a day to look for and bring to market the innovative technologies that our customers tell us make a difference on their farms. And this research is about more than biotechnology. Our efforts use many tools that include genomics, breeding, crop analytics, chemistry and biotechnology in combination to bring forward new products that address our customers’ needs
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) (http://www.csiro.au/org/About-CSIRO.html) is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world. CSIRO is involved inmore than740 research activities, working with leading scientific organizations inover 80 countries with partners and customers ranging from foreign governments, small companies to large multi-nationals and international foundations.