As part of The Research Data Alliance (RDA) Interest Group on Agricultural Data (IGAD) meeting focusing on IGAD/RDA : Sharing Experiences and Creating Digital Dialogues, Michael Ikehi Ejime, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State presented a webinar during the ‘Africa’ group of presentations on May 28. 

The webinar focused on ‘Research Data in Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation Strategies and Agricultural Innovation System in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.’ Climate change and its impacts on agriculture have been widely discussed at global and national levels. An important aspect of the discussion has been adaptation/mitigation approaches. Consequently, several strategies have been suggested as measures to ensure agriculture remains productively profitable. However, food security especially in pandemic times, such as the era of the novel coronavirus remains a challenge even for regions naturally endowed for agriculture. The study evaluated research recommended strategies, and further examined the innovativeness of the strategies in fostering a sustainable agricultural innovation system (AIS) in the Niger Delta. 

The study relied on secondary and primary data, thus analysed 129 previous studies and gathered responses from 282 participant extension agents. The study introduces a method for assessing the innovativeness of strategies by calculating their innovation indexes. Findings revealed the issues and implications of adopting most recommended strategies and the place of most strategies in fostering AIS. Based on the findings, recommendations were made on the way forward. The study highlights the possible reasons for the inability of agriculture to adapt and ensure food security following data available in and recommendations of studies on climate change in the region. The study adds to the scanty discussion on climate change issues at regional levels, particularly in the climate change prone and oil rich Niger Delta region.

The Research Data Alliance (RDA) Interest Group on Agricultural Data (IGAD) meeting was set to be held in Rome (Italy) in April 2020 but instead, took place as a virtual meeting from May 25 to 28.  The virtual meeting provided an online platform to continue to build upon collaborations, knowledge sharing and developing innovations with activities including panel sessions, group discussions and presentations.