WAVE Research inaugurated on Friday, October 16, in Bingerville a regional observatory tasked with earlier detection of plant diseases and pests threatening crops in West and Central Africa. The facility, located at the Scientific and Innovation Hub of Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, is intended to provide continuous monitoring of cross-border phytosanitary risks.
Named the Dr. Katherine Kahn Observatory, the system is designed to monitor viruses, bacteria, fungi, and insects likely to damage agricultural production. It plans to combine laboratory analyses, scientific data, and satellite imagery to identify outbreaks and anticipate their spread.
The inauguration was accompanied by a cooperation agreement between WAVE Research and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology. WAVE provides its expertise on plant pathogens, while ICIPE focuses on insects and disease vectors.
The new observatory extends the BIORISKS project, conducted from 2020 to 2026 in ten African countries. According to the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, this program helped train 277 extension agents, 655 cassava producers, and more than 2,300 agricultural stakeholders.
WAVE Research now coordinates a network of thirteen laboratories specializing in molecular biology, phytopathology, and biotechnology. The organization originated from a regional research program conducted over twelve years before its institutional autonomy was officially established in 2026.
A research station is also planned in Djékanou to test and disseminate innovations with farming communities. The initiative notably benefits from the support of the Gates Foundation and the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
