Jacob Mignouna is a molecular biologist/biotechnologist with an MSc degree in chemical engineering and a doctoral degree in molecular biology and genetics, both from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. He worked as a chemical engineer with Oleofina, Inc. in Brussels, Belgium, as research scientist-biotechnologist with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for about 10 years (1992-2001) and with the Institute for Genomic Diversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA as a visiting Frosty Hill Research fellow from 2001 to 2003. Before joining AATF, Jacob served as Research Associate Professor of Biotechnology and co-Director of USAID Farmer to Farmer program in east Africa at Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA, USA. He also worked as Biosafety Consultant for the USAID Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington D.C., USA. While at IITA, Jacob became the leader of the Biotechnology Unit and developed and implemented a research program on the use of molecular genetic tools to improve food crops and to efficiently manage crop genetic resources with the ultimate aim of harnessing science and technology for development of Africa's agriculture to eradicate poverty and bring about development and prosperity to African communities that depend on agriculture for livelihood. As Director Technical Operations, Jacob identifies opportunities for agricultural technology interventions, assesses the feasibility and probability of success of project concepts, identifies sources of appropriate technologies, negotiates their access and deployment, and provides overall leadership in the implementation of AATF's project portfolio. Jacob is a national of Togo.

Jacob Hodeba Mignouna: Leading the way in science – Click here to view interview with the IITA R4D Review: a six-monthly magazine intended to help IITA with research & development partners, investors, collaborators, and beneficiaries discuss and develop the best new ideas for people creating, leading, and transforming tropical agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.