Prof. Maxwell Darko Asante, an alumnus of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), has been appointed as the Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI). Prof. Asante was a member of WACCI’s first cohort of the PhD in Plant Breeding and has since become a prominent figure in agricultural research and innovation.
Prof. Asante previously served as the Deputy Director of CSIR-CRI, where he made significant strides in advancing agricultural research. As the Rice Breeding Lead at CSIR-CRI, he has been instrumental in developing and releasing over 20 rice varieties, a monumental contribution to Ghana's journey towards rice self-sufficiency. His cutting-edge research focuses on developing high-yielding, climate-smart rice varieties that are tolerant to major biotic and abiotic stresses, employing conventional breeding, DNA marker-assisted techniques, and biotechnology.
A leader in modernization efforts, Prof. Asante has played a pivotal role in transforming breeding programs in Ghana and other African nations. In 2021, he consulted for the CGIAR Excellence in Breeding (EiB) program (now Breeding and Research Services) and has collaborated with AGRA and GIZ-MOVE. Over his career, he has attracted over USD 4.5 million in research and infrastructure funding and served as Principal Investigator for more than 10 major rice projects supported by USAID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, AGRA, IFAD, and RDA Korea.
His remarkable achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including the Presidential Award for National Best Agricultural Scientist (2018), Overall Best Scientist at CSIR-CRI (2017), Most Influential WACCI Alumnus (2023), and Best Rice Breeding Program Award by KAFACI (2023). He has authored and co-authored over 70 scientific publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers.
In addition to his research expertise, Prof. Asante holds academic affiliations as an Associate Professor in Plant Breeding and Genetics at the CSIR College of Science and Technology (CCST), Kumasi, Ghana; Guest Lecturer at the Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; and Associate Faculty at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana, Legon.
As Director of CSIR-CRI, Prof. Asante’s leadership and vision are expected to significantly enhance the Institute’s impact on agricultural research and innovation, both in Ghana and internationally.
WACCI congratulates Prof. Maxwell Darko Asante on this remarkable milestone and wishes him continued success in his new role at CSIR-CRI.
