The Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre and the Institute for International Crop Improvement have launched Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea (SAMPEA 20-T) in Nigeria. PBR cowpea is resistant to the pest Maruca vitrata, which is reportedly responsible for up to 80% of annual cowpea yield losses in Nigeria.

PBR Cowpea, the first public sector biotech food crop released in Africa, is the product of an international partnership under the coordination of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) that included scientists from the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.