The Design Advisory Committee (DAC) was created to systematise consultations with a representative group of stakeholders during the development of the AATF business plan and to provide guidance on key operational issues. It played a critical advisory role, guiding the formation of AATF. It provided guidance on the business plan, selection of board members, selection of the headquarters, and the development of criteria for the selection of pilot projects. The Committee comprised representatives from the following stakeholder groups:

• African NARs from Kenya, Ghana and Uganda.
• International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
• International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT).
• West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA).
• Seed and biotech companies from Zimbabwe and Kenya.
• Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
• Crop science corporations Emergent Genetics, Monsanto, Pioneer HiBred, and Dow AgroSciences.
• Donor organisations – the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Rockefeller Foundation, the Danish Agency for Development Assistance (DANIDA), and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (UK-DFID).

AATF Design Advisory Committee

• Walter Alhassan
  Consultant
  Accra, Ghana
   
• Andrew Mushita
  Director
  Community Technology Development Trust
  Harare, Zimbabwe
   
• Gerard Barry
  Director of Research –
  Product and Technology Cooperation
  Monsanto Company
  St. Louis, MO, USA
   
• Allan Chiyembekeza
  International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
  Lilongwe, Malawi
   
• Cyrus Ndiritu
  Genetics Technologies Ltd.
  Nairobi, Kenya
   
• Sam Dryden
  Managing Director
  Emergent Genetics, Inc
  Boulder, CO, USA
   
• Vincent Gwarazimba
  General Manager
  Zimbabwe Seed Trade Association
  Harare, Zimbabwe
   
• Christopher Ngichabe
  Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern
  and Central Africa
  Nairobi, Kenya
   
• Romano Kiome
  Director
  Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
  Nairobi, Kenya
   
• Josette Lewis
  Biotechnology Advisor
  US Agency for International Development
  Washington, DC, USA
   
• William Niebur
  Maize Research Director
  Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
  Johnston, IA, USA
   
• Violet Mandishona
  Chief Education and Training Officer
  Zimbabwe Farmers Union
  Harare, Zimbabwe
   
• Kanayo Nwanze
  Director General
  West Africa Rice Development Association
  Bouake, Cote d'Ivoire
   
• Barry McCarter
  General Manager
  SeedCo
  Westgate, Zimbabwe
   
• Eugene Terry
  Implementing Director
  African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)
  Washington, DC, USA
   
• Gavin McGillivray
  Senior Financial Advisor
  Department for International Development
  London, UK
   
• Barry Thomas
  Director
  Corporate, Public, and Government Affairs
  Aventis CropScience, UK Ltd.
  Cambridge, UK
   
• Ronald Meeusen
  Vice President for Research, Plant Genetics and Biotechnology
  Dow Agro Sciences LLC
  Indianapolis, IN, USA
   
• Kinyua M'Mbijjewe
  Government and Public Affairs
  Lead-Africa, Monsanto Africa
  Bryanston, South Africa
   
• Carl-Gustaf Thornstrom
  Senior Research Adviser
  Agriculture Swedish Biodiversity
  Centre, University of Agricultural Sciences
  Uppsala, Sweden
   
• Joseph Mukiibi
  Director General
  National Agricultural Research Organization
  Entebbe, Uganda
   
• Godber Tumushabe
  Executive Director
  Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment
  Kampala, Uganda
   
• Florence Wambugu
  Executive Director
  A Harvest Biotech Foundation International
  Nairobi, Kenya
   
• Klaus Winkel
  Danish International Development Assistance
  Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  Copenhagen, Denmark