The DFG-funded Special Research Program (SFB) "Adapted Farming in West-Africa" (1985-1999) was not only the first large interdisciplinary project on development-oriented research in tropical agriculture coordinated by TROZ, but also the pioneer SFB of DFG implementing extensive, applied agricultural research in two developing African countries, namely Benin and Niger. It stands as the first long-lasting, well-financed and interdisciplinary research project in the German history dedicated to agriculture in the African tropics. A key focus was the development of technological and institutional innovations for restoring soil fertility, increasing agricultural productivity and maintaining natural resources. Focusing on resource management, the SFB followed the classical research plan of identifying constraints and methods of improving resource utilization and evaluating improved technologies and institutions, emphasizing on research topics neglected by national (NARS) and international research institutions (CG) due to lack of funds and infrastructure, mandate crops and areas, respectively.