SciDev.Net

African bioenergy projects must focus on new technologies and receive stronger political support, says biofuel expert Emile van Zyl.

African nations are increasingly taking control of their own science funding — but they must keep the money coming, writes Linda Nordling.

Agriculture and health experts must work together to tackle disease, poverty and malnutrition, says development expert Jeff Waage.

Developing countries must recognise the value of community healthcare and provide clearer ethical guidelines for practice, says Priya Shetty.

An Indian biotech firm shows how to balance health impact and financial return in the developing world, say Justin Chakma and colleagues.

Social networks quickly gather data on possible disease outbreaks after natural disasters, writes biosurveillance expert James Wilson.

GM mosquitoes could help control malaria in Africa but their development must involve local scientists, write Paul Eggleston and Mamadou Coulibaly.

A team of agriculture and environment experts, led by Jeffrey Sachs, call for a global network to monitor the world's farming systems.

Africa has woken up to the promise of 'climate cash' — but the skills needed to secure it remain thin on the ground, writes Linda Nordling.

Vietnam is making rapid progress in developing biotechnology for a healthier society, says biotech expert Thai Nguyen.

Moral crusades against HIV/AIDS may have good intentions, but there is no substitute for sound evidence on behaviour change, says Priya Shetty.

Chagas disease has gone beyond Latin America and, today, is a challenge for non-endemic countries, say José R. Coura and Pedro A. Viñas.

Drought-tolerant crops could improve food security — if researchers take downstream adoption challenges seriously, says Travis Lybbert.

Scientists must re-engage with the International AIDS Conference to find a needs-based research agenda say Jessica Justman and Wafaa M. El-Sadr.

Nanotechnology's potential to improve public health will be maximised only with a conducive environment, argues Jayashree Vivekanandan.

Joseph Henrich and colleagues call on behavioural scientists to stop doing most of their experiments on Westerners.

Traditional medical cultures need a true partnership with modern medicine, say Bhushan Patwardhan, Gerard Bodeker and Darshan Shankar.

How can modern drug discovery methods enhance the value of African traditional medicines, asks South African drug expert Kelly Chibale.

Local health needs should be paramount in efforts to merge traditional and modern medicine, says Oswaldo Salaverry.

It's time to consign to history the idea that traditional medical systems have nothing to offer modern medical science, says Antony Taubman of the World Trade Organization.