SciDev.Net

African policymakers urged to speed seed to farmers

Action is needed from policymakers to speed up the supply of improved seeds to West African farmers, researchers say.

NEWS | 23 November 2009 | EN

Food security in East Africa 'within reach'

East Africa must adopt alternative farming techniques to combat the crop losses projected for 2050, a study says.

NEWS | 13 November 2009 | EN

War may have spread hybrid rice

Against expectations, West African rice varieties have interbred in the field — and war may have helped these improved hybrids spread.

NEWS | 27 October 2009 | EN | FR

Technical fixes needed to stem crop losses

Pests, disease and post-harvest problems are drastically reducing crop yields, a summit has heard, and quick technical fixes are a priority.

NEWS | 23 October 2009 | EN

Peru and Ethiopia team up to defend biodiversity

Scientists and farmers from Peru and Ethiopia will defend agrobiodiversity through the exchange of scientific and traditional knowledge.

NEWS | 16 October 2009 | ES

Grant bolsters African biosafety capacity

The African Biosafety Network of Expertise can now begin building African countries' biosafety knowhow in earnest.

NEWS | 15 October 2009 | EN

Drought-hardy maize ready for field trials

South African researchers will soon begin field trials of a variety of maize capable of withstanding extreme dehydration.

NEWS | 6 October 2009 | EN

Cassava virus dealt a blow in southern Africa

A cassava virus rampant in southern Africa could be facing annihilation, thanks to genetic research in South Africa.

NEWS | 1 October 2009 | EN | FR

Acacia tree can boost crops — and more — across Africa

Co-planting an acacia variety with crops delivers timely natural fertiliser as well as cutting erosion and supplying wood for domestic use.

NEWS | 27 August 2009 | EN

Nigeria to roll out fungus-resistant soybean crops

Soybean farmers in Central and West Africa will soon have a variety resistant to an Asian fungal rust that can devastate their crops.

NEWS | 11 August 2009 | EN | FR

Fungal pesticide saves crops from locusts

Swarms of red locusts in Tanzania have been destroyed by the application of a biopesticide containing fungal spores.

NEWS | 27 July 2009 | EN

Field trials offer hope of conquering food toxin

Studies in maize show that benign strains of the fungus Aspergillus can outcompete toxic forms that contaminate African crops.

NEWS | 26 June 2009 | EN

West Africans hope to produce iron-tolerant rice

West African researchers are working with farmers to develop rice that will thrive on their iron-rich soils.

NEWS | 18 March 2009 | EN

'Super cassava' to enter field trials

A project to genetically engineer cassava to provide a day's nutrition in one meal has progressed with the approval of initial field trials.

NEWS | 19 February 2009 | EN

Kenya approves GM after years of delays

Kenya has become the fourth African country to allow genetically modified farming after the president signed off on new biosafety legislation.

NEWS | 18 February 2009 | EN

Parasite-resistant maize 'a hit' with Nigerian farmers

Nigerian farmers are selling more seeds of parasite-resistant, yield-boosting maize crops than official distribution channels.

NEWS | 13 February 2009 | EN

Kenya prepares to approve biosafety legislation

Kenya's parliament expects to approve its much-delayed biosafety bill before the Christmas break.

NEWS | 6 November 2008 | EN

Biotechnology 'no cure-all' for food insecurity

Biotechnology will not offer the full solution to Africa's food problems, warn scientists at the All Africa Congress on Biotechnology.

NEWS | 26 September 2008 | EN

African agricultural research 'neglected ' by donor policies

A UN report cites a lack of emphasis on agricultural research in development policy as a key reason for African farming problems.

NEWS | 24 September 2008 | EN

Agricultural developments 'failing to reach farmers'

Agricultural research advances in Africa — including seeds that can improve crop yields — are not reaching farmers, say top scientists.

NEWS | 1 September 2008 | EN | 中文