New beans varieties for canning industry in the offing

By: Ochieng’ Ogodo and Sven Torfinn

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<h1>New beans varieties for canning industry in the offing</h1>
<h4>By: Ochieng’ Ogodo and Sven Torfinn</h4>
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<p>Researchers from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, with support from Bio-resource <a href="http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/enterprise/innovation/">Innovations</a> <a href="http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/communication/networks/">Network</a> for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Program, have developed superior, better-yielding, drought-resistant varieties of beans.<br />
 <br />
The varieties have good canning properties and are resistant to drought and multiple <a href="http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/health/disease/">diseases</a>.<br />
 <br />
The new varieties that have now gone through validation process by the regulators have much shorter cooking time — about 40 per cent less cooking time compared to what is currently in the market — an attribute that is favourable to the canning industry and consumers because it significantly reduces <a href="http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/environment/energy/">energy</a> costs.<br />
 <br />
Equally significant about these varieties is that beans ‘considered’ a woman’s crop has the potential to transform the lives of many women. These varieties, once released into the market, are expected to make a strong impact in countries in eastern Africa, including Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.  This project is a manifestation of the importance of <a href="http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/enterprise/rd/">research and development</a> in addressing the needs of not only <a href="http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/agriculture/farming/">farmers</a> but the industry and consumers as well.</p>
<p><em>This film was paid for by Bio-Innovate. Bio-Innovate is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.</em> </p>
<p><em>This multimedia has been produced by SciDev.Net's Sub-Saharan Africa desk.</em></p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/multimedia/new-beans-varieties-for-canning-industry-in-the-offing/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Researchers from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, with support from Bio-resource Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Program, have developed superior, better-yielding, drought-resistant varieties of beans.

The varieties have good canning properties and are resistant to drought and multiple diseases.

The new varieties that have now gone through validation process by the regulators have much shorter cooking time — about 40 per cent less cooking time compared to what is currently in the market — an attribute that is favourable to the canning industry and consumers because it significantly reduces energy costs.

Equally significant about these varieties is that beans ‘considered’ a woman’s crop has the potential to transform the lives of many women. These varieties, once released into the market, are expected to make a strong impact in countries in eastern Africa, including Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. This project is a manifestation of the importance of research and development in addressing the needs of not only farmers but the industry and consumers as well.

This film was paid for by Bio-Innovate. Bio-Innovate is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

This multimedia has been produced by SciDev.Net's Sub-Saharan Africa desk.