Congratulations to Prof Ida Sithole-Niang on her election as a Fellow at the World Academy of Sciences. At AATF we are proud of your leadership as Board Chair between January 2010 to April 2016. Your guidance on strategy direction and the special expertise on the Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea is priceless and gave AATF […]
Read MoreUgandan plant scientists face severe financial penalties and decade-long jail terms if proposed changes to the recently passed Biosafety Act 2017 are adopted, experts say. The draft changes also would undermine several important crop breeding programs intended to reduce pesticide use and boost food security in the East African country. The Ugandan scientific establishment and its […]
Read MoreAgriculturalists in Burkina Faso say their country is still open to using the tools of biotechnology, despite the decision to stop growing genetically modified cotton. A controversy erupted over the low quality of fiber produced by GMO (Bt) cotton, prompting a withdrawal of the seeds in 2015 after they had been in use for eight years. […]
Read MoreThe news about the passing on of Prof. Calestous Juma came as a surprise to many. Most especially the proponents of agricultural biotechnology, most of whom, he had helped voice their enthusiasm towards adoption of genetically modified technology. Among them, were senior scientists at African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), notably Dr Mpoko Bokanga former Executive […]
Read MoreAbuja, Nigeria: The Federal High Court of Justice of Nigeria in Abuja today ruled in favor of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) by giving approval for the commercial release of Bt. Cotton in Nigeria. The suit which was filed by the Registered Trustees of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and sixteen other Civil Society […]
Read MoreThe Kenyan government is banking on the production of genetically modified cotton, expected to start in 2018, to generate more than Sh 50 billion in apparel export earnings and create more than 50,000 jobs as part of its economic revival plan. As part of the country’s big four agenda, Kenya aims to increase the manufacturing […]
Read MoreTanzanian broadcast journalist, Calvin Gwabara, working with Sokoine University of Agriculture Media, emerged the winner under television category and the overall winner of the 2018 Open Forum on Agricultural biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) Africa Media Awards. The Awards, organized in collaboration with OFAB and National Agricultural Research Institute of Burkina Faso (INERA), were held at […]
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