[Accra: November 2, 2022] The West African Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) has invited the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) to jointly set up a gene editing platform to fast-track crop improvements using modern technologies. This was disclosed by WACCI Associate Director, Prof Kwadwo Ofori, when he received the AATF pod borer research team led […]
Read MoreAdama, Ethiopia (September 20, 2022) : The TELA Maize Project of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) underscore the need for helping judges and lawyers to understand the essence of biotechnology research. This was highlighted during a two-day awareness creation event organized by TELA Maize Project and supported […]
Read More(Sep 30, 2022) Africa needs the right policy environment to harness and optimize benefits accruing from agricultural biotechnology, innovation and emerging technologies for rural economic transformation, experts said Friday. Addressing the 7th Calestous Juma Executive Dialogue (CJED) forum on Nutrition and Food Security taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Kanangire, Executive Director of the African […]
Read More(Saturday, October 01, 2022) Dr Emmanuel Okogbenin is the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) director for programme development and commercialisation. He has worked on biotech applications in cassava in Africa leading to a number of improved varieties. He spoke to Michael Oriedo about why cassava is a key crop at this time when many nations […]
Read More(Kaduna: October 5, 2022) Nigeria will achieve self-sufficiency in maize production when farmers embrace hybrid varieties, a leading seed producer has said. Mr. Brighton Karume, the managing director of ECOBasic Seeds Limited, said productivity was hampered by farmers’ reliance on traditional varieties that are not resistant to disease, pests and drought. Addressing a press conference […]
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By Vitumbiko Chinoko. The Second Africa-Wide Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) recently held in Kigali, Rwanda, concluded with an urgent call for African governments, regional economic communities and continental organs including the African Union, African Development Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and non-state actors including the private sector to sustain the […]
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By Dr Munyaradzi Jonga. The availability of quality seeds is critical to enhance crop productivity for a food and nutrition secure continent. However, this has remained a challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region due to challenges brought about by drought, pest and diseases that have hampered productivity. Nevertheless, there is still huge potential to maximize […]
Read MoreUnlike the bright-eyed optimism wielded by many school leavers, Jacob Kuya of Kakamega County, Butere sub-county in Marama central ward was facing a future of bleak prospects. His parents separated in 2018 and deserted their home just after he joined high school at the age of 14. The house on the compound was demolished, throwing […]
Read MoreFarmers around the world are using innovations in plant science to increase crop yields, improve sustainability and combat food insecurity. For example, Nigerian farmers are now planting genetically modified (GM) cowpeas that resist their greatest insect pest. This has the potential to increase yields by as much as 80 percent! In December 2019, the government of Nigeria […]
Read MoreIn October this year (2021), Africa recorded a milestone in crop biotech development when the Federal Government of Nigeria granted environmental approval for evaluation and open cultivation of TELA Maize, a new maize variety genetically modified to tolerate moderate drought and resist the fall armyworm and stem borer. This development places Nigeria one step closer […]
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