Scaling up Game-Changing Agricultural Innovations and Technologies in Africa

Agricultural Innovations and Technologies

The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD), with the support of the World Bank, recently rolled out an initiative aimed at placing innovative climate-smart technologies in the hands of farmers so that they are better protected from the impacts of climate change. This is sorely needed.

The FAO Food Price Index rises for the second consecutive month

 FAO 

*Wheat and maize prices lead the increase

5 April 2018, Rome - The FAO Food Price Index rose in March, driven by robust increases in grains and dairy prices.

Farming Drive Laudable, but Inclusivity Is Crucial

farmers

Agriculture has for many years been engrained in our minds that it is the backbone of the country's economy. At least 80 per cent of Tanzanians are engaged in agriculture as their main economic activity.

Crop failure in the Andes Researcher simulates how climate change can affect crop production in the rural Andes

This is a Peruvian potato farmer.

Kenneth Feeley, the Smathers Chair of Tropical Tree Biology in the University of Miami's Department of Biology, is an expert in studying the effects of climate change on tropical forests.

Despite Boko Haram, Borno Launches First Rice Pyramid in North-East

Pyramid

The thousands of bags that was piled into a pyramid at the city's civic centre, Ramat Square, was a demonstration of the bumper harvest recorded in parts of the state during the last farming season by farmers who are mostly assisted by government.

Combination of resistance genes offers better protection for wheat against powdery mildew

Plant

Plant researchers have tested newly developed wheat lines with improved resistance in field trials. They have demonstrated that a combination of two variations of a resistance gene provides wheat with better protection against the fungal disease.

'Low Levels' of Listeria Detected At Tiger Brands' Pretoria Plant

Three food manufacturers have been issued with safety recall notices after being identified as the source of the listeriosis outbreak in the country. The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur.

Tiger Brands announced on Monday that "low levels" of listeria had been detected at its plant in Pretoria.

Ban On Movement of Bananas From Nampula and Cabo Delgado

Bannana

The Mozambican Ministry of Agriculture has banned the transport of bananas from the northern provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado to anywhere else in the country, in an attempt to stop the spread of a fungal disease, fusarium wilt, which can wipe out banana production entirely.

Mobile App and Study Tours to Combat 'Voracious' Crop-Munching Pest in Africa

Africa is battling with a fall armyworm infestation

Researchers looking to steal a march on a maize-eating pest that has infested millions of hectares of crops in Africa over the past two years are deploying an app as part of their efforts to combat it.

Why Microbes Are Key to Solving Africa's Food Security Crisis

Healthy soils are critical for global food production and provide a range of environmental services.

AgFunder, an online investment platform, just announced its innovation award winners.

Topping the list was Biome Makers, a startup company that takes advantage of the natural agricultural microbiome-community of microorganisms. It does this by testing soil to determine what microbial species - microscopic organisms such as bacteria - are present. It then uses the information to offer recommendations about how to improve the quality and yield of the crops.