Developments
Biotech in Africa - turning research into reality
A new study of publicly-funded biotechnology programmes in Africa calls for an increased focus on regulatory requirements to ensure safety of food biotech research and that benefits roll down to farmers...
Deluge, disputes and drought mitigation
Harvesting runoff from the hills is an essential strategy for the farmers in the semi-arid West Pare lowlands in Tanzania. However, agreeing whose fields should benefit from the runoff has been a common source of conflict...
A 'mitey' good approach to biocontrol
In cut flowers, red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) can cause serious damage and loss of value, resulting in regular spraying of insecticide. But the introduction of biological control using the spider mite's predator, Phytoseiulus persimilis, in the rose-growing farms of Kenya has resulted in significant cost savings...
In 2004, the World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted Coartem, an artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), as the recommended first-line treatment for malaria in Africa but research on a drug based on the whole leaf of A. annua may provide an alternative solution...
Forging ahead with finger millet
Although little research has been previously conducted on finger millet, new initiatives to preserve and develop its genetic diversity will allow researchers worldwide to develop new higher yielding varieties...
