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Bad press and wild claims have unfairly slowed GM crops on the continent, African scientists say
South African scientists are urging governments across the continent to take concrete actions to enhance the acceptability and adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMO) — a move they say could unlock the region’s vast food potential. The scientists issued their call based on research they conducted in Africa and…
UN Food Systems Summit: Biotechnology key to meeting zero hunger goals
Agricultural biotechnology is a crucial tool for transforming global food systems to meet the United Nation’s goal of ensuring zero hunger by 2030, say some scientists, academics and civil society representatives. Evidence abounds that biotechnology has had a positive overall impact on agriculture in the areas where it has been…
Story telling: A new approach to science communications
Many Africans still don’t understand scientists, or what they do. Scientists are widely seen as aloof and detached — a misperception has negatively impacted societal attitudes toward scientific innovations on the continent. Now Science Stories Africa is bridging that gap between scientists and ordinary folks. By giving scientists the chance…
African scientists fear the continent will be left behind as gene editing transforms food production
Scientists in Africa are calling on their governments to ensure the continent isn’t left behind as gene editing revolutionizes food production. Gene editing is a good tool that can help enhance Africa’s food security, say scientists across the continent, and it shouldn’t suffer the same fate that has stymied the…
African women are leading biotechnology’s advance across the continent
Women researchers are strongly influencing the adoption of agricultural biotechnology in Africa. “As African women, we are the ones who suffer most whenever drought and food shortages strike, despite the availability of technological solutions to these problems,” said Dr. Felister Makini, deputy director general in charge of crops at the…
African nations warm to crop biotechnology for potential food security gains
Though only a few African countries are now growing genetically modified (GM) crops commercially, governments across the continent are increasingly recognizing the crucial role that biotechnology can play in improving food security. In response, African governments are moving to establish an enabling policy framework to support adoption of biotechnology, including…
How the anti-vaxxers could win the COVID information war
We’re facing two nightmare scenarios for the future of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The first is that no successful vaccine is ever developed, and therefore virtually all of us have to take our chances with the virus. The second is that a vaccine is successfully developed, one that works and…
Mozambique sees GMO crops as way to reduce poverty, achieve food security
Mozambique is exploring the use of biotech crops to boost food security following its successful field trials of genetically modified (GM) corn. Since 2017, Mozambique has been conducting field trials of GM corn under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project. Known now as TELA maize, the drought-tolerant,…
Fighting blight with GMO potatoes
Dr. Eric Magembe is committed to using the tools of genetic engineering to fight the devasating potato late blight disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the onset of his career, Magembe, a research scientist with the International Potato Center (CIP), has been curious to see how science can be translated into…