B4FA Week in Review – 11 October 2018

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B4FA Week in Review – 11 October 2018

October 11th, 2018 / B4FA.org

As B4FA went to press this week, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report issuing a stark warning: that the world’s governments have only 12 years to implement changes to energy, food and transport systems that will prevent more than a 1.5 ºC rise in global temperatures. Failing to do so, says the IPCC report, will result in environmental catastrophe including the spread of vector-borne diseases, the extinction of corals, extreme heat and poverty around the globe. A 2 ºC rise in temperature would also mean loss of land suitable for crops and the insects that pollinate them.

Meanwhile, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has called on global partners to invest in Africa to make progress toward food security on the continent, itself pledging US$24bn in African agriculture over the next 10 years. AfDB president Akinwuni Adesina, speaking at an agriculture conference at Purdue University, Indianapolis, also noted that Africa needs to harness the available technologies to raise productivity and incomes for farmers while lowering food prices for consumers – including implementing water-efficient maize and improved, higher-yielding rice and cassava varieties. These changes are particularly urgent given the devastation caused by climate change, he said.

In more uplifting news, scientists from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), have announced a breakthrough: they’ve identified 13 banana varieties that are resistant to bacterial banana wilt disease by screening the entire banana collection at IITA, Uganda. They’ve also identified several diploid varieties derived from Musa acuminata – another wild banana. Until now, it was believed that only one wild-seeded banana – M. balbisiana – was not susceptible to banana wilt. These discoveries should allow scientists to develop disease-resistant varieties in the future.

We’re pleased to present stories from several B4FA Fellows this week, including Samuel Hinneh (“Improved cowpea in the offing for Ghanaian smallholders”); Michael Ssali (“Pesticides – what we ought to know“); Christopher Bendana (“Ugandan scientists reach out to farmers to promote agricultural innovations“); and Lominda Afedraru (“Uganda: Scientists hatch plans to increase maize production by 30 per cent“).

We welcome questions, comments and story links to karen@b4fa.org. Please also visit B4FA.org for further reading and useful resources – and follow us on Twitter or Facebook to keep up with daily news and join the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you!

Headlines

We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN
Guardian, UK

UN gives 12-year deadline to crush climate change
SciDevNet

The UN’s 1.5°C special climate report at a glance
The Conversation

AfDB seeks partnership to lift one billion people out of hunger
African Review

Scientists’ breakthrough brings hope for banana resistance breeding to deadly bacterial wilt disease
IITA

AgBio news

Uganda: Scientists hatch plans to increase maize production by 30 per cent
Daily Monitor, by B4FA Fellow Lominda Afedraru

Improved cowpea in the offing for Ghanaian smallholders, by B4FA Fellow Samuel Hinneh
SciDevNet

Ugandan scientists reach out to farmers to promote agricultural innovations
Alliance for Science, by B4FA Fellow Christopher Bendana

Uganda: Pesticides – what we ought to know
Daily Monitor, by B4FA Fellow Michael Ssali

Study in Ethiopia links healthy soils to more nutritious cereals
The Conversation