
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 [email protected]. 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
New wheat variety gets praise in Ethiopia
GFAR
Kenya: Indigenous seeds key in ensuring food security
AllAfrica
IITA Director General receives award at AGRIKEXPO 2018
IITA
Seed scientists in Nigeria canvass for the commercialisation of GM seeds
OFAB Nigeria
Ghana ready to introduce GMOs —Biosafety Authority
Graphic Online
Super-tomato shows what plant scientists can do
Nature
West Africa Centre For Crop Improvement calls for transformative changes of agriculture and food systems
Modern Ghana
Report: Proportionate and scientifically sound risk assessment of gene‐edited plants
EMBO Press
Burkina Faso: SARI applies encourages farmers to cultivate cowpea to address post-flood losses
Daily Guide Africa
Scientists design a more productive maize to cope with future climates
ISAAA
Gene controlling stem juiciness in sorghum identified
ISAAA
IRRI opens regional office in Africa
World Grain
Zinc-biofortified wheat reduces childhood illness
Harvest Plus
Matia stresses Bangladesh-Australia cooperation in agriculture
Dhaka Tribune
Video: Meet the gene-edited cows that could revolutionize beef production
Genetic Literacy Project
Best practices
Uganda: Ssekandi squeezes money out of ignored avocado seeds
Daily Monitor
Biodiversity
Harper Adams researchers say traditional plants could ease hunger in Kenya
AgriLand
Tree to treat: the sweet journey of chocolate
Feed the Future
This Ethiopian seed bank preserves biodiversity by opening its doors to farmers
Atlas Obscura
Climate change
World is at risk if global warming exceeds 1.5°C, UN warns
Dispatch
Potential impacts of climate change on child stunting
FCRN
US prising climate, development apart in IPCC talks
SciDevNet
Climate action held back by conflicting policy in African countries
SciDevNet
Extreme weather threatens African society and economy
AllAfrica
Development
Biotech has huge potential to transform Uganda’s growth, minister says
ISAAA
Maputo at 15 and the future of Africa’s food security
Business a.m.
Linking up the SDGs: the key to food and nutrition security
CGIAR
More women owning agricultural land in Africa means increased food security and nutrition
AllAfrica
China to train African scientists as part of $60-billion development plan
Nature
Boosting farm productivity in Africa through the sustainable use of machines
Africa News
Equip farmers with information to step up food security
Standard Digital
How Africa can capitalize on the pulse and oilseed market boom
AllAfrica
Africa bets on technology to lure youth to farming
Reuters
Ghana: Vice chancellor of University of Ghana urges African governments to invest more in agriculture
Ghana News Agency
China to train African scientists as part of $60-billion development plan
Nature
Change in farming must be cultural, says Nigeria’s agriculture minister
The Guardian
UBIC initiates efforts to integrate biosciences into Uganda’s education system
ISAAA
New project to promote employability for African youth in agriculture
IPP Media
Making the case to the world to invest in Africa
Voice Online
Food security
Africa looking to strategic partnerships to boost food security
Alliance for Science
Africa must prioritise Agric to ensure food security, says Director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement Prof. Danquah
Graphic Online
Project leads countries to food security
ECNS
EU & AU join forces to save the continent from hunger
EU Bulletin
Pests and diseases
Africa loses $700m to aflatoxin —AU chair, by B4FA Fellow Jimoh Babatunde
Vanguard
Africa sets sights on tackling foodborne disease burden
Food Safety News
Fall armyworm, considered threat for global food security spreads from maize to sugarcane in India
Economic Times
A study to maintain food security in Uganda
Tech Explorist
Policy
Eustice: Gene-edited crops are necessary
ISAAA
The GM debate
Fighting back against GMO pseudoscience
NeuroLogica Blog
Initiative aimed at answering GMO-related questions
Feedstuffs
ITIF files petition to ban non-GMO labels
ISAAA
Opportunities and resources
Call for proposals: Tools and technologies for broad-scale pest and disease surveillance of crop plants in low-income countries (Round 22). Deadline: 14 November
Gates Foundation
Report: Efficient generation of stable, heritable gene edits in wheat using CRISPR/Cas9
BMC Plant Biology