Why aren’t South Africans growing more indigenous crops? How farmers can be nudged to change their ways: Western diets make up most of South Africa’s food systems. This displaces indigenous crops and edible forest plants. The problems created by westernised diets include environmental damage caused by commercial farms. These diets also threaten African food systems. …
Farming with a mixture of crops, animals and trees is better for the environment and for people – evidence from Ghana and Malawi: Moving away from intensive farming practices comes with many benefits. Nikada Farming just one kind of crop in a field at a time, and using a lot of chemicals, poses a risk …
Genetically modified crops aren’t a solution to climate change, despite what the biotech industry says: Barbara Van Dyck The European Commission launched a proposal in July 2023 to deregulate a large number of plants manufactured using new genetic techniques. Despite extraordinary attempts by the Spanish presidency to force a breakthrough, EU members have not yet …
Wild plants may edit their genomes in the same way we make GM crops – and it could be crucial to evolution: zhukovvvlad/Shutterstock Genetically modified (GM) crops may be controversial, but similar processes happen naturally with wild plants. However, scientists have long been puzzled about how these processes happen. Our recent study may help researchers …
Genetically modified crops may be a solution to hunger – why there is scepticism in Africa: GettyImages Hunger and undernourishment are two elements of food insecurity that have plagued Africa for years. And the menace is growing. In 2022, the African region accounted for the highest level of hunger as described by Global Hunger Index. …
The amazing system plants use to shape their roots and why it could help protect crops from climate change: lewan/Shutterstock Plants have colonised the vast majority of the Earth’s surface. So what is the key to their success? People often think of plants as simple, senseless life forms. They may live rooted in one place, …
Kenya has lifted its ban on genetically modified crops: the risks and opportunities: An Egyptian worker gathers the crop at a maize field, the country’s first harvest of genetically modified maize in 2008. Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images Kenya recently lifted a ban on the cultivation and importation of genetically modified crops amid the worst …
Rising atmospheric CO? may benefit maize crops: first experiment in African conditions: Most maize production relies on natural rainfall, making it vulnerable to changing rainfall patterns. Shutterstock Global maize production is worth billions of dollars annually and is key to global food security because it’s a staple food for billions of people. Most maize production …
Ukraine produced a lot of grain – can farmers elsewhere replace the crops lost to war?: Ukraine and Russia produce a substantial amount of grain and other food for export. Ukraine alone produces a whopping 6% of all food calories traded in the international market. At least it used to, before it was invaded by …
Q+A: Gene-edited crops – an expert on what field trials could mean for the future of food: Attasit Saentep/Shutterstock Firmly outside the EU, where regulations are considered tighter, the UK government has revised regulations on gene editing in agriculture, enabling field trials of crops which have had their DNA spliced to accentuate particular qualities, like …
How elephants raid crops in Kenya’s Masai Mara has changed. Why it matters: African elephant Shutterstock/MOIZ HUSEIN STORYTELLER The Masai Mara ecosystem, in south-western Kenya, is home to an important elephant population of about 2,500 individuals. Elephants need large amounts of space to roam in search of food and water. Because of this, they often …
India protests: farmers could switch to more climate-resilient crops – but they have been given no incentive: Fallow farms in rainfed south India. Toby Smith (@tobysmithphoto) for TIGR2ESS India is witnessing a historic mass mobilisation of farmers against three new farm laws. The country’s government maintains that these laws are the cure for a longstanding …
Gene-edited crops are now a reality – but will the public be on board?: Juice Flair / shutterstock Once the UK left the EU, it would be free to invest in gene editing of crops and livestock to “feed the world”. That’s what the prime minister, Boris Johnson, told the House of Commons in 2019. …
Mutant roots reveal how we can grow crops in damaged soils: Lidiane Miotto/Shutterstock For years, conventional wisdom has held that roots don’t grow as deep in hard soil because it’s just too difficult for them to physically push through it. But our new research has unearthed another reason: their growth is controlled by a biological …
Explainer: what’s behind the locust swarms damaging crops in southern Africa: shutterstock Seven million people in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been affected by a migratory locust outbreak currently ravaging crops and pastures across southern Africa. Professor Frances Duncan, whose research work involves investigating the survival strategies of brown locusts, explains what’s behind this …
South Africa in the news: Farmers remember ‘Mr. Canola,’ who literally wrote the book on how to grow one of Canada’s most valuable crops: Many Canadians might not have heard of Phil Thomas. But to farmers across the country and around the world, the death of ‘Mr. Canola’ — the man who literally wrote the book on …
Pasha 39: How local crops and grains can help solve nutrition issues: shutterstock Climate change presents a problem for many African countries. Drought resistant crops need to be accessible as good, nutritious food will become increasingly scarce with a changing climate. Indigenous crops like sorghum, millets and cowpeas are drought tolerant and can be prepared …
Burning chillies and dung could help stop elephants damaging farmers’ crops: Rocio Pozo, Author provided The elephant is fighting for its survival. Many of these animals are now contained in national parks and other protected areas across Africa and Asia, but these are simply not big enough to support isolated populations of elephants. So they …