Ghana’s first genetically modified crop: why we created a new cowpea variety, how we tested it and what we found: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an indigenous and staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa, but it has an enemy: an insect called the legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata). This pest can cause yield losses of more than …
Africa’s wildebeest: those that can’t migrate are becoming genetically weaker – new study: Wildebeest – large African antelopes with distinctively curved horns – are famous for their great migrations on the grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. One hundred and fifty years ago, they migrated in huge numbers across the continent, in search of grazing …
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 …
How genetically modifying mosquitoes could strengthen the world’s war on malaria: Genetic modification could make malaria-carrying mosquitoes harmless. LeliaSpb/Getty Images It’s been 126 years since British medical doctor Sir Ronald Ross discovered that mosquitoes in the Anopheles family are primarily responsible for transmitting malaria parasites between vertebrate hosts. Since his discovery, mosquitoes have been found …
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. …
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 …
Genetically modified cowpea clears its first hurdle in Ghana, but there’s a long way to go: Cowpea is a popular protein source in West Africa. Flickr Genetically modified (GM) cowpea has cleared the first of the three regulatory hurdles in the way of commercialisation in Ghana. If it is commercialised, it will be the first …
China to adopt genetically modified maize and soy: why it matters for South Africa: Farmers drive sprinkler irrigation machines in a wheat field in East China's Jiangsu province. Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images Something important for global agriculture happened this past week but received minimal media coverage. The Chinese National Crop Variety Approval Committee released …
South Africa should rethink regulations on genetically modified plants: New technologies can bolster the production of important crops to feed billions of people. Shutterstock Food security is a global priority – and it is becoming more urgent in the face of climate change, which is already affecting crop productivity. One way to improve food security …
Genetically changed mosquitoes could transform Africa’s long fight against malaria: Paul Starosta/GettyImages It has been said that malaria breeds poverty, and poverty breeds malaria. This is the reality in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where after decades of control initiatives there were still some 384,000 deaths and 188 million malaria cases in 2019. Malaria prevention …
Should we genetically edit the food we eat? We asked two experts: Michael Wick/Shutterstock.com Nicola Patron: Oil from soybeans gene-edited to produce a “high oleic” oil with no trans fats and less saturated fat is already on sale in the United States. Other products including low-acrylamide potatoes and non-browning mushrooms are expected to be launched …
Malaria parasites in Nigeria are genetically diverse: a danger but also a useful tool: Kateryna Kon/Getty Images Malaria is one of the world’s most dangerous parasitic disease and a major public health challenge, especially in Africa. Each year, over 200 million new cases of malaria occur globally. This leads to the death of over 400,000 …
How power shaped the ‘success story’ of genetically modified cotton in Burkina Faso: GettyImages The West African nation of Burkina Faso was once the poster child for genetically modified (GM) crop advocates. Its 2008 adoption of GM cotton for smallholder farmers was hailed as an example of how these technologies could alleviate poverty and food …
How science can genetically strengthen endangered plants and agriculture: Somatic embryogenesis is only used in selected agroforestry industries like sugarcane. Shutterstock As the human population swells – and in the face of a changing and unpredictable climate – the demand for natural resources increases. This leads to distressing rates of deforestation to prepare land for …