Vacant position
AATF is looking for a qualified and experienced Accounting Officer African leaders dissolve Nepad
African leaders have adopted a resolution to dissolve the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) and replace it by a new agency. African Policymakers Urged to Speed Seed to Farmers
Abuja — African seed producers and researchers have called on policymakers to boost production of improved seed varieties and ensure that they are released to farmers more quickly. Food security in East Africa 'within reach'
East Africa will face both crop gains and losses as a result of climate change, but food security is an achievable goal if new farming technologies are embraced, says a study. Food: Is Monsanto the answer or the problem?
As Monsanto steps up its humanitarian efforts, the company faces a host of hurdles, not the least of which is its own image. Mock planting of first GM maize
She is no economist, and 65-year old Nduku Katunge’s rapport with hunger is anything but a
projection. As she plants maize at a research site in Kiboko near Makindu, Katunge, a widowed mother of seven, is wondering whether she will eat tonight, and whether she will be able to pay this month’s rent of KSh 300. Food crisis forces changes on GM crops
If we are able to take advantage of the new technologies that are becoming available, using molecular biology tools, or using biotechnology tools and products, Africa should be able to achieve a green – Daniel Mataruka Drought-tolerant crops will save us
For the first time in human history, we have solutions in hand that can help these farmers cope with the effects of drought – Daniel Mataruka Vatican, food experts say biotechnology will improve African farming
African farmers should be able to use new biotechnology, including genetically modified organisms, to help lift their continent out of poverty, Vatican officials and agricultural experts said. Africa 'resistant to GMOs because of relationship with EU'
Europe's cautious approach to genetically modified crops is having a negative effect on agriculture in Africa, according to a group of farmers. Drought-hardy maize ready for field trials
Researchers at the University of Cape Town in South Africa have developed a new kind of genetically modified (GM) maize that is designed for drought resistance. Nigeria National Seed Council calls for improved seed supply system
Chief Olasunkanmi Shobowale, the Executive Director of the Nigerian National Agricultural Seeds Council , has called for the establishment of improved seed supply system. Point of view - Activism, Mendacity, and Pathological Science
Consumers are increasingly being exposed to what chemistry Nobel laureate Irving Langmuir dubbed “pathological science,” the “science of things that aren’t so.” Hunger: Africa can get out of the trap
Africa needs economic and agricultural revolutions greater than the one observed in Asia. Weeds are farmers' enemy number one
One huge hunger-maker lurks largely unnoticed ... maybe it's because weeds are not very spectacular - FAO weed expert Ricardo Labrada-Romero. Farming is Continent's Lifeline, Clinton Says
For millions of Africans, farming is a lifeline, says US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Agrochemical body says, GMOs won’t drive us out
Richard Shikuku, chief executive officer of the Agrochemicals Association of Kenya (AAK), has attempted to reassure Kenyan pesticide and fertilizer makers that genetically modified (GM) crop adoption will not mean a loss of business Banana Blight Puts Livelihoods at Risk
The bacterial disease banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) is a huge threat to East African banana production, specialists says. In search of new maize variety
Like virtually all Kenyans at this time, Dr James Gethi is disappointed that three seasons in a row have been very dry in almost all maize growing areas. Agriculture ministry avails 10 acres for maize project
The Uganda Government has given 10 acres of land to the African Agricultural Technology Foundation for the Water Efficient Maize for Africa project. New maize variety to counter drought
Farmers in drought-stricken regions in Uganda could soon sigh with relief with the stage set for confined field trials for drought-tolerant maize varieties. Role of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa
Genetically modified (GM) crops conjure up varying emotions worldwide. Nevertheless, their acreage is increasing, reaching 125 million hectares in 2008. Tanzania forum to facilitate local debate on agricultural biotechnology
One more step towards bringing the debate on agricultural biotechnology closer to the people with the launch of the OFAB in Tanzania. GM maize for local (Kenya) trials by 2010
Kenya will soon start confined field trials of drought-tolerant transgenic maize variety in a project spearheaded by KARI. Nigeria approves N40m for cowpea research
Nigeria has approved N40 million for the 1st phase of research into pest-resistance cowpea crops in Nigeria. Partnerships Newsletter - Issue 2
The second issue of Partnerships, a quarterly newsletter of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). 90 million Nigerians are food vulnerable
About 90 million Nigerians are in a condition of food vulnerability, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Sayyid Abba-Ruma, has said. OFAB Nigeria Chapter launched
The Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Bako Zaku said $500 billion was realised from the sale of biotechnology products yearly worldwide. He said this on 9 April in Abuja at the launch of OFAB Nigeria chapter. African scientists to their governments: adopt modern agricultural technologies
Kenyan Agriculture Secretary Wilson Songa has cautioned African policy makers and stakeholders to stop thinking that Africa can produce enough food through organic technology alone. Cowpea growers profit from improved varieties
Farmers in Nigeria and Niger have seen their profits increase by about 55 percent thanks to new cowpea varieties developed by IITA and its national partners in Nigeria. Uganda to start biotech cotton trials
Uganda's National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) will soon begin field trials of genetically modified cotton. Ghana to undertake field trials on GM crops
Ghana will soon begin field trials with genetically modified crops, which, when successful, will help enhance agricultural modernisation and productivity. Read our Partnerships newsletter
Partnerships is a new quarterly newsletter of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). Dr Daniel Fungai Mataruka joins AATF
Dr Daniel Fungai Mataruka has joined the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) as the Executive Director. Kenyan president signs Biosafety Bill into law
Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki signed into law a national Biosafety Act on February 12. U.S.-African Partnership Developing Drought-Tolerant Maize
Biotechnology is a key component of a public-private partnership that could save millions of lives by developing drought-tolerant maize for small-scale farming operations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Leading experts to discuss Bt cowpea
The Project Advisory Committee for the Maruca-Resistant Cowpea Project has identified three areas for which additional input and guidance is desired ... AATF uniquely positioned to address crucial needs in Africa
AATF uniquely positioned to address crucial needs in Africa AATF and Arcadia Biosciences sign agreement
AATF has signed an agreement with US-based agricultural technology company Arcadia Biosciences to develop improved varieties of African rice. Mali approves biosafety law
The National Assembly of Mali passed a national biosafety law on 13 November 2008. Kenya launches biotechnology awareness strategy
Kenya has launched a national biotechnology awareness strategy (BioAWARE-Kenya AATF announces changes in top management
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) has announced changes in its top management Nigeria: 'GM Food Good for Nigeria'
At a recent Conference on the introduction of GM crops in Nigeria, the Minister of Science and Technology Chief (Mrs.) Grace Ekpiwhre almost shouted blue murder about the looming food crises in Sub-Saharan Africa Kenya begins field trials of GM maize
After several years of research, Kenya has finally started field trials of genetically modified maize. The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) began planting the maize modified to resist stem borers, which cause 20 per cent crop loss to farmers every year. Men, women, children flee food crisis in Niger
Scores of men, women and children from Niger are fleeing south into Nigeria to escape crop failure and imminent famine, according to Nigerian immigration officials. Better technology for African farmers
Resource-poor African farmers are being given the chance to grow high-yielding crops, thanks to an initiative by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), which links small-scale producers up with technological solutions for agriculture. The foundation is a public-private partnership that aims to boost incomes and food security for the rural poor in sub-Saharan Africa by overcoming the high costs and restrictions imposed by intellectual property rights, which act as barriers to African farmers |
