Category: SUCCESS STORIES

Rwanda to develop high-yielding pest- and disease-resistant cassava, maize and potatoes

[Kigali, Rwanda: October 2024]:  – The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF have announced a public-private partnership to benefit over 500,000 farm households in Rwanda by developing high-yielding pest- and disease- resistant cassava, maize and potatoes. The partnership, known as the Rwanda Agricultural Biotechnology Programme, aims to […]

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Political leadership support is critical for advancing biotechnology development in Africa

[Kigali, Rwanda, September 2024]: African governments have been urged to prioritise investment in biotechnology research and development to address pressing challenges in the sector, including climate change, pests and diseases, and declining soil fertility. The call was made to African Ministers from six countries, including Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Eswatini during a ministerial roundtable […]

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Project launched to support women and youth in rice production by using climate information for better agricultural decision-making

[Nairobi, Kenya, October 2024]: AATF and its partners have initiated a new partnership project to support women and youth-led micro and medium-sized businesses in rice farming and production to use precise climate information during the cultivation and production stages of rice. The aim of the project is to help these businesses use climate data such […]

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WALL STREET JOURNAL: Securing One of the World’s Staple Food Crops

As climate change impacts corn production, hybrid seed technology could help improve yields and combat food insecurity around the world. Sinelizwi Fakade is a farmer based in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Like hundreds of thousands of growers across the African continent, he’s well acquainted with the usual pressures of production and yield for staple crops […]

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OFAB Equips Chapter Coordinators with Advanced Advocacy and Science Communication Skills in Addis Ababa

[August 2024] AATF, through the OFAB Project, conducted a training workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for 34 participants including 10-chapter coordinators and staff from nine countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. The training focused on advanced advocacy, science communication, and impact story generation thereby fostering an enabling environment for […]

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Rwanda to host the second edition of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) in 2025

ACAT advocates for agricultural technology transfer, uptake of innovations and practical solutions to address farmer productivity challenges in Africa. The Conference highlights the centrality of science, technology, and innovation (STI) that is key to tackling Africa’s agricultural challenges. “As a country, we are pleased to co-host the second edition of ACAT 2025 and are honored […]

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African researchers call for depoliticization of research to maximize the benefits of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)

[Kigali, Rwanda] Leading agricultural researchers from nine African countries have gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, this week for a Strategic Dialogue on Agricultural Technologies in Africa. The assembly convened experts from Kenya, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Ethiopia.  Held under the theme “Strategic Dialogue on Biotechnology Research in Africa’s Agricultural Systems,” the […]

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PRESS RELEASE: Delivering transgenic drought-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties to African farmers

[Mpumalanga, South Africa, April 2023]: AATF has reiterated its commitment to deliver transgenic drought-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties to caution African farmers from the impact of climate change on their productivity and enhance their livelihood. AATF Executive Director, Dr Canisius Kanangire reaffirmed the commitment while addressing the 5th TELA Maize Project Annual Review and Planning […]

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NEW TIMES RWANDA: How agricultural biotechnology could boost food security

GM crops have gene(s) inserted from the same or unrelated organism using genetic engineering methods, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). These genes, FAO says, confer beneficial traits such as pest resistance, ability to grow in extreme and unfavourable conditions and increased nutrient levels among others. Take an example of a GM […]

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