B4FA – The Week in Review

28 August 2013

Over the past two weeks, plant science has had a high profile in the news – it featured in a recent New York Time’s article on Golden Rice as well as a Nature article on whether GM crops pass benefits to weeds. Scientific American released its food issue which includes ‘The truth about genetically modified food.’

Likewise in Africa, a heated debate over the Uganda biotechnology and biosafety bill continues – and as President Museveni has appointed a GMO critic as his advisor – as you’ll see in the articles and radio stories from our fellows below.  Other fellows analyse the importance of cassava in a world affected by climate change and scientists’ anxiety about the passage of a new bill in Nigeria on plant breeders’ rights.

Farmers’ perspectives on genetic modification feature in articles from both Uganda and Nigeria this week.

Please read on for even more interesting articles from this week!  As always, we welcome your feedback at [email protected] or molly@theb4fa.org.
Biosciences and Plant Genetics

Golden Rice: Lifesaver?
New York Times

Scientists Discover Protein that Helps Plants Tolerate Drought, Flooding, and Other Stresses
Crop Biotech Update and Early Edition of the journal PNAS

Genetically modified crops pass benefits to weeds
Nature

Prof. Calestous Juma: Invest in Biotechnology, and Adapt Learnings to Other Sectors
Crop Biotech Update

Scientists Discover Gene for Wheat Stem Rust Resistance
Crop Biotech Update

Study: Jatropha Plantations in Deserts Can Mitigate Climate Change
Crop Biotech Update

The Truth about Genetically Modified Food [Preview]
Scientific American

GM Technology to fight aflatoxins in maize – lecturer
GhanaWeb

East African scientists defend work on GMOs
The East African, by B4FA Media Fellow Charles Kazooba

Why government must listen to farmers on agric biotechnology
National Daily, by B4FA Media Fellow Abdallah el-Kurebe

More investments needed in palm oil production – Commissioner
Legis Reports Nigeria, by B4FA Media Fellow Eyo Charles

Nigeria is ripe for genetically modified food
People’s Daily, by B4FA Media Fellow Kandi Mohammed

Cassava to be dominant food as climate change bites
New Vision, by B4FA Media Fellow Christopher Bendana

GM bacteria could help mass produce hookworm drugs
SciDev.net

Scientists Urge Ghana To Be Cautious Of Cassava Brown Streak Disease

In a recent visit to Uganda to interview plant scientists, Mark Boye of Ghana reports on Cassava Brown Streak Disease, which currently affects large swaths of farmland in East Africa.  This visit to Uganda included four Ghanaian B4FA Media Fellows.  Read Mark’s full article.

Ghana

Ghanaian scientists anxious of Plant Breeders Rights’ bill passage
Modern Ghana, by B4FA Media Fellow Kofi Adu Domfeh

West Africa ‘must take action to tackle water loss’
SciDev.net, by B4FA Media Fellow Samuel Hinneh

AU Partners FARA To Promote Food Security
Spy Ghana,  by B4FA Media Fellow Samuel Hinneh

African agriculture research receives major boost
GhanaWeb, by B4FA Media Fellow Samuel Hinneh

Biotechnology is solution to Africa’s agricultural productivity
Ghana News Agency
Nigeria

Stakeholders advocate for more funding of the agriculture sector
GES: Over 190,000 farmers in Benue State benefit fertilizer and improved seeds
By B4FA Media Fellow Elizabeth Achagh

Tissue culture will enable seeds coy meet GES requirement—–expert
GM food is not responsible for early puberty as opponents suggest — Director
IITA releases striga-resistant, drought-tolerant, extra-early maturing maize varieties in Nigeria
New Agency of Nigeria, By Salimat Garba

Audio: Forum says biotechnology can boost animal production in Nigeria: Part 1, Part 2
News Agency of Nigeria, Magdalene Ukuedojor, B4FA Media Fellow

Tanzania

Tanzania’s cotton production could drop
The East African, by Dorithy Ndeketela

Uganda

Museveni recruits GMO critic as advisor
News of East Africa, by B4FA Media Fellow Charles Kazooba

East Africa: Farmers Urged to Adopt Biotech
East African Business Week, by B4FA Media Fellow Leonard Magomba

Audio: Insight into the heated debate around Uganda’s Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill - Transcript
UBC’s ‘Ground zero’ programme, by B4FA Media Fellow Richard Katami Bwayo

Audio: Virus affecting production of ground nuts in Uganda
UBC, by B4FA Media Fellow Sarah Natoolo

‘Farmers want the choice to decide whether or not to grow GM crops’
The East African, by B4FA Media Fellow Isaac Khisa and Steve Mbogo

Audio: Story on GMOs in Uganda - Transcript
Audio: Exchange with Ghanaian journalist Samuel Boadi - Transcript
UBC, by B4FA Media Fellow Sarah Mawerere