This week, you’ll find below a call for a single body to regulate GMOs across Africa, as SciDev reports.  In Kenya, scientists are calling for the ban on GM foods to be lifted, while the genomic analysis of sorghum mayreveal new possibilities for the crop.

B4FA’s Media Fellows have been busy as usual, and below you will find an array of reports on crucial plant science topics, including a new maize disease in Uganda, the views of African scientists regarding GM crops as voiced at a recent meeting in Addis Ababa, a drought resistant rice variety that has been bred for Tanzanian farmers.

These are only a sample of the great articles below – the journalists in Tanzania and Uganda have been especially active this week, including articles in Swahili and Luganda, as well as English.

If you have any questions/comments about our ‘Week in Review’ or would like to share articles, please contact Molly Hurley-Depret at [email protected].

Biosciences and Plant Genetics

Call for single body to regulate GMOs across Africa
SciDev.net

Scientists want ban on GM foods lifted
Experts dig in for small farmers
Daily Nation (Kenya)

New rice research hub set up in Burundi
Crop Biotech Update

First look at complete sorghum genome may usher in new uses for food and fuel
Science Daily

Ghana

Food shortage looms
GhanaWeb

Nigeria

Improved seeds bring smiles to Benue soybean farmers
Daily Trust, by B4FA Media Fellow Hope Abah

Apprehension over GM crops misleading – African scientists
Nigerian Pilot, by B4FA Media Fellow Kenneth Azahan

Tanzania

Monsanto: As technology changes, so does agriculture
Myths about hybrid seed replanting cleared
The Guardian, by B4FA Media Fellow Daniel Semberya

Mtaalamu ashauri A. Mashariki kuwekeza katika utafiti (in Swahili – on research investment on GM bananas enriched with vitamin A in Uganda)
GMO katika kilimo itamaliza matatizo ya lishe (in Swahili – on GM crops and nutrition)
Changamoto, by B4FA Media Fellow Said Mmanga

Smallscale farmers to develop business skills
East African Business Week, by B4FA Media Fellow Leonard Magomba

Bila GMO kilimo hakiendi - Part I (in Swahili)
Part 2
Changamoto, by B4FA Media Fellow Samson Kamalamo

Researchers breed drought resistant rice variety
Daily News Online, by B4FA Media Fellow Rosemary Mirondo

Uganda

AUDIO: Scientists warn of new maize disease in Uganda -Part 1, Part 2; 
Article
Radio Sapientia, by B4FA Media Fellow Paschal B. Bagonza

Opportunities unveiled to meet Africa’s food security challenge
Sunrise, by B4FA Media Fellow Henry Lutaaya

Farmer’s Diary: How science is vital for future farmers
The Monitor, by B4FA Media Fellow Michael J. Ssali

Bazudde ebika bya lumonde 20 ebibala n’okugumira embeera z’obudde bwonna
The story is about the new 20 sweet potatoes varieties called KSP introduced by Makerere University Research Institute Kabanyolo which are resistant to drought and all potato diseases.
Bukedde, by B4FA Media Fellow Edward Sserinnya