This week, more than 100 Nobel laureates signed an open letter taking a stand in support of GM crops and asking environmental NGO Greenpeace to stop its anti-GM campaign, particularly against Vitaman A-fortified Golden Rice. The letter states that “scientific and regulatory agencies around the world have repeatedly and consistently found crops and foods improved through biotechnology to be as safe as, if not safer than, those derived from any other method of production” and asserts that “there has never been a single confirmed case of a negative health outcome for humans or animals from their consumption”.
The campaign, led by Chief Scientific Officer of New England Biolabs Richard Roberts (winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Medicine), offers a website (supportprecisionagriculture.org) with background information and a running list of signatories. Those who would like to support the campaign may visit the site to add a signature.
Meanwhile, as the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the UK’s Brexit vote, experts are beginning to consider the possible impact to the African economy in terms of trade, aid, and research. We’ll have more in coming weeks on the subject. In the meantime, we include “How will Brexit impact the future of green biotechnologies?” “Brexit: Challenges ahead for Africa“, “Uncertain trade, less progressive aid and a new colonial-minded PM? What Brexit means for Africa” and “What will Brexit mean for Africa’s development?” to get the conversation started.
From the B4FA Fellows this week, Noah Nash sends in three video reports: one about rice farmers in the Upper West Region adopting best practices including Urea Deep Placement technology and row transplanting, a piece about the promotion of orange flesh sweet potato production among farmers, and a story about introducing the root vegetable on school menus to boost intake of Vitamin A.
From Uganda, Lominda Afedraru writes about Ugandan scientists using an internet based app to track various animal diseases, and Michael Ssali contributes a story about a meeting of young farmers in Masaka region to discuss their successes and challenges.
As ever, please send questions, comments and story links [email protected] Visit B4FA.org for further reading and useful resources, and follow us on Twitter or Facebook to keep up with daily news and join the conversation! Thank you for joining us.
Bioscience around the world
107 Nobel laureates sign letter urging Greenpeace to end its opposition to genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Washington Post
The necessary “GMO” denialism and scientific consensus by Giovanni Tagliabue
B4FA
Are organic and non-GMO farming more sustainable than farming using GMOs?
Genetic Literacy Project
“Amazing protein diversity” is discovered in the maize plant
PhysOrg
2016 World Food Prize goes to scientists who developed biofortified sweet potato
Genetic Literacy Project
Europe isn’t about to change its stance on genetically modified crops any time soon or stop exerting its influence on developing nations
The Western Producer
Is the precautionary principle guiding law or a political notion?
Genetic Literacy Project
How science can genetically strengthen endangered plants and agriculture
BizCommunity
Bananas genetically modified not to rot
Scientific American
By excluding industry’s glyphosate studies, IARC dismisses most relevant research says critic
Genetic Literacy Project
EU position on GMOs a blow to SADC’s food security
South African News
Is EU’s anti-GMO stance holding back developing countries?
Genetic Literacy Project
Protecting plants, protecting people – Professor Sophien Kamoun describes his work on plant–pathogen interactions
Global Plant Council
Global Nutrition Report – From Promise To Impact: ending malnutrition by 2030
Global Nutrition Report
Anti-GMO activists brandish disputed Stone-Glover Golden Rice paper in attacks on Nobel laureates
Genetic Literacy Project
Crop yields will fall within 10 years due to climate change unless action is taken to speed up the introduction of improved varieties
Genetic Literacy Project
The Organic Seed Alliance found that the supply of seed isn’t keeping pace with the rising demand for organic products
Genetic Literacy Project
Fight poverty through entrepreneurship – in low-income countries, small and medium businesses create 78% of all full-time jobs
Huffington Post
Pan-Africa
Uncertain trade, less progressive aid and a new colonial-minded PM? What Brexit means for Africa
African Arguments
What will Brexit mean for Africa’s development?
Chronicle
AfDB unveils new strategy to fast-track agricultural transformation in Africa
Southern African News
African agriculture can help tackle refugee crisis
Huffington Post
African Union, UN launch anti-hunger project for Horn of Africa
AA
GMO: African voices must be heard – who should decide which crops African farmers can grow?
Nation
Africa has a long way to go before it cracks food insecurity
AllAfrica
Agriculture has the potential to lift the African continent out of poverty and alleviate hunger
BizCommunity
AfDB unveils 10-year strategy to accelerate agri transformation in Africa to achieve food security, economic growth & job creation
Shanghai Daily
Why Britain’s decision to leave the EU is bad news for Africa
The Conversation
How Africa can empower more women to become leaders in science
The Conversation
African governments should implement policies that increase food production
New Times
Policy uncertainty holding back investment in agriculture says Grow Africa executive director William Asiko
How We Made it in Africa
A 700-year-old West African farming practice could be an answer to climate change
Quartz
Côte d’Ivoire
Increasing Ivorian incomes and opportunities for employment through agriculture
World Bank
Gambia
Ghana
Rice: more breakthroughs to increase yields positive
Graphic, by B4FA Fellow Charles Okine
Rice farmers in the Upper West Region have adapted Feed the Future
by B4FA Fellow Noah Nash
Orange-flesh sweet potato production targeting over 5000 household farmers
by B4FA Fellow Noah Nash
International Potato Centre has introduced Orange Flesh Sweet Potato to schools
by B4FA Fellow Noah Nash
Kenya
Kenyan millers’ have reduced production to 39 per cent of capacity as maize shortages intensify
AllAfrica
Kenyan farmers are turning away from subsistence farming with the support of the government
AA
Nigeria
Meet Rotimi Williams, the 35-year-old entrepreneur who owns Nigeria’s 2nd largest rice farm
Bella Naija
Nigeria NBMA: ‘GMO Maize to Be Ready After Five-Year Safety Trial’
AllAfrica
Rwanda
Food for thought from the land of a thousand hills
The Conversation
Gov’t to unveil position on GMOs use after enacting biosafety law
AllAfrica
South Africa
EU position on GMOs a blow to SADC’s food security
Southern African
Tanzania
Auditor general warns crop disease, pests management is inadequate
AllAfrica
Crop protection teams use flashlights, chili powder, and fireworks to safely deter elephants from raiding crops
National Geographic
Uganda
Ugandan scientists are using an internet based application to track various animal diseases dairy farmers face
Daily Monitor, by B4FA Fellow Lominda Afedraru
Young farmers in Masaka region discuss opportunities, challenges
Daily Monitor, by B4FA Fellow Michael Ssali
Uganda leads Africa in beekeeping and is recognised as its best producer of organic honey
Daily Monitor
Growing M9 hybrid banana, resistant to pests, diseases and drought, revived my business
Daily Monitor
Opportunities and resources
Call for applications: TWAS Fellowships programme has over 470 PhD and 150 postdoctoral fellowships available annually in 10 developing countries