Biosciences for Farming in Africa (B4FA) was set up to help African farmers unlock the continent’s huge agricultural potential. Initially we provided training to African journalists so they could communicate balanced, scientifically based information on best practice, innovation and entrepreneurship to decision makers, scientists, educators and farmers, alike.
From this grew the B4FA Newswire, providing regular, accurate, unbiased and up-to-date information for those working to improve African agriculture and food security. You, our loyal and growing audience suggests there’s an appetite for what we do, but we cannot continue into 2020 without additional funding.
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When will Egypt again lead Africa in agricultural biotech innovation? That question kept running through my mind when I visited the North African country late last year to participate in the United Nation’s annual biodiversity conference.
Egypt has a rich history and has always led social and technological advancements in the …
Australian researchers have demonstrated a ‘speed breeding’ technique for common crops. Their method yields far more food per unit area than conventional farming, relying on specially calibrated LEDs that emit light at specific frequencies onto crops to accelerate plant growth.
Using this setup, researchers showed that they could grow six generations …
Sequencing the entire genome of an organism is no easy feat, but the benefits can be as important as saving species from the brink of extinction, fighting cancer, getting rid of pests – and now, brewing better booze. After a decade of study, an international team of scientists has finally …
Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a devastating disease of wheat and barley that leads to reduced yield and mycotoxin contamination of grain, making it unfit for human consumption. FHB is a global problem.
Here we report the map-based cloning of Fhb1 from a Chinese wheat cultivar …
Because of little attention given to indigenous crop varieties including teff, wheat and barley in favor of improved seed varieties, Ethiopia’s indigenous crops are facing a serious threat of extinction, according to research jointly conducted by the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) and the International Biodiversity Institute (IBI). Measures are being …