crop science – B4FA http://theb4fa.org Biosciences For Farming in Africa Wed, 11 Dec 2019 19:08:39 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Crops Research Institute Releases stress tolerant maize to address food insecurity in Africa http://theb4fa.org/crops-research-institute-releases-stress-tolerant-maize-to-address-food-insecurity-in-africa/ http://theb4fa.org/crops-research-institute-releases-stress-tolerant-maize-to-address-food-insecurity-in-africa/#respond Wed, 11 Dec 2019 19:08:33 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18333 The Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and its international partners have developed a Stress Tolerant Maize variety for farmers in in parts of Africa where climate change threatens food security.

The Stress Tolerant maize variety was introduced to smallholder maize farmers at Ejura ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/crops-research-institute-releases-stress-tolerant-maize-to-address-food-insecurity-in-africa/feed/ 0 Ghana: post-harvest losses in cereals: US$141m lost in 2018 http://theb4fa.org/ghana-post-harvest-losses-in-cereals-us141m-lost-in-2018/ http://theb4fa.org/ghana-post-harvest-losses-in-cereals-us141m-lost-in-2018/#respond Tue, 10 Dec 2019 12:04:48 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18329 Ghana loses more than one tenth of its top four cereals produce to post-harvest losses (PHL) every year due to impediments along the entire value chain.

In 2014, the combined losses in rice, maize, millet and sorghum from the point of harvest to their retail/wholesale points at market centres were estimated ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/ghana-post-harvest-losses-in-cereals-us141m-lost-in-2018/feed/ 0 GMOs have a place in African agriculture http://theb4fa.org/gmos-have-a-place-in-african-agriculture/ http://theb4fa.org/gmos-have-a-place-in-african-agriculture/#respond Wed, 04 Dec 2019 12:07:44 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18300 The founding director of West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana, has called on African governments to open the doors for the cultivation and use of genetically modified crops to address the food and nutrition insecurity challenges on the continent.

Professor Eric Danquah said the challenges ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/gmos-have-a-place-in-african-agriculture/feed/ 0 GM potato trials point to blight resistant crops of the future http://theb4fa.org/gm-potato-trials-point-to-blight-resistant-crops-of-the-future/ http://theb4fa.org/gm-potato-trials-point-to-blight-resistant-crops-of-the-future/#respond Wed, 04 Dec 2019 12:01:20 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18297 A genetically modified potato with improved tuber quality and resistance to the devastating disease late blight has progressed successfully through the latest stage of trials.

The field trials follow successful lab experiments to modify Maris Piper potatoes with late blight resistance genes from wild relatives of potato called Solanum americanum and Solanum venturii.

To improve ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/gm-potato-trials-point-to-blight-resistant-crops-of-the-future/feed/ 0 Investing in drought-tolerant maize is good for Africa http://theb4fa.org/investing-in-drought-tolerant-maize-is-good-for-africa/ http://theb4fa.org/investing-in-drought-tolerant-maize-is-good-for-africa/#respond Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12:38:55 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18267 Zambia’s vice-president has recently called to reduce maize dominance and increase crop and diet diversification in his country. The reality is that maize is and will remain a very important food crop for many eastern and southern African countries. Diet preferences and population growth mean that it is imperative to find solutions ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/investing-in-drought-tolerant-maize-is-good-for-africa/feed/ 0 CRISPR, disease-sensing technologies could yield a ‘cornucopia’ of healthier, tastier foods http://theb4fa.org/crispr-disease-sensing-technologies-could-yield-a-cornucopia-of-healthier-tastier-foods/ http://theb4fa.org/crispr-disease-sensing-technologies-could-yield-a-cornucopia-of-healthier-tastier-foods/#respond Mon, 25 Nov 2019 09:35:50 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18222 Consumers may soon begin purchasing fun-sized fruits and vegetables, as well as processed foods that incorporate healthier ingredients …. And producers may be able to grow crops that are drought- and flood-tolerant, yield more per acre, and are easier to harvest and transport—and are tastier, more nutritious, and less allergenic, ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/crispr-disease-sensing-technologies-could-yield-a-cornucopia-of-healthier-tastier-foods/feed/ 0 Key steps in curbing aflatoxin in maize http://theb4fa.org/key-steps-in-curbing-aflatoxin-in-maize/ http://theb4fa.org/key-steps-in-curbing-aflatoxin-in-maize/#respond Mon, 25 Nov 2019 09:30:53 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18219 Aflatoxin is a fungal polyketide secondary metabolite caused by two main fungi; Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, both of which produce four types of aflatoxins; aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2. Aflatoxin B1 is the most common and can be carcinogenic if the toxicity level exceeds the set thresholds. 

Maize is ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/key-steps-in-curbing-aflatoxin-in-maize/feed/ 0 Will following the regulatory script for GMOs promote public acceptance of gene-edited crops? http://theb4fa.org/will-following-the-regulatory-script-for-gmos-promote-public-acceptance-of-gene-edited-crops/ http://theb4fa.org/will-following-the-regulatory-script-for-gmos-promote-public-acceptance-of-gene-edited-crops/#respond Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:11:42 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18206 Risk-disproportionate regulation of gene-edited crops has been proposed to gain public acceptance for this breeding technique. However, confounding safety regulations with advocacy for an underlying technology risks weakening achievement of both objectives. Dedicated factual communication and education from trusted sources is likely to better support public acceptance of gene-edited crops. ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/will-following-the-regulatory-script-for-gmos-promote-public-acceptance-of-gene-edited-crops/feed/ 0 GM foods: the battle for Africa http://theb4fa.org/gm-foods-the-battle-for-africa/ http://theb4fa.org/gm-foods-the-battle-for-africa/#respond Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:01:00 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18199 A combination of climate change, population growth and regional conflict has created the worst food crisis across Africa since 1945, according to aid agency World Relief.

In 2018, the African countries suffering the worst food shortages due to declining harvests driven by drought were, in order of severity, Democratic Republic of Congo, ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/gm-foods-the-battle-for-africa/feed/ 0 Redesigning photosynthesis in key crops could help sustain global food production http://theb4fa.org/redesigning-photosynthesis-in-key-crops-could-help-sustain-global-food-production/ http://theb4fa.org/redesigning-photosynthesis-in-key-crops-could-help-sustain-global-food-production/#respond Fri, 15 Nov 2019 17:35:59 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18175 Scientists have solved the structure of one of the key components of photosynthesis, a discovery that could lead to photosynthesis being ‘redesigned’ to achieve higher yields and meet urgent food security needs.

The study, led by the University of Sheffield and published [Nov. 13] in the journal Nature, reveals the structure of cytochrome b6f ...

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