Plant pathology

Several countries are using biotechnology to develop drought and disease resistant crops, but there are major obstacles getting them to market.

The impact on agriculture provides the clearest evidence of climate change in Africa. The development of food crops that are resistant to drought and disease is vital.

A conversation with Brenda Wingfield, Professor of Fungal Genomics at FABI

Positive implications for productivity under African Great Green Wall programme

An initiative led by African scientists to safeguard Africa’s biodiversity needs $1 billion to meet its targets.

Build a major genomics resource on the continent to help breeders and conservationists.

Widespread enthusiasm about potential contributions of genome-edited crops to address climate change, food security, nutrition and health, environmental sustainability and diversification of agriculture is dampened by concerns about the associated risks. Analysis of the top seven risks of genome-edited crops finds that the scientific risks are comparable to those of accepted, past and current breeding methods, but failure to address regulatory, legal and trade framework, and the granting of social license, squanders the potential benefits.

In East Africa the emergence of the potato cyst nematode (PCN) Globodera rostochiensis threatens potato production. Wrapping seed potatoes with a lignocellulose banana-paper matrix reduces the impact of PCN and leads to improved yields, suggesting a sustainable solution to crop root pests.

Government scientist Priver Namanya Bwesigye’s research career is focused on genetic engineering and Uganda’s staple food.

Nigeria is poised to become a hub for genetics research, but a few stubborn challenges block the way.

Genome sequencing reveals similarities between rice grown by Maroon communities in Suriname and landraces from the Guinea Highlands of West Africa.

Climate-resilient crops are essential for farmers to adapt to climate change. This scoping review identifies extension services and outreach as the most important factors for their adoption by small-scale producers in low- and middle-income countries.