Africa News – Science Africa

09 Nov, 23

US$27M Initiative to Improve Cashew Nut Value Chain in West Africa

US$27M Initiative to Improve Cashew Nut Value Chain in West Africa By Whitney Akinyi Cashew nuts are pivotal to the West African food sector, with the region responsible for 44% of the world’s cashew crop. Global cashew trade has more than doubled in the last decade, primarily driven by the Ivory Coast, which accounts for […]

09 Nov, 23

GMOs: Biosafety Laws are Key but Insufficient to Spur Commercialization

GMOs: Biosafety Laws are Key but Insufficient to Spur Commercialization By Gift Briton Nigeria is one of the leading African countries in genetically modified (GM) crops, starting with the commercial release of pest-resistant Bt cotton in 2018. By 2023, the country had approved the cultivation and importation of at least four more GM products, including the pod-borer resistant Bt cowpea, […]

08 Nov, 23

Aga Khan University Hospital Donates Equipment to Boost UHC

Aga Khan University Hospital Donates Equipment to Boost UHC By Whitney Akinyi The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has donated three mobile vaccination clinics, four medical fridges, and six transport freezers to support the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program in Kenya. The medical equipment was formally received by Racheal Ruto, the First Lady of […]

06 Nov, 23

Africa Urged to Increase Investment in Research

Africa Urged to Increase Investment in Research By Gift Briton The low level of investment in research in Africa, despite science, technology and innovation (ST&I) being the central factors in driving agricultural productivity and socio-economic development, raised deep concern among stakeholders at the first African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT). The ACAT event brought […]

06 Nov, 23

Africa: Mechanization, Digitization can Entice the Youth into Agriculture

Africa: Mechanization, Digitization can Entice the Youth into Agriculture By Gift Briton Incorporating technology in agriculture, including the use of modern powered equipment and digital tools, can reshape the rudimentary outlook of African agriculture, which is a key barrier to youth participation. This came out as a major recommendation highlighted by speakers during the discussions […]

06 Nov, 23

Astrazeneca to Equip Kenyan Hospitals with Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Machines

Astrazeneca to Equip Kenyan Hospitals with Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Machines By Sharon Atieno With more than 80% of prostate cancer patients in Kenya being diagnosed with advanced stages and aggressive tumours, Astrazeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, has launched an initiative to donate cutting-edge ultrasound biopsy machines to several hospitals across the country. The […]

06 Nov, 23

Partnership to Restore Kenya’s River Yala Basin

Partnership to Restore Kenya’s River Yala Basin The Nature Conservancy and its partners have unveiled a new plan to restore the catchment areas in the River Yala Basin as part of its efforts to enhance the availability and quality of water for communities in the area. The partners include Women in Water and Natural Resource […]

06 Nov, 23

Africa Needs Better Infrastructure for Early Warning Systems to Benefit Farmers

Africa Needs Better Infrastructure for Early Warning Systems to Benefit Farmers By Gift Briton The ongoing inaugural African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) has triggered discussions around early warning systems with speakers urging Governments to put more effort into infrastructure development for local farmers to benefit from them. Early warning is a key component in […]

02 Nov, 23

ACAT Conference: African Governments Urged to Embrace New Agricultural Innovations

ACAT Conference: African Governments Urged to Embrace New Agricultural Innovations By Gift Briton The inaugural African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT 2023) has officially kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital with most speakers calling on countries to harness technology for improving agricultural productivity in the continent. During the next four days until 3rd November, delegates […]

UNEP Celebrates Innovative Solutions to Beat Plastic Pollution

UNEP Celebrates Innovative Solutions to Beat Plastic Pollution By Joyce Ojanji With up to 23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaking into the aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas annually, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has awarded five nominees for the 2023 Champions of the Earth environmental honour for their innovative solutions and […]