Biotechnology – Page 4 – Science Africa

24 Sep, 25

New Potato Varieties Promising against Potato Cyst Nematode

New Potato Varieties Promising against Potato Cyst Nematode By Sharon Atieno For a long period of time, potato farmers have struggled with potato cyst nematode (PCN), a pest that is often characterized by stunted growth, yellowing leaves and smaller tubers, leading to poor yields. The soil-borne pests are widespread in the majority of potato growing […]

Rich Countries can Unlock US$6.6 Trillion Annually for Climate Action

Rich Countries can Unlock US$6.6 Trillion Annually for Climate Action By Milliam Murigi As governments convene for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Climate Week in New York this week, leaders of rich Global North countries are under growing pressure to pay their fair share of global climate finance. For years, wealthy nations have […]

Agri-finance: Mixed Approach Necessary to Benefit Smallholder Farmers

Agri-finance: Mixed Approach Necessary to Benefit Smallholder Farmers By Frank Okello Flexible terms, blended capital and local partnerships are crucial for financial systems to better support smallholder farmers. Experts said during a high-level webinar on “Unlocking Agri-Finance: De-risking Investment for Climate-Smart Agriculture in East Africa.” Lydia Njeri, Impact Finance Manager with the Rabo Foundation, highlighted […]

AI System Developed to Automate Gene Editing Experiments

AI System Developed to Automate Gene Editing Experiments By Milliam Murigi International researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system dubbed CRISPR-GPT, designed to automate and enhance CRISPR-based gene-editing experiments. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is a gene-editing technology that allows scientists to make precise changes to DNA in living organisms. The team […]

22 Sep, 25

Kenya to Host Global Wildlife Scientists for Landmark Conservation Conference

Kenya to Host Global Wildlife Scientists for Landmark Conservation Conference By Thuku Kariuki Kenya is set to once again take the global stage as a hub of conservation excellence when it hosts the Second International Wildlife Scientific Conference from 23rd to 25th September 2025, in Naivasha. Organized by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), the gathering builds on the […]

19 Sep, 25

African Countries Step Up Fight against Tsetse Flies

African Countries Step Up Fight against Tsetse Flies By Job Okoth African countries are resorting to mapping, smart repellents and mass eradication in their fight against tsetse flies, responsible for the spread of sleeping sickness (Trypanosomiasis). At the 37th International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC), scientists demonstrated different approaches working in their […]

19 Sep, 25

AfDB to Host Leadership of Regional Knowledge Sharing Platform

AfDB to Host Leadership of Regional Knowledge Sharing Platform By Thuku Kariuki The African Development Bank (AfDB) is set to become the new host for the Secretariat of the Africa Natural Capital Accounting Community of Practice (Africa NCA-CoP). This move further elevates the Bank’s leadership in Africa’s climate and development agenda. The Africa NCA-CoP, which […]

Africa Takes Its Place in Global Scientific Leadership

Africa Takes Its Place in Global Scientific Leadership By Gift Briton After decades of being cast as a beneficiary of international research programs, the continent is stepping into scientific leadership, co-authoring solutions to humanity’s biggest challenges, including climate change and health crises. This shift will be spotlighted on 22nd September 2025 in New York, when […]

DRC: 48 Ebola Cases, Efforts Underway to Contain Outbreak

DRC: 48 Ebola Cases, Efforts Underway to Contain Outbreak By Dickens Okinyi Despite the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reporting 48 total Ebola cases (38 laboratory-confirmed infections and 10 probable cases) and 31 deaths, significant efforts are ongoing to contain the outbreak. “We are two weeks into the outbreak, knowing Ebola, if the situation were […]

18 Sep, 25

US$1B to Boost Nigerian Smallholder Farming

US$1B to Boost Nigerian Smallholder Farming By Job Okoth Nigeria’s smallholder farmers could soon see a massive boost in financing and technology access after the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) signed a landmark agreement worth up to US$1 billion at the recently concluded Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers, Algeria. […]