Biotechnology – Page 43 – Science Africa

UNEA: Global Commitment to Beat Plastic Pollution

By Gift Briton Ahead of the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), marine and plastic pollution has been identified as an issue of concern requiring urgent solutions. This is according to a Joint Global Statement adopted by members of the major goups and other stakeholders(MGoS) in an online forum held between […]

23 Feb, 22

Kenya: Biological Control to Fight Invasive Pest in Papaya

By Marlene Angir Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) in collaboration with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) are stepping up the fight against the devastating papaya mealy bug (Paracoccus marginatus) which has been ranked high in the top pests affecting papaya and other horticultural crops. Invasive species experts from CABI’s centre […]

China Pledges to Achieve Carbon Neutrality, Water Security Before 2060

By Mary Hearty The world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2), China has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2060, with a key focus on decarbonizing its industrial sector. Moreover, due to severe water scarcity experienced in the country, the Chinese government has imposed stringent limitations on industrial water use by 2030, as China’s industries […]

COVID-19: Sustainable Healthcare Waste Management Systems is Critical

By Mary Hearty Tens of thousands of tonnes of extra medical waste from the COVID-19 response has put tremendous strain on health care waste management systems around the world, threatening human and environmental health and exposing a dire need to improve waste management practices, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report reveals. The WHO Global analysis […]

31 Jan, 22

Biotechnology: Boosting Yields of High-protein African Yam Bean

By Richard Wetaya African scientists are using the biotechnology tools to boost the climate-resiliency and yields of the high-protein African yam bean. The improved crop will be capable of providing food and nutrition security, income generation for farmers and employment for women and youth, researchers said. Scientists at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) […]

28 Jan, 22

Kenya: Progress towards Hunger Stalling

By Gift Briton and Thomas Muia Ranked 87th globally, Kenya is among the countries performing poorly in the fight against hunger, according to Global Hunger Index (GHI) report 2021. The report shows that 24.8% of the country’s population are undernourished, child wasting (low weight for their heights) is 4.8 % while stunting (low heights for […]

Omicron Variant Still Poses Risk of Developing Post-COVID Conditions

By Mary Hearty Despite increasing information that Omicron is a less severe variant, the World Health Organization (WHO) has affirmed that people who are infected with the variant still have a risk of developing long term consequences or post-COVID conditions. Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist and WHO COVID-19 Technical Lead said during a […]

Kenya to Boost Fish Productivity through Genetic Improvement Program

With the increasing demand for fish protein coupled with capture fisheries decline, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) is committed to implement fish genetic improvement program to help increase fish production at minimal cost. The KMFRI recently stated in their 2021 report titled: State of Aquaculture in Kenya that genetic improvement can increase […]

02 Dec, 21

Nigeria Urges Africa to Follow its Lead on GM Cowpea

By Joseph Opoku Gakpo Nigeria is urging the rest of Africa to follow its lead and approve genetically modified (GM) cowpea (beans) to help ensure food and nutrition security on the continent. The Nigerian scientists and government officials who developed and approved the world’s first genetically modified (GM) cowpea say their successful commercial release of […]

10 Nov, 20

Kenya: BT Cotton Offers New hope for Homa Bay Farmers

The theory was first published in 2008 a press released under the name of Cliff Arnall, who at the time was a tutor at the Centre for Lifelong Learning – a Further Education centre associated with Cardiff University.