RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT – Science Africa

Kenya: Weevils Effective in Fighting Invasive Weed in Maasai-Mara Ecosystem

Kenya: Weevils Effective in Fighting Invasive Weed in Maasai-Mara Ecosystem By Sharon Atieno Weevils are proving effective in curbing the spread of water lettuce (a floating aquatic plant with leaves that resemble lettuce) along the Naretoi Conservancy, part of the Maasai-Mara ecosystem in Kenya. Water lettuce – also known locally as ‘yungi’ – can have […]

26 Jan, 23

Eastern Africa Commits to Eliminate Leishmaniasis

Eastern Africa Commits to Eliminate Leishmaniasis By Gift Briton Several countries drawn from the Eastern Africa region have committed to the Nairobi Declaration on the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in the region by 2030. These countries include Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea. The representatives of these countries speaking during the ongoing […]

WHO to Establish a Council for Accelerating Development of TB Vaccine

WHO to Establish a Council for Accelerating Development of TB Vaccine By Gift Briton The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to establish Tuberculosis (TB) Vaccine Accelerator Council to speed up the licensing and use of effective novel vaccines against the disease. Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General announced during a high-level panel at the World Economic […]

18 Jan, 23

Plant Health Strategy to Better Food Security in Africa

Plant Health Strategy to Better Food Security in Africa By Gift Briton With robust plant health systems and reduced pest risks contributing to better livelihoods, enhanced trade and biodiversity preservation, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) in Africa is working with the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union (AU-IAPSC) to roll out a […]

KALRO Announces Inaugural Scientific Conference, Calls for Paper Submission

KALRO Announces Inaugural Scientific Conference, Calls for Paper Submission By Joyce Ojanji The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) is set to host its first scientific conference and exhibition from 27th to 31st march 2023 at the organization’s headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference theme is transformative agricultural technologies, innovations and management practices for food […]

18 Jan, 23

New Initiative to Increase Africa’s Drug Manufacturing Capacity Unveiled

New Initiative to Increase Africa’s Drug Manufacturing Capacity Unveiled By Joyce Mulama Africa’s capacity to produce drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics all along the value chain is set to grow following the recent unveiling of the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation (APTF) by the African Development Bank. It is expected that the new initiative will help […]

Ethiopia Developing Genome Editing Communication Strategy

Ethiopia Developing Genome Editing Communication Strategy By Mekonnen Teshome The Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Innovation of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) is supporting Ethiopian Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETin) to develop a national genome editing communication strategy. The national strategy development effort which is also meant to institutionalize level experience sharing has […]

05 Dec, 22

Kenya: Cultural Techniques Controlling Invasive Snail Pest in Mwea

Kenya: Cultural Techniques Controlling Invasive Snail Pest in Mwea By Mary Hearty Andrew Kariuki, a rice farmer at Mwea along Nyamindi main canal in Kirinyaga County uses alternate wetting and drying technique to manage the invasive golden apple snail that is ravaging rice in the area, especially the seedlings. So far, it is considered […]

DNDi: New Drug for Sleeping Sickness Coming Soon

DNDi: New Drug for Sleeping Sickness Coming Soon By Gift Briton Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and Sanofi have co-developed a single oral dose(Acoziborole) treatment that could help eliminate sleeping sickness disease with the drug showing a success rate of up to 95% from Phase II/III study investigating its safety and efficacy. Acoziborole, unlike […]

23 Nov, 22

Fifteen Innovators to Compete for the 2023 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

Fifteen Innovators to Compete for the 2023 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation By Gift Briton A shortlist of 15 African entrepreneurs and their pioneering technologies aimed at environmental rehabilitation, education, and human health and safety have been selected for the 2023 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The 2023 […]