In developing countries, the food system employs the majority of people in self and wage employment both on and off the farm. Globally, 65% of poor working adults relied on agriculture for their livelihoods in 2016. According to 2017 data, farming generates about 68 percent of rural income in Africa, and about half of rural income in South Asia. Changes in diets, rising consumer demand and urbanization are creating opportunities in the broader food system—including in manufacturing, marketing, transportation and food preparation. In Africa, food systems accounted for nearly 50 percent of economic activity in 2013 and could create a trillion-dollar food market—and even more jobs–…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Detecting light away from eyes can trigger animals’ color changes By SUSAN MILIUS Octopus skin can detect light and respond to it — no eyes or brain required. Tests of fresh skin samples from California two-spot octopuses (Octopus bimaculoides) show this ability clearly for the first time in any cephalopod, says Todd Oakley of the University of California, Santa Barbara. White or blue light prompts the pale skin’s tiny quick-change color organs, or chromatophores, to expand, creating waves of yellows and browns. The octopus tests, along with another research team’s new studies of two kinds of cuttlefishes and a squid,…
Despite its potential to battle disease and hunger, genetically engineered food is still controversial By Ian Tucker Pigs Last week, scientists from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute announced they had deleted the section of DNA that leaves pigs vulnerable to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, which is estimated to cost European farmers £1.5bn a year in loss of livestock and decreased productivity. Genetically modified animals are banned from the EU food chain, but since this is a new and different technique it’s possible they’ll be appearing in bacon sandwiches in a few years. A genetically modified mosquito emerges from its pupa. Photograph:…
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) has been awarded a $24.6 million grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the commercialisation of insect-resistant and drought-tolerant maize in Sub-Saharan Africa. A statement issued by AATF said the fund complements the ongoing $5 million commitment by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the project. According to it, the new maize had been enhanced through biotechnology to improve drought tolerance as well as resist insect attacks. “The new maize hybrids (branded as TELA® maize) have been enhanced through biotechnology to improve their drought tolerance and ability to resist attacks by insects. …
ByStuart Smyth The Global Cassava Partnerships for the 21st Century (GCP21) has called for urgent regional approach to halt the spread of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) that is threatening cassava production in Southeast Asia—a region that accounts for about 55 million tons of cassava and host billions of dollars in cassava investment. CIAT and national partners through extensive field surveys and stakeholder interaction in the region have confirmed that CMD was officially present in 6 provinces of Cambodia and 2 provinces of southern Vietnam. In a communique issued today, Dr Claude Fauquet, immediate past Director for the GCP21, said the proposal…
ByStuart Smyth In mid-June 2018, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported that a few GM wheat plants had been detected in southern Alberta, amounting to no more than a handful of seeds. Using Canada’s science-based risk assessment system, the CFIA clearly stated, “[t]here is also no evidence that this wheat has entered the food or animal feed system, nor is it present anywhere else in the environment. Health Canada and the CFIA have performed risk assessments of this finding, and have concluded that it does not pose a food safety, animal feed, or environmental risk.” END OF STORY, RIGHT? Nothing…
Unhealthy commodities (including ultra-processed foods, soft drinks, tobacco and alcohol) are important risk factors for many chronic noncommunicable diseases. 60 to 65% of all deaths globally are caused by noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and diabetes. This amounts to 34.5 million of 52.8 million total deaths (in 2010). The World Health Organization indicates that 80% of heart disease, strokes, and type 2 diabetes could be prevented by eliminating the major risk factors including tobacco, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use. Death is not the only consequence of using unhealthy commodities. Noncommunicable diseases…
Residents of Agoro Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, Nigeria on Monday berated the poor and slow response to an oil spill from shell’s oilfield in the area. They appealed to the Federal and Bayelsa state governments to come to their aid over the spill as well as compel Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to respond to their plight. The community alleged that several weeks after the spill that destroyed and polluted their farmlands and waterways early in May 2018, Shell had yet to commence clean-up in the impacted areas. The Secretary of Agoro Community Development Committee, Justin…
Nigerian Government says it would commence artificial insemination of cattle at its different research institutes and centres to aid multiplication of cows and increase milk production in the country. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said while speaking with youths at a ‘Leadership Clinic’ organised by the Guardians of the Nation International (GOTNI) in Abuja that the move would kick-start a programme known as ‘Milk River Project’ which the government was planning to launch soon. He said the insemination would require the importation of semen from countries like Europe and Brazil to inject into local cows to…
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)says there has been a drop in the electricity generated into the national grid by a total of 1,087.6Mega Watts of Power. According to a statement by Mrs Ndidi Mbah TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs in Abuja on Sunday, the drop in electricity generated into the national grid was resulting in load shedding nationwide. TCN said the load shedding was necessary to maintain stability of the grid. According toTCN, the sharp drop of power generated was occasioned by gas pipeline rupture on June 15, and technical issues at the Shell gas wells on June 16.…