Knowledge for development

One of the main constraints to high quality teaching and learning in agriculture, agroforestry and natural resources management at universities in Africa is the dearth of contextualized learning resources. Recent studies indicate that there are several reasons for this, the main ones being the lack of policies, infrastructure and incentives at the level of these national institutions. As a result, lecturers tend to use whatever relevant materials are at their immediate disposal even though these may be outdated or out of context. Poor teaching and learning of agriculture related subjects directly affects rural development and thus the lives of farming households. 23/02/2010
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The Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development (Phase II) is to build joint African-European multi-stakeholder partnerships in agricultural research for development. PAEPARD II nurtures partnerships to increase the quantity and quality of joint proposals (leading to more funded initiatives). PAEPARD II not only focuses on FP7, but includes other European Commission (EDF, EC Budget through the FSTP) and bilateral funding instruments supporting ARD that might be mobilized for emerging ARD partnerships. 04/02/2010
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By RUFORUM and CTA, Batte Richard and Wanzala Sylvia, 2009. The objective for this study was to profile selected African Universities Faculties of Agriculture and related Faculties in order to assess the current status of the academic programmes so as to update the existing databases on higher education in Agriculture with a view of improving the outreach and impact of the work university networks and The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) including its partners, NEPAD and FARA. 04/02/2010
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A world-class bio-sciences research facility opend in Tanzania. The lab is open to scientists and other stakeholders from Africa's national research institutes and universities. The laboratory, located within the compound of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), brings to par the continent's research capability with that of the world's most advanced countries, its officials said on Wednesday. With its opening, the continent's experts in bio-sciences can venture into the new realms of science without constraints of inadequate laboratories at affordable costs and without restrictive regulations to conduct the same research overseas. The initiative has been endorsed by Nepad's Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) and developed within the framework of the centres of excellence for science and technology. (Source: All Africa, Zephania Ubwani, 15 January 2010) 04/02/2010
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Scientists have sequenced the genome of maize and cassava, providing vital information that will accelerate the development of new and more productive varieties of these staple crops, and assist breeding programmes to develop varieties specifically adapted to the needs of smallscale farmers in developing countries. Over 32,000 genes in the maize genome have been identified, which will enable scientists to improve yields, increase resistance to disease and enable varieties to better tolerate changes in temperature and rainfall.(Source: New Agriculturalist, January 2010) 04/02/2010
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SG Biofuels, a plant science company, has joined forces with Life Technologies Corporation, a provider of innovative life science solutions, to advance the development of Jatropha as a sustainable biofuel. The alliance brings together SG Biofuels' Genetic Resource Center, featuring the largest and most diverse library of Jatropha genetic material in the world, with the advanced biotechnology and synthetic biology tools of Life Technologies. The partnership will initially include sequencing the Jatropha curcas genome, allowing for the rapid introduction of new traits targeted toward increasing the yield of the oil-producing plant. Jatropha curcas is a non-edible shrub that is native to Central America. Its seeds contain high amounts of oil that can be used for a variety of bio-based materials including biodiesel and feedstock substitutes for the petrochemical and jet fuel industries. It can be effectively grown on marginal lands that are considered undesirable for other crops. (Source: African Agriculture, January 18 2010) 04/02/2010
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The Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change was no gift to small islands and countries with low lying coastlands. From the Caribbean, Camillo Gonsalves, St Vincent & the Grenadines Ambassador to the United Nations was particularly scathing. He is reported by the Caribbean Media Corporation as saying: “St Vincent and the Grenadines feels no less threatened today than we did when Copenhagen began”. He expressed the hope that the next climate change conference, scheduled for Mexico later this year, will be marked by “openness, inclusivity, transparency and legitimacy.” One Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) country can claim some success at Copenhagen. Guyana has adopted a strategy of preserving its forests so as to contain greenhouse gas emissions in return for development money. A plan, excluded from the Kyoto Protocol entitled Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) — under which wealthier nations pay rainforest countries for preserving their trees, was specifically mentioned in the political accord. (Source: Caribbean Net News, 8 January 2010) 04/02/2010
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Invasive species have, over the years, wrought havoc on both natural ecosystems and farming systems of the Pacific islands. Early attempts at biocontrol saw some successes, but these were overshadowed by a few spectacular failures: the Indian mongoose, widely imported to control rats, and the cane toad brought in to control cane beetles in the sugar cane fields of Fiji, have now earned their own places in the World Conservation Union's list of the world's 100 worst invasives. But biocontrol is entering a new era in the Pacific region. A more reliable science of biocontrol, and a renewed commitment to networking across the region to share expertise and best practice, mean that biocontrol can now take its place in helping restore equilibrium within the fragile ecosystems of the islands. (Source: New Agriculturist, January 2010) 04/02/2010
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A South African community challenged German homeopathic giant Schwabe Pharmaceuticals in court in Munich at the end of January over a traditional medicine the company is seeking to patent. The case could set a precedent in cases in which multinationals use the plants and indigenous knowledge of developing countries, where laws may not protect communities' intellectual property rights. Schwabe wants to patent a method for producing extracts from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides and Pelargonium reniforme to make cough and cold syrups. The company has also hit problems in India over alleged bioprospecting.The community, in Alice in the Eastern Cape, said the extraction method has been used for generations by traditional healers and Schwabe has no right to patent it. (Source: Mail&Guardian online, 22 January 2010) 04/02/2010
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The Prosper.Net-Scopus Young Scientist Award in Sustainable Development is given annually to young scientists or researchers, based in the Asia-Pacific region, who have made significant contributions in the area of Sustainable Development. For 2010, awards will be given in each of four areas: Energy, Water, Agriculture & Food Security, and Economics, Business, & Management. The award is open to those engaged in graduate education and research activities that emphasize sustainable development in any of the above four areas. Application deadline: 3 May 2010 04/02/2010
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At its 15th session, WIPO’s Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) invited Member States and accredited observers to make available to the Secretariat papers describing regional, national and community policies, measures and experiences regarding intellectual property and genetic resources. To facilitate preparation, translation and distribution as information documents for the next session of the Committee, participants are requested to submit their papers before 12 February 2010. The dates for the 16th session of the IGC have been provisionally set for 3-7 May 2010. Download the invitation. 04/02/2010
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This science award has been presented every two years since 1986 with the aim of supporting young academics whose work focuses on helping to reduce hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. The award is named after Professor Dr. Josef G. Knoll, the pioneer of agricultural research in Germany with regard to developing countries. The objective of the award is to encourage young academics whose research concentrates on solutions to mitigate hunger in food deficit countries. The research findings must be user-oriented and suitable to contribute towards: improving the status of food and nutrition security of a certain local population and; reducing the impact of hunger (undernutrition and malnutrition). Application deadline: 31 March 2010. 04/02/2010
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Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDC) at Centres of Excellence in the South. The Fellowship is offered to women scientists to pursue postgraduate research in a field of the natural sciences. This fellowship programme is for female students from Sub-Saharan Africa or Least Developed Countries (LDCs) who wish to pursue postgraduate training leading to a doctorate degree at a centre of excellence in the South outside their own country. Deadline for applications: 31 July of each year. 04/02/2010
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