Developments
News items relevant to the policy dialogue on S&T for Development.
Conclusions of stakeholders’ conference ‘Africa-Europe Cooperation in S&T’, Mombasa, November 2009
On the 10 and 11 November 2009 a stakeholders' conference entitled ‘Africa-Europe Cooperation in Science and Technology: Status and Way Forward’ was held in Mombasa, Kenya as an activity of the CAAST-Net project (http://www.caast-net.org), funded by the European Union's 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. The conference was organized by the Kenyan Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MoHEST) in collaboration with the International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (IB of BMBF). Its goal was to enhance bi-regional cooperation in science and technology (S&T) through an examination of the nature and the role of cooperation processes. The link below contains the ‘Summary Report and Recommendations’ (in English and French), which are the result of intensive discussions at the conference and which have been prepared in consultation with conference participants and therefore represent a consensus of opinion of a substantial body of stakeholders.
23/02/2010
Gene function discovery: Guilt by association
Scientists have created a new computational model that can be used to predict the gene function of uncharacterized plant genes with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The network, dubbed AraNet, has over 19,600 genes associated to each other by over one million links and can increase the discovery rate of new genes affiliated with a given trait tenfold. It is a huge boost to fundamental plant biology and agricultural research. (Source: Carnegie Institute for Science, 1 February 1 2010)
1/03/2010
Yam research in West & Central Africa gets EU funding support
Research to improve and promote yam in West and Central Africa (WCA) has received a €750,000 (about US$1 million) grant from the European Union-African, Caribbean and Pacific Science and Technology Programme (EU-ACP). The programme will benefit six WCA countries: Cameroon, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo. The research project entitled ’Strengthening Capacity for Yam Research for Development in Central and Western Africa’ or SCYReC, aims to improve research for development capacity for yam in the region. (Source: IITA, African Agriculture, 1 February 2010)
1/03/2010
Seeds of discontent: the 'miracle' crop that has failed to deliver
A ‘miracle’ plant, once thought to be the answer to producing renewable biofuels on a vast scale, is driving thousands of farmers in the developing world into food poverty, a damning report concludes today. Five years ago jatropha was hailed by investors and scientists as a breakthrough in the battle to find a biofuel alternative to fossil fuels that would not further impoverish developing countries by diverting resources away from food production. Jatropha was said to be resistant to drought and pests and able to grow on land that was unsuitable for food production. But researchers have found that it has increased poverty in countries such as India and Tanzania. (Source: the Independent, 15 February 2010)
2/03/2010
New ecosystem approach based project: Wild pollinators for food production
FAO is coordinating a United Nations Environment Programme/Global Environment Fac)ility (UNEP/GEF) project worth $26.45 million to better manage those aspects of wild biodiversity that provide pollination services for human livelihood. The five-year project, entitled ‘Conservation and Management of Pollinators for Sustainable Agriculture, through an Ecosystem Approach’, will be implemented in seven countries: Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Nepal and South Africa. The development objective of this unique project is improved food security, nutrition and livelihoods through enhanced conservation and sustainable use of pollinators. The immediate objective is to harness the benefits of pollination services provided by wild biodiversity for human livelihoods and sustainable agriculture, through an ecosystem approach in selected countries. (Source: FAO, 2010)
1/03/2010
Fiji, Pacific region exposed to invasive alien species
The Pacific regional countries, including Fiji, are facing a serious threat from alien invasive species, according to a new publication coordinated by the Global Invasive Species Program (GISP). The publication, released on February 19, listed a number of alien species as a major threat to life on earth, ‘and unfortunately a number of these now exist in the South Pacific islands’, said Don Stewart, Regional Director of BirdLife International in the Pacific. Invasive alien species are plants and animals not native to the South Pacific countries but have been introduced either through trade, or through ‘misguided’ attempts to protect local flora and fauna. (Source: English.news.cn, 19 February 2010)
2/03/2010
Seven steps to save biodiversity
There is an emerging consensus about what needs to be done to save biodiversity in the next few months. Seven steps need to be observed, including the following. Species and ecosystems need space to develop and recover. Without biodiversity there will be no agriculture. Therefore farming practices should not jeopardize any species’ survival. Improving farmland diversity and reducing the usage of pesticides and fertilizer are key efforts to saving biodiversity. And biodiversity concerns thus need to be integrated into all areas of policy making. Measures include market incentives, development assistance, biodiversity-friendly trade and international governance processes. (Source: Countdown, 2010)
1/03/2010
Learning agrobiodiversity: options for universities in Sub-Saharan Africa
Proceedings of a regional workshop, 21-23 January 2009, Nairobi, Kenya The workshop ‘Learning agrobiodiversity’ for universities in sub-Saharan Africa’ was the first regional workshop of its kind gathered 46 participants from universities and international organizations in 16 African and two European countries. The workshop focused on sharing knowledge and experiences; discussing implications for and feasible approaches to, mainstreaming agrobiodiversity in higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa; and exploring modalities and mechanisms for strengthening agrobiodiversity education and research in Africa through networking and joint learning.
3/03/2010
Backing grows for African research chairs
Support is growing for a bid to persuade the G8+5 nations to fund 1,000 senior research positions in African universities. The Academic Chairs for Africa initiative would require the rich G8 countries and the emerging economies that now attend the group's gatherings — Brazil, China, India, South Africa and Mexico — to commit US$100m per year over a five-year period. The initiative is modelled on a ten-year-old Canadian programme aimed at preventing promising academics from leaving the country. The African version will be discussed at a meeting of the science academies from the G8+5 countries which takes place in Canada next month (4–5 March). African chair holders stand to receive US$100,000 a year, a substantially higher amount than professors usually earn at most African universities. They would be expected to train PhDs, mentor young academics and prove that they were using their research to address the UN's Millennium Development Goals. (Source: SciDev.net, 12 February 2010)
2/03/2010
Identification of European academic actors interested in the Pacific region
The European Commission's Directorate General for Development (DG-DEV) wants to identify European researchers, students and universities interested in the Pacific region. The Commission feels that EU-based research initiatives in the Pacific are not well known and not widely accessible. To fill the gap, the 2006 EU strategy for the Pacific included stimulating European research in the Pacific as one of its objectives. Setting up a network between the relevant actors is expected to contribute towards this objective. Contact e-mail address. For more information visit the website. Registration deadline: 31 March 2010.
1/03/2010
Radically rethinking agriculture for the 21st century
Population growth, arable land and fresh water limits, and climate change have profound implications for the ability of agriculture to meet this century’s demands for food, feed, fibre and fuel while reducing the environmental impact of their production. Success depends on the acceptance and use of contemporary molecular techniques, as well as the increasing development of farming systems that use saline water and integrate nutrient flows. (Source: Science, 12 February 2010). See also SCAR report, Agrominde, UK foresighting and IAASTD.
1/03/2010
Deadly disease stalks African banana production
Food security and income for millions of people in Kenya, DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi face great threat from the deadly banana wilt disease, according to a study published in the May issue of the Plant Disease Journal, which is published by the American Phytopathological Society. The study, entitled Xanthomonas Wilt – A threat to Banana Production in East and Central Africa, was jointly undertaken by researchers at IITA and Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO). (Source: African Science News Service, 27 April 2009)
11/05/2009
G8 pledges sustainability in food security drive
The first ever meeting between agriculture ministers from the world's eight most industrialised nations (G8) called for more public and private investment in sustainable farming to boost food supplies and ensure global food security. The meeting took place in Italy on 18-20 April 2009. G8 agriculture ministers called for more food to be grown to feed the world's hungry, given the lack of progress in tackling poverty and problems in balancing food supply with demand. The ministers said public and private investment in sustainable farming and rural development need to be increased, and called for increased support including investments in agricultural science, research, technology, education, extension services and innovation. The ministers denounced the 'food protectionism' exercised by rich and poor countries alike in the form of export bans and import duties in farming, and stressed the importance of a rules-based international system for farm trade. About price volatility the G8 farm ministers’ statement said that "there should be monitoring and further analysis of factors potentially affecting price volatility in commodity markets, including speculation". The ministers also outlined the merits of buffer grain stocks as an emergency food facility to ease price shocks and curb speculative commodity trading, and said they would ask international organisations to examine the "feasibility and administrative modalities" of a common stockholding system. The statement does not refer to the sensitive issue of 'land-grabbing', i.e. the growing trend for governments to invest in farm projects beyond their borders. Read the summit’s final declaration. (Source: EurActiv, 21 April 2009)
11/05/2009
Africa: Farmers get geospatial info on their phones
A pilot project that uses mobile phones to alert farmers in remote regions to where they can buy drought-tolerant beans has been launched in Kenya - just one of a set of pilot projects using mobile and geospatial technologies to improve communication of important information to farmers across Africa. In the first step of the system researchers confirm where dealers are stocking drought-tolerant beans, mapping their locations. Scientists then use mobile phone services to send the information to government extension workers who have second-generation mobile phones, common in Africa. They can then relay the information to farmers in person or via their phones. "We will produce maps which can be used by extension officers or community development workers so that this information can be passed onto farmers who wish to acquire improved drought-tolerant bean seeds," says Andrew Farrow, a spatial analyst at Uganda's Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute. (Source: All Africa, 24 April 2009)
11/05/2009
World's major rivers 'drying up'
Some of the developing world's largest rivers are drying up because of climate change, threatening water supplies in some of the most populous places on Earth, say scientists. Researchers from the US-based National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) analysed data combined with computer models to assess flow in 925 rivers - nearly three quarters of the world's running water supply - between 1948 and 2004. A third of these had registered a change in flow and most of them - including the Niger in West Africa, the Ganges in South Asia and the Yellow River in China - were dryer. Rivers are losing water for a variety of reasons, say the researchers, including the installation of dams and the use of water for agriculture. But in many cases the decrease in flow is because of climate change, which is altering rainfall patterns and increasing evaporation because of higher temperatures. (Source: SciDev.net, 22 April 2009)
11/05/2009
Experts develop climate change resilience strategies
A team of environmental experts in conjunction with members of the civil society from the East and Central African region have developed evidence based strategies that will help the region form resilience against climate change, and develop opportunities out of it. In a workshop which was held in Mombasa, the experts were categorical that climate change comes with either a ‘package’ of advantages, or one of disadvantages, and that it is important for countries to explore the advantages and make opportunities out of them. The workshop had a purpose of identifying strategies that can work between government, international support agencies and non-governmental organisations in order to enhance resilience, by strengthening public institutions, civil society and community based organisations. (Source: African Science News Service, 17 April 2009)
11/05/2009
Gates Foundation partnership with National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced on March 30 a US$48 million partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support innovative solutions to critical agricultural challenges in developing countries. Each organization will provide $24 million over five years to support a competitive awards program for science research projects that address drought, pests, disease and other serious problems facing small farmers and their families who rely on their crops for their food and income. The award program will be called BREAD - Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development - and will support a competitive award program for science research projects that develop innovative approaches and technologies to boost agricultural productivity in developing countries.The money is also intended to support collaboration for innovative agricultural research to support small-scale farmers in the developing world, addressing problems such as drought, pests and disease. BREAD will host web cast workshops and an interactive workshop from 18–22 June to help connect US scientists with scientists in the developing world so they can form the research partnerships. A solicitation for funding proposals under the BREAD program will be available in early June on the BREAD Web site. (Source: National Science Foundation, 30 March 2009)
17/04/2009
Japan to aid Africa’s science and technology research
The Japanese government is to support science and technology research in 32 African countries with a budget line of USD10 billion. Keiichi Katakami, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana noted that of particular interest to Japan was research into the causes and effects of climate change. He said the money would be used to support the research activities of scientists in the beneficiary countries, particularly in areas that would go a long way to reverse the negative effects of climate change. (Source: African Science News Service, 15 April 2009)
11/05/2009
Tanzania: RISE aiming higher in science education
Recruitment of students has begun in various African Universities under a new initiative known as Regional Initiative in Science and Education (RISE). Fifty-one students have been admitted in universities in five networks. Of the recruited students, thirty-five will pursue their doctorate degrees, fifteen will pursue their masters degrees while one will be a post-doctoral fellow. The major goal of RISE is to strengthen higher education in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing the population of qualified faculty members in Africa's universities. (Source: All Africa, 25 April 2009)For more information visit RISE website
11/05/2009
African aid 'needs science focus'
Governments are following the wrong policies when donating money to Africa and should focus on developing their science, technology and higher education capabilities, according to Neil Turok, chair of mathematical physics at the UK's Cambridge University and the founder of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS). He is convinced that Africa needs its own science and technology skills base to become an equal partner in the global economy. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, the AIMS institute accepts students from all over Africa. (Source: BBC World Service, 18 April 2009)
11/05/2009
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