Knowledge for Development

Selected publications

Publications and reports in the field of S&T for Development in ACP countries.


Seed systems, science and policy in East and Central Africa

Growth and development of African agriculture relies on a dependable supply of high-quality seed This CTA publication provides insights into the various seed systems and their policy environments and value chain actors including universities, enterprises, farmers and women’s and regulatory and other support agencies. This publication also discussed the challenges faced in improving seed quality and availability in East and Central Africa. The publication is based on contributions by actors directly involved in and committed to the integrated development of Africa’s seed sector. It is one of the outputs of the CTA/ASARECA ‘Seed Science and Policy Learning Writeshop,’ held in December 2013.

27/02/2015


Supporting a regional agricultural sector with geo & mainstream ICT – the case study of Space4Agri project

The Space4Agri (S4A) project aims to demonstrate how a knowledge platform can be set up for effectively monitoring cropping systems, water stress and the impacts of climate change on specific regions, and for sharing this information at regional and national levels. The platform has been designed to allow data workflows integrating (i) spatial data and observations; (ii) non-spatial information available from existing agronomic databases; (iii) data collected in the field by farmers, agronomists and volunteers using mobile applications; and (iv) data collected by unmanned aerial sensors, and data produced by researchers as a result of applying scientific analysis on high-quality remote sensing data. Foreseen results of the Space4Agri project and from other similar ongoing research activities may significantly spur socio-economic development and create new growth opportunities for famers, as well as agri-business and other companies. (AGRIS Online Papers in Economics and Informatics, 31/12/2014)

27/02/2015


Nanotechnology in agriculture, livestock and aquaculture in China: A review

Nanotechnologies are widely used for rapid detection and diagnosis, notably for clinical examination, food safety testing and animal epidemic surveillance. In this article, the authors review more than 200 reports on nanoscience in agriculture, livestock and aquaculture in China since the 1990s. The major findings are: (i) nanotechnologies are less developed in agronomy than other disciplines, due to less investment; (ii) nanotechnologies used for seeds and water have improved plant germination, growth, yield and quality; (iii) for livestock and poultry breeding, nanotechnologies have improved animal immunity, oxidation resistance, reduced use of antibiotics and less manure odour; (iv) nanotechnologies for water disinfection in fishponds have led to improved water quality and increased yields and survival of fish and prawns; (v) nanotechnologies have increased the performance of pesticides threefold and reduced costs by 50%; and (vi) nano-urea has increased the agronomic efficiency of nitrogen fertilization by 44.5% and grain yields by 10.2% compared with normal urea.  (Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 31/12/2014)

27/02/2015


Ensuring the sustainable availability of affordable quality seeds and planting materials in Uganda: A review of Uganda’s draft national seed policy

 Uganda’s draft national seed policy has serious loopholes, gaps and challenges. This is the conclusion of a study by Ronald Naluwairo and Julian Barungi of Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Uganda, who examined the potential of the draft national seed policy, major seed legislation and the key public sector seed establishments to ensure the sustainable availability and accessibility of affordable quality seed and planting materials. The major issue with the Seeds and Plant Act 2006 (Uganda’s major seed legislation) is the lack of relevant regulations and guidelines to ensure its effective implementation. The report presents recommendations that, if effectively implemented, could improve the implementation of the national seed policy and seed legislation and would enhance Uganda’s seed infrastructure and public funding arrangements. (Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), 2014)

27/02/2015


UNESCO maps research and innovation in Malawi

Mapping research and innovation in Malawi reveals an intriguing paradox: despite being one of the poorest countries in the world. In October 2014, UNESCO released the third volume in its series of country profiles in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy. Malawi devotes 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to research and development (R&D), one of the highest ratios in Africa. Although R&D spending remains low in real terms, Malawian scientists publish more in mainstream journals –relative to GDP – than researchers in any other country with a similar population size. (UNESCO, 12/10/2014)

27/02/2015


Developing national systems of innovation: university–industry interactions in the Global South

Interactions between firms and universities are key building blocks of innovation systems. With a focus on developing countries, this book presents novel comparative research spanning three continents. The editors (Eduardo Albuquerque of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil, and colleagues) present a universal and dynamic view of the shaping and reshaping of interactions between firms and universities within different countries at various stages of development. Students of innovation, evolutionary economics, science and technology studies and development studies will find the original research to be of great value. This book will also appeal to public research organizations and policy makers. (IDRC, 30/01/2015)

27/02/2015


Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa

 FARA and partners are leading the development and operationalization of the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A). This African-owned and African-led agenda  articulates how Africa needs to  apply science, technology, extension, innovations, policy and social learning to meet its agricultural and overall development goals. In the medium to long term the aim is to build systemic scientific capacity at national and regional levels in order to address the evolving needs of farmers, producers, entrepreneurs and consumers, especially given strategic and foresight issues such as climate change and urbanisation.  (FARA, 12/2014)

22/02/2015


Synthesis of findings and assessment of gaps in research and policy: Urban areas, agriculture and health

12 regional reviews of research–policy linkages in the field of climate change adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) covering three themes – urban areas, agriculture and health – in West, Central, Southern and East Africa are analysed. Both gaps and opportunities for collaboration are identified. This was undertaken as part of the AfricaInteract programme, to enhance the knowledge base and support research-based policy formulation for adaptation to climate change throughout SSA. (Future Agricultures, 13.10.2014)Download the report.

22/02/2015


Book: Digging Deeper: Inside Africa’s Agricultural, Food and Nutrition Dynamics

This publication hopes to convince policymakers and others that it is important to look at the current African rural dynamics in ways that connect the metropolitan demand for food with value chain improvements and agro-food cluster innovations. Published in the African Dynamics Series of the African Studies Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands, the authors argue that it is essential to go beyond a ‘development bureaucracy’ and a state-based approach to rural transformation, such as the one that often dominates policy debates in African government circles, organizations such as the African Union and the UN, and donor agencies.  (ASC Leiden, 14/11/2014)

22/02/2015


The use of indigenous ecological resources for pest control in Africa

Existing crop protection that relies on agrochemical pesticides has had only a marginal impact on the productivity of poor smallholder farmers, many of whom cannot afford or obtain these imported chemicals. An alternative solution is to harness biological resources that are locally available, such as endemic insect natural enemies and indigenous pesticidal plant materials. This article describes two examples of the use local resources – a pesticidal plant, Tephrosia vogelii, and the harvesting of the endemic insect baculovirus, Spodoptera exempta nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpexNPV)both of which can be produced locally and have shown promise in trials as inexpensive and effective tools for pest control in Africa and their use is currently being scaled up and evaluated by African networks of researchers. While both of these examples show promise, there are also significant challenges to be overcome in developing production, supply and marketing systems that are economically viable and sustainable. The regulatory environment must also evolve to accommodate and facilitate the registration of new products and the establishment of appropriate supply chains that share the benefits of these resources equitably with the local communities from which they are harvested.  (Food Security, 26/11/2014)Download this article.

22/02/2015


How can agriculture and food system policies improve nutrition?

The Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition argues that the traditional view that increasing agricultural productivity will improve nutritional security is no longer tenable. Nor can nutrition-specific interventions or social protection programmes provide long term and sustainable nutrition for those most in need. Much more needs to be done to ensure that countries have agricultural and food systems that support a food environment that delivers healthy, diverse diets and ensures nutrition outcomes. This technical brief, and the accompanying policy summary, represent the first of a range of outputs from the Global Panel, designed to guide decision makers, particularly governments, on how to generate nutrition-enhancing agricultural and food policies and encourage investment in low- and middle-income countries.  (Global Panel on Agriculture and Food System for Nutrition, 01.11.2014)

22/02/2015


Convergence on nutrition in agricultural systems of innovation: concepts and methods

In this paper, Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA), an international research partnership, introduces the concept of systems of innovation, one of its three cross-cutting themes. The authors describe the origins of the concept and the need it is to meet, and the relevance of a system of innovation perspective. The paper is intended as a living document: revisions will describe insights from studies recently completed in Pakistan and related work elsewhere in LANSA and beyond. Feedback on the approach from partners, stakeholders and colleagues outside LANSA is welcome.  (Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia    (LANSA), 01.10.2014)

22/02/2015


Modelling adaptation to climate change in agriculture

This OECD paper proposes adaptation measures that could be introduced to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on agriculture. It  stresses the importance of planned adaptation measures and highlights possible strategies for reducing risk and improving resilience. This study uses the International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT) to quantify the possible effects of climate change and the effectiveness of adaptation measures. The potential impacts of two adaptation strategies on yields, prices and food security: (i) research and development (to develop new crop varieties that are better suited to changed climate conditions) and (ii) changes in irrigation technology are explored.    (OECD, 22/12/2014)

22/02/2015


Livestock population dynamics and pastoral communities’ adaptation to rainfall variability in Botswana

Drought severity and the impact of rainfall variability on livestock population and adaptation practices were investigated in Kgalagadi, Botswana, a district that is vulnerable to recurring mild droughts. This study found that livestock population In Kgalagadi, particularly goats, tend to be positively associated with mean annual precipitation. Pastoral farmers’ adaptation practices include destocking, supplementation and mobility. It was concluded that current grazing policies that promote fencing could therefore increase the pastoral farmers’ vulnerability to droughts, as it limits their mobility.  (Pastoralism, 24/12/2014)

22/02/2015


Agricultural production, dietary diversity, and climate variability

This World Bank paper provides an empirical application of the non-separable household model linking the effects of exogenous variations in planting season production decisions via climate variability on household dietary diversity. Using exogenous variations in degree days, rainfall and agricultural capital stocks as instruments, the authors estimate the effect of production on household dietary diversity at harvest. The empirical specifications estimate production effects on dietary diversity using both agricultural revenue and crop production diversity.    (World Bank, 01/09/2014)   Download the report 

22/02/2015


Briefs and case studies on seed storage and seed quality

Farmer-managed seed is central to food security. The Catholic Relief Services and partners have published a series of technical briefs that provide practical guidance to programme managers about seed storage. Case studies offer examples from Afghanistan, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Timor-Leste.    (CRS, 15/12/2014)

22/02/2015


Food waste along the food chain

This OECD paper takes stock of available data on food waste and explores policies related to food waste in OECD countries. The authors, Morvarid Bagherzadeh and colleagues, show patterns in and the scale of food waste throughout the supply chain which so far remain poorly understood, despite growing media coverage and public concerns in recent years. They argue that better understanding of these patterns could contribute to abating interlinked sustainability challenges such as food security, climate change and water shortage.    (OECD, 21/12/2014)  Download the OECD report

22/02/2015


Measuring the effectiveness of crop improvement research in Sub-Saharan Africa

This report summarizes the key findings of the Diffusion and Impact of Improved Varieties in Africa (DIIVA) project and advances the understanding of the adoption and diffusion of new varieties in Africa by expanding knowledge about areas where diffusion was previously not well documented and by improving the methodologies used for measuring diffusion. (CGIAR Independent Science and Partnership Council    (ISPC Secretariat, 15.07.2014)

22/02/2015


Agriculture, nutrition and health in global development: typology and metrics for integrated interventions and research

There is scant empirical evidence of potential synergies across sectors; agriculture, nutrition and health or about the mix of actions that best supports all three. This paper proposes a typology of interventions and a metric of integration among them to help researchers build on each other's results, to inform the design of multi-sector interventions. The typology recognizes the importance of regional effect modifiers that are not themselves subject to randomized assignment, and trade-offs in how policies and programmes are implemented, evaluated and scaled. Using this typology could facilitate methodological pluralism, helping researchers in one field use knowledge generated elsewhere, each using the most appropriate method for their situation.  (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 26/02/2014)

22/02/2015


Agrobiodiversity conservation and plant improvement: adjustments in intellectual property rights reclaiming the public domain towards sustainability and equity

With the advent of the TRIPS Agreement and the dominant interpretative implementation of its minimum standards, actors who use, conserve and improve agricultural biodiversity are faced with a strong property rights system that has been thoroughly criticised. However, these critics have not achieved the regulatory shift they are advocating. In this PhD dissertation, Fulya Batur explains that this is due to the lack of socio-technological contextualisation of applicable laws and judicial interpretation. Indeed, intellectual property applies to very different innovation contexts and confronts all those involved in plant improvement, from mass selectors, small-scale private conventional plant breeders, public molecular researchers, specialised start-ups and integrated biotechnology giants.  (APBREBES, 04/2014)

22/02/2015