Joseph Gakpo
COVID halts global GM crop approvals, hitting poor farmers in developing countries hardest
The demand rising from COVID-19 has ramped up vaccines using various genetic modification technologies, but when it comes to agriculture, ...
5 steps African governments should take to keep food systems intact when the next pandemic hits
COVID-19 has hit world economies hard, and the agricultural sector is no exception. Restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of ...
‘We cannot just be testing grounds’: COVID prompts African scientists to call for homegrown vaccines
African scientists say that the COVID-19 pandemic should be a wake-up call that prompts the continent to produce more of ...
Despite activist opposition, Ghana’s scientists seek government approval for GM insect-resistant cowpea
The Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) has announced it will in November officially request approval from the National Biosafety Authority ...
Burkina Faso renews commitment to GM crops with Bt cowpea
Burkina Faso scientists and farmers say their country has not abandoned crop biotechnology, despite challenges that prompted it to shelve ...
GM crops can lift farmers out of poverty, study shows
On a continent where more than 80 percent of the people living in extreme poverty are rural farmers, some have ...
Agricultural technology key to protecting nature and preventing pandemics
Scientists are urging governments across the globe to adopt technology to reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment and slow the ...
Pandemic likely to lead to a global shortage of protein-rich foods with African and Asia hardest hit
A global shortage of protein-rich foods is expected this year due to COVID-19 and other factors, says a new report ...
COVID-19 disrupts Africa’s seed supply, threatening food security
The global pandemic has made it difficult for some African seed companies to produce and import sufficient quantities of quality ...
African nations warm to crop biotechnology for potential food security gains
Though only a few African countries are now growing genetically modified (GM) crops commercially, governments across the continent are increasingly ...
African science steps up to COVID challenge
As the coronavirus spreads across Africa, launching a pandemic that the World Health Organization (WHO) warns could “smolder” for years, ...
Africa looks to build food self-sufficiency as COVID disrupts global supply chain
As Africa grapples with disruptions in the global supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, some see it as an ...
Gene editing will revolutionize crop breeding in Africa, new paper predicts
Genome editing technology has the potential to revolutionize crop development on the African continent, especially in sub-Sahara Africa, according to ...
COVID-19 virus spread prompts food insecurity fears in Africa
The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus is prompting food insecurity fears in Africa, with some countries already experiencing rising prices, ...
New report hails Ghana’s ‘unique’ biosafety regime as nation prepares for its first GMO crop
A new report has hailed Ghana’s “unique” biosafety regime as the West African nation prepares to commercialize insect-resistant Bt cowpea, ...
Mozambique sees GMO crops as way to reduce poverty, achieve food security
Mozambique is exploring the use of biotech crops to boost food security following its successful field trials of genetically modified ...
Scientists call for innovation in fight against destructive locust pests
Cautioning the current dependence on chemical pesticides is harming the environment, scientists are calling for innovation, including the use of ...
Scientists and farmers dispute ag minister’s claim that Ghana doesn’t need GMOs
Scientists and farmers warn that Ghana’s agricultural sector will struggle if the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is delayed ...
Burkina Faso ‘farmer of the year’ calls for return of Bt cotton
Wiledio Naboho, the 2019 Alliance for Science Farmer of the Year, is mounting fresh pressure on the Burkina Faso government ...
Crop gene editing needs proactive communication plan, scientist warns
Effective science communication is critical to ensure gene editing technology does not suffer from the perception problem now facing GMOs ...
Nigerian farmer: ‘Give us the chance to use agricultural biotech’
African farmers must be given the opportunity to use genetically modified (GM) seeds as the sure way to enhance agricultural ...
Activists plan to call Vandana Shiva as ‘expert’ witness in Ghana GMO court case
Calling Indian activist Vandana Shiva an “expert witness” has been mocked by defendants in the case ...
New breeding techniques can boost food security in Africa, report finds
New breeding techniques can help Africa meet its food security and industrial needs while improving farmer livelihoods, according to a ...
African media urged to consider ‘national interest’ in reporting on GMOs
Journalists and scientists are urging African media to consider the “national interest” when reporting on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to ...
Ghana’s Supreme Court allows suit to move forward that could block GMO crop commercialization
The Supreme Court has shot down an attempt by the Ghana National Farmers and Fishermen Association (GNAFF) to quash a ...
Scientists urge speedy introduction of GMOs to help Ghana cut food imports
As Ghana’s government rolls out a master plan to drastically cut down on food imports, scientists are urging the speedy ...
Ghana’s Christian leaders join GMO debate, with some vouching for the technology’s goodness
Christian leaders in Ghana have joined the debate on whether the country should adopt genetically modified (GM) crops, with some ...
Ghana considers new rules to enhance its GMO regime
Ghana’s parliament is considering new regulations that will help facilitate its safe adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The rules, ...
