Tag Archives: agriculture

Cross-sector innovation presents solutions to combat Kenya’s long-standing False Codling Moth challenge

False Codling Moth (FCM), also known as Thaumatotibia leucotreta is currently causing havoc in various chilli farms in Kenya, eating into the farmers’ profits [1]. It has also emerged as a major constraint to the production of horticultural crops in the country and is currently the leading cause of interceptions of Capsicum and cut flowers […]

ICTforAg Announces its Virtual 2022 Conference towards Advancing Resilience, Nutrition & Agriculture led Growth in a Digital World

The ICTforAg 2022 Conference will take place virtually from March 9 to 10, 2022, and convene the leading stakeholders from the agri-tech and agri-Food space across Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). Sponsored by Feed the Future and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit […]

GMOs in Sub-Saharan Africa – What you need to know

Several African countries have adopted Genetically Modified (GM) crop farming and the number is expected to grow in the future. But just how much are genetically modified organisms (GMOs) expected to shape the future of Sub-Saharan Africa’s agriculture? Joseph Maina explains. Many of us have heard of genetically modified (GM) crops and how they are […]

AFEX launches $100m Food Security Fund

Financing will strengthen Africa’s food security and optimise climate smart innovations across seven countries AFEX, Nigeria’s leading commodities market player, has today announced a new $100m 10-year bond called The Food Security Fund (FSF). The financing will strengthen Africa’s food security and produce three million MT of food annually on the continent. AFEX’s fund will […]

Vote for Stellenbosch’s Smartest City Solutions: Finalists announced in Stellenbosch Network’s second annual #IdeasForChange Challenge

For the past few weeks, Stellenbosch’s best and brightest minds have been pitching their novel ideas to turn Stellenbosch into a ‘Smarter City’ as part of the second annual #IdeasForChange Challenge. After much deliberation, the judges have announced their top three finalists who will now be entered into a poll on social media and vie […]

GMOs have lessened pesticide poisoning and improved yields in Africa, says report

A report by a top caucus of experts in the United Kingdom shows that many countries have benefited from improved economies and healthier populations by farming genetically modified (GM) crops. Most significantly, the low pesticide use associated with GM farming is linked to fewer incidences of pesticide poisoning among farmworkers—particularly for small-scale farmers, observes the […]

African climate innovators dominate global climate prize at COP26

Four African climate innovators were named as winners at 2021’s presigious Ashden Awards held on November 4 at the global climate summit COP26 in Glasgow, UK. Three more of the continent’s low carbon pioneers were announced as runners up. The Ashden Awards honour pioneering organisations from the UK and low-income countries lowering carbon emissions and […]

AFEX predicts higher prices for core grains and advocates for African food balance sheet in new report

Nigerian commodities exchange releases 2021 Annual Crop Production report to boost agricultural data and guide financing and policy decisions Lagos, Nigeria – 2 November 2021. Nigeria’s core grain prices have been projected to trend upwards in the new season due to persistent gaps between commodity supply and demand, according to a new report by commodities […]

Fairtrade Farmers Increasingly Threatened by Climate Change, Warns ‘Alarming’ New Study

BONN, Germany – The intensifying impacts of climate change pose a serious risk to global agricultural production and directly threaten the livelihoods of millions of Fairtrade farmers around the world, a new Fairtrade study has revealed, adding that increased investment in climate adaptation and resilience measures are critical if plummeting incomes for Fairtrade farmers are […]

TLcom Announces 3rd Africa Tech Female Founder Summit

Julia Gillard, Former Prime Minister of Australia & Chair of Andela, announced as keynote speaker  TLcom Capital, the Africa-focussed venture capital firm, has officially announced the launch of the 2021 Africa Tech Female Founder Summit, which will be held virtually on Wednesday 13th October 2021. The keynote session is headlined by Julia Gillard, former Prime […]

HelloChoice: South African Agri-FinTech Start-Up Secures Major Standard Bank Investment

Leading South African founded and owned Agri-FinTech start-up HelloChoice has announced the finalisation of a major investment from Standard Bank, solidifying its market leading position as the premiere digital fresh produce and agricultural marketplace. HelloChoice is a proudly South African success story, founded in 2018 by Grant Jacobs and Graeme Jarvie, who had a vision to […]

Cropnuts artificial intelligence driven platform makes soil testing affordable and accessible for farmers in Africa

Reduces cost of soil testing by more than 75% Backed by leading impact investors DOB Equity and AHL Venture Partners Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services Ltd (Cropnuts), Africa’s leading independent laboratory for agricultural and environmental testing, has launched AgViza, a disruptive AI based soil testing and digital crop advisory service for smallholder farmers. The livelihoods of […]

WPF releases training video series for Africa’s poultry farmers

Better profits, better nutrition through improved poultry farming methods The US-based World Poultry Foundation (WPF) has developed a series of online training videos to help emerging African poultry farmers learn poultry farming best practice and optimise their farming operations. WPF has collaborated with local organisations such as South Africa’s Kwazulu Natal Poultry Institute for several […]

South Africa has reaped significant gains through genetically modified white maize

By Joseph Maina  South Africa has reaped significant gains through genetically modified (GM) white maize in the past two decades, with significant gains recorded in the welfare of smallholder farmers who depend on the crop. The successful cultivation of the crop has led to improved food security and pits South Africa as a continental success […]

The First Virtual Edition of Agropack Expo

Agro-Pack Expo the international exhibition of the agri-food and packaging industry will be held from 27th to 30th of September 2021 in the new exhibition center « Abdellatif Rahel » C.I.C of Algiers; the first in Algeria, an economic Hybrid event through the two versions, physical and virtual, a meeting point between professionals and agri-food […]

European Union (EU) contribution of EUR8 million will strengthen gains in Desert Locust fight

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, has welcomed an €8 million contribution from the European Union (EU) that will enable countries in the Horn of Africa to maintain a state of readiness in the face of a possible resurgence of Desert Locusts. The European Commission announced […]

Agriculture sector can boost drive-train reliability with NSK bearings

Drive-train solutions for vehicles and machines in the agriculture industry must meet a variety of performance demands that typically centre on high torque and high loads. Bearings for transmissions, differentials and prop shafts must therefore offer the highest levels of reliability and service life. NSK, based on decades of experience in supplying bearings for automotive […]

World Poultry Foundation upskill emerging farmers on bird health and better business practices

KZNPI henhouse, sponsored by the World Poultry Foundation

Emerging poultry farmers in KwaZulu Natal have benefited from hands-on training at advanced new facilities at the KwaZulu Natal Poultry Institute (KZNPI), with the support of the U.S.-based World Poultry Foundation (WPF). The training, the first in-person course at KZNPI since the start of the pandemic and lockdown, took place at the KZNPI poultry management […]

South Africa’s Pork Industry is Set for a Revolution

Pork producers in South Africa are forging ahead with innovation and optimism in uncertain times. The industry has changed drastically over the last few decades – with dietary concerns, disease outbreaks, climate change and other factors all playing a role. Brent Fairlie, CEO at one of South Africa’s largest pork producers, Lynca Meats, lets us […]