Agribusiness Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

23Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Insect farming in Africa presents unique opportunity to overcome global challenges for a more sustainable future

Insect farming is rapidly emerging as a game-changer in sustainable food production. According to Antonine Hubert, second vice-president of the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed, this sector has become the fastest-growing sustainable protein production industry in the European Union (EU). With over €1.5 billion invested in EU insect-producing companies, insect farming is contributing to thousands of green jobs, proving its significance in the global economy. Dean Smorenburg, CEO at Maltento, emphasizes the potential for insect farming in Africa, and South Africa: “Insect farming in Africa offers a revolutionary way to create more sustainable food sources. By rearing insects like Black Soldier Flies (BSF), we are able to convert organic waste into high-value products such...

Achieving Food Security Through Private Sector Investment: The Battle of Narratives

10May

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Events

Achieving Food Security Through Private Sector Investment: The Battle of Narratives

Africa is well positioned to become the global breadbasket; with 60 % of the world’s unused cropland spread across the continent that can be used for farming, it has the potential to emerge as a major food supplier. African governments are prioritizing agriculture on their respective development agendas, and this shift has been supported by increased access to technological innovations and investments in the last couple of years. However, despite those positive developments, African food systems have been severely impacted by external shocks in recent times. Why are African countries in danger of facing serious food shortages, despite years of policy reforms, investments, and vast unexploited land resources? Why is the continent's food system so vulnerable to global shocks? How can Afric...

5Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Kenya News, Tech

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 exported to the European Union [2]. This has a huge knock-on effect on the country’s economy as it is highly dependent on the agricultural sector. In an effort to remedy the FCM challenge faced by thousands of Kenyan farmers the Innovation Exchange (iX) challenge competition, delivered by Innovate UK KTN Global Alliance Africa supported Flamingo Horticulture International, which grows chillies within the several regions in Kenya, to identify innovative ...

17Dec

By Joseph MainaNo Comments

Agriculture

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 transforming agricultural production across the world. Here in Africa, several countries have adopted GM crop farming and the number is expected to grow in the future. But just what are genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and how much are they expected to shape the future of Sub-Saharan Africa’s agriculture? Where does SSA stand in GMO farming, and how has the region benefited? Below is a catalog of points to help us better understand the ...

8Nov

By Charles BwanikaNo Comments

Agriculture, Startups, Uganda News

Creating a borderless agribusiness space in Uganda and across East Africa

Startup testimony Charles Bwanika, a new generation social entrepreneur Charles Bwanika is a new generation social entrepreneur, passionate about undertaking positive challenges to bring about positive impact people’s lives he’s a seasoned child rights activist, experienced and qualified Community development expert with aBA in Development Studies (BDS) and a Diploma in Community Psychology from Ndejje University and Kyambogo University in Uganda respectively. He also has numerous post graduate professional trainings in different fields including Research Methodologies, Child Protection, Civil Leadership, Project Planning and Management, Business and Entrepreneurship among others. Charles is the Founder & CEO of an agritech social enterprise - Farm Kiosk which is on a mission of ...

8Nov

By Joseph MainaNo Comments

Agriculture, Burkina Faso News, Kenya News

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 Report on Genetic Technologies released in September by the UK’s Regulatory Horizons Council. In India, for instance, the report cites a 50-70% reduction in pesticide applications on insect-resistant cotton, which has led to significant health benefits for farmers. “It has been estimated that this GM crop helps to avoid several million cases of pesticide poisoning per year,” the report noted. “There have als...

25Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture

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 to be prevented. Released ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, the report, titled Fairtrade and Climate Change and conducted by researchers from VU Amsterdam and Bern University of Applied Sciences, paints a bleak picture of the future of some of the world’s most beloved commodities, including bananas, coffee, and cocoa, and explicitly identifies how climate change will im...

22Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Fintech, South Africa News

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 modernise the traditional way of buying and selling agricultural produce. Initially self-funded and based on a vision to build a thriving trading community, HelloChoice has also always been committed to addressing broader food security and socio-economic needs in this sector. HelloChoice is the first independent fresh produce trading platform with a broader ambition to promote economic prosperity and market effic...

15Jul

By Joseph MainaNo Comments

Agriculture, Kenya News

GM cassava promises higher yields and profits for Kenyan farmers

Cassava farmers in Kenya are set to reap more yields and earn higher profits from their crops as the East African country prepares for the rollout of a genetically modified (GM) cassava variety that can fight off two of the most devastating diseases affecting the crop in the region. The government’s approval in June for environmental release to conduct National Performance Trials (NPT) for cassava varieties offering disease-resistant traits marks the penultimate stage before the superior variety is finally released to farmers. Free seed material is just one of the many benefits that lie ahead for cassava farmers in the country once the improved crop is approved for release to farmers. “This cassava will be free to the small-scale farmers,” said Dr Catherine Taracha, Director of Biotechnolo...

13Jul

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture

World Poultry Foundation online videos to boost biosecurity in African poultry farming

The US-based World Poultry Foundation (WPF) has released a series of training videos to help Africa’s poultry farmers raise healthier birds and so enhance both their profitability and their communities’ nutritional status. WPF CEO Randall Ennis says the video series was developed to support WPF’s key goals of supporting improved poultry production and productivity, increasing rural household income, improving household nutrition and the empowerment of women. WPF’s training series, with three videos dedicated to poultry housing, outlines how to design and build a poultry house for maximum poultry health, and how to effectively sanitise a poultry house before introducing a new flock. The videos on housing and biosecurity also elaborate on how to ensure the right temperatures, drainage and ve...