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This issue takes us back to Nigeria as we celebrate a major breakthrough for the region – commercial approval of a GM food crop, Bt cowpea! Africa has finally contributed one crop to the global biotech basket. We speak to Prof. Mohammad Ishiyaku, Principal Investigator of the Bt Cowpea project. In an exclusive interview under our Story of the Month section, Prof. Ishiyaku reflects on the product development process and shares some words of advice for other researchers conducting similar projects across Africa.
In our Opinion, Dr. Manuela Campa from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, urges scientists to participate in shaping global policies and decisions and stop unscientific global science agreements. She draws her thoughts from the recently concluded United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
The Video of the Month takes us to the Kingdom of eSwatini, commonly known as Swaziland, where a farmer from Nisela farms is planting Bt cotton following an approval for importation and environmental release. We continue to bring you up to speed with current biosciences related activities under our Upcoming Events sections, and highlight relevant research and publications from the region.
The New Research in Biosciences, Africa, section features a recent paper by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) researchers showing that genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 technique destroys banana streak virus in the genome of Gonja Manjaya, a banana variety commonly grown in East and Central Africa. Also highlighted is a paper by Donald Danforth Plant Science Center scientists and an international team of researchers, including one from the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria, who used genetic engineering to improve mineral micronutrient concentrations in cassava.
Enjoy your read!
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