The Drumbeat: Africa Bioscience Trends

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08th December 2023

ISSUE NO.66

Welcome to issue 66 of the DrumBeat!

Dear reader,

Welcome to Drumbeat 66, a special edition dedicated to our Feed the Future Striga Smart Sorghum for Africa (SSSfA) initiative, a public-private cross-sectoral collaboration in Kenya and Ethiopia. The multi-institutional project launched in 2022, is working to impart durable Striga-resistance in sorghum using genome editing while establishing a sustainable model for developing home-grown genome-edited Striga-resistant sorghum.

This month's video features Jane Waithera, a sorghum farmer in western Kenya. Jane highlights some of the major challenges she faces in sorghum farming - one of which is Striga (witchweed, locally known as Kayongo). Delivering Striga-smart sorghum varieties developed under the SSSfA project presents Jane and other smallholder sorghum farmers with a sustainable solution to the Striga menace.

In our story of the month, we feature Godfrey Ngure, a Program Associate at ISAAA AfriCenter. Godfrey shares some insights on the evolutionary journey of crop breeding to the present era of genome editing, and how the newer tools will complement the earlier ones in the quest for sustainable agriculture and food security in Africa. He emphasizes the need for sustained stakeholder engagement in attuning deployment of genome editing to address the continent's specific needs and embracing a culture where the technologies developed resonate with the real-world challenges faced by African farmers.

Finally, our newsroom brings you exciting stories curated from different cross-cutting themes, including a recent pitch by AfriBIOHub's founders at the Iowa State University Startup Factory Cohort 14 Demo Day.

Enjoy your read!

VIDEO OF THE MONTH

Suppressing Striga Weed in Western Kenya

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Godfrey Ngure
Program Associate, ISAAA AfriCenter

STORY OF THE MONTH

Cultivating Change: The Promise of Genome Editing in Africa's Agriculture

In the wake of the 21st century, African agriculture stands at a crossroads of tradition and innovation. With a history deeply rooted in the soil, the continent's agricultural evolution has been a testament to resilience and adaptability. Now, as we embrace the technological strides of new breeding technologies, we are poised to redefine the paradigms of crop breeding and secure a future where food security is no longer a distant dream but an attainable reality.

From Our Newsroom

Africa Biosciences Hub (AfriBIOHub) Founders Shine at ISU Startup Factory Demo Day

In a groundbreaking moment at the Iowa State University's Startup Factory Cohort 14 Demo Day on December 5, 2023, the spotlight shone brightly on the exceptional trio of Founders from the African hub of excellence in Biosciences (AfriBioHub). Joshua Magu, Harrison Waweru, and Maurine Mutua, all early-career scientists, took center stage as they passionately presented their innovative startup ventures. Read more.

Empowering Tomorrow's Innovators: A Milestone Visit to AfriBioHub by USAID's Dino Esposito

In a milestone visit on November 7, 2023, Ms. Dino Esposito, the Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security at USAID, embarked on a journey to Kenyatta University, the site of the Kenyan chapter of AfriBIOHubs, an initiative in the Feed the Future Striga Smart Sorghum for Africa (SSSfA) project. The visit was a testament to the transformative impact that the SSSfA project is having on the African biotechnology landscape, and specifically, on the young minds engaged in reshaping the future of agriculture. Read more.

Kenyan Journalists Shine Bright at the OFAB Media Awards (OMAs)-Africa Competition

Two Kenyan journalists were recently recognized and awarded for exemplary journalism in reporting on agricultural biotechnology. Brygettes Ngana from Nation Media Group and Hellen Asewe Miseda from Standard Media Group emerged as runners-up in the prestigious OMAs Africa Awards in the TV and Print category respectively. Read more.

Zimbabwe COHESA stakeholders chart a way forward with the development of a National One Health agenda

ISAAA AfriCenter and partners under the COHESA project continue to ramp up efforts to improve One Health (OH) governance in eastern and southern Africa. In a recent meeting with health experts in Zimbabwe, a national One Heath platform was proposed as a long-term goal under which OH approaches are effectively implemented. Read more.

AfriCenter Participates in the Plant Biotechnology and Breeding Network Annual Meeting

ISAAA AfriCenter participated in the annual meeting of the Plant Biotechnology and Breeding (Plant B+B) network, from 7th to 9th November, in Ghent, Belgium. The meeting provided and opportunity for Plant B+B members to update on individual institutional progress, reflect on challenges and explore opportunities for joint activities within agricultural biotechnology research, education and outreach. Read more.