In The Spotlight
One of the trainers, Dermas Siltan, noted that this training would greatly enhance soil fertility and agricultural productivity. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
A training programme on the production of organic fertilisers and pesticides was held for members of the national service training centre from 27 April to 3 May in Sawa
The theoretical and practical sessions were organised by the Ministry of Agriculture under the theme 'Our Waste is Our Resource.'
One of the trainers, Dermas Siltan, said the training focused on the production of solid and liquid fertilisers, natural pesticides, and livestock treatment methods, while also addressing the impacts of chemical pesticides. He noted that this training would greatly enhance soil fertility and agricultural productivity.
Andebrhan Tedros, chairman of the committee overseeing the programme, stressed the importance of utilising locally available materials for producing organic fertilisers and pesticides. Trainees called for similar training programmes to be extended nationwide, for greater control over the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and for the provision of organic alternatives to farmers at fair prices.
Ambassador Josefa Sacko during the launch event in Ethiopia. (Image source: WOAH)
Under the guidance of the Global Strategy for the Control and Eradication of PPR, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has collaborated with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), with the aim of eradicating peste des petits ruminants (PPR) by 2030
The strategy lays emphasis on disease surveillance, targeted vaccination campaigns, managing animal movement and adopting safe trade practices. Moreover, it focuses on boosting veterinary services and controlling other priority diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD). Effective PPR control involves identifying high-risk animal populations and transmission zones, while also carrying out targeted intervention strategies through the consistent monitoring of disease patterns.
African countries that have felt the impact of these outbreaks have made a significant contribution to food security by investing heavily in surveillance and vaccination programmes. The official launch of the Pan-African Programme for the Eradication of PPR and Control of Other Priority Small Ruminant Diseases in February has marked a US$599.6mn investment into PPR prevention. The programme highlights the critical role that veterinary services play in PPR eradication, thus emphasising the need to strengthen these services in not only the affected countries, but also their neighbours.
During the formal launch event held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ambassador Josefa Sacko, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), reasserted the AU’s commitment to PPR eradication. She also linked the initiative to Agenda 2063, highlighting the programme’s US$599.6mn budget and the necessity for synergised partnerships.
Partners acknowledged the value of the commodity approach in advancing the transformation agenda and supporting the producers' progress towards commercialisation. (Image source: Adobe Stock))
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) recently had a meeting with commodity partners to renew their Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for another five years
This allows commodity organisations to continue to support new farmers with advice, mentorship, training, inputs, market access, and mutual in-kind contributions. Agreements were signed with a number of organisations such as the National Wool Growers Association (NWGA), Deciduous Fruit Producers Trust (DFPT), Potatoes SA, and Raisins SA, among others. Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, commented on these agreements and emphasised their crucial role in addressing the agricultural sector's complex challenges.
According to Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, head of the WCDoA, the partnership with commodity organisations aims to promote capacity-building, mentorship, market access and resource mobilisation to support the commercialisation of new farmers in the Western Cape. Partners acknowledged the value of the commodity approach in advancing the transformation agenda and supporting the producers' progress towards commercialisation.
One such partner, Mariette Kotzé, Group Operations manager at Hortgro spoke out about the immeasurable impact the partnership had had and the difference it has brought about since its commencement in 2009. Moreover, has created an enabling environment for growers.
"The MoUs solidify our joint commitment to transform the agricultural sector, grow the economy and create jobs", concluded Minister Meyer.
AFSA general coordinator, Dr Million Belay called the campaign a 'call to action.' (Image source: AFSA)
The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) ran a three-day social media launch from 24-26 April under the banner 'Seed Is Life'
With current seed laws being repressive and corporate-driven, the campaign themed 'Our Seeds, Our Life, Our Future: Promoting FMSS and Resisting Repressive Seed Laws in Africa,' focused on Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS), thereby sparking a full-fledged movement across the continent.
The campaign allowed AFSA to reaffirm its commitment to seed sovereignty, stand for farmers' rights and ensure that Africa's rich agricultural heritage remains untouched by corporate capture. AFSA also took to social media to emphasise the role that farmers play in providing seeds that feed Africa and help sustain agricultural biodiversity. Moreover, the campaign promoted FMSS as the foundation of food sovereignty and sustainable food systems.
Throughout the campaign, AFSA delivered four key messages:
- FMSS is being targeted despite providing 80-90% of seed for food crops in Africa.
- Seeds represent culture, resilience and sovereignty, with planting, saving and exchanging them seen as acts of survival, tradition and innovation.
- UPOV-aligned seed laws and PVP regimes that seek to outlaw farmers’ seeds and criminalise seed sharing must be resisted.
- FMSS must be legally recognised and supported since it encourages seed soverignty. This means that farmers define, manage and govern their own seed systems.
"Seeds are not merely commodities to be privatised; they are living heritage," said AFSA seed working group chair and advocacy coordinator of SKI, Frances Davies. "Farmers Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) are complex ecological and socio-economic systems. They form the foundation of our entire food system, and are vital for preserving genetic diversity, adapting to climate change, and securing the future of life," Davies added. "We need dedicated policies to recognise and support these systems, rather than criminalising them to protect the market interests of corporate agribusiness”
AFSA general coordinator, Dr Million Belay called the campaign a 'call to action,' highlighting that safeguarding the seeds of the past and present forms the backbone of Africa's future.
Illustration showing how the sponge nanocomposite material recovers phosphate and metals from water. (Image source: Kelly Matuszewski, Northwestern University)
Researchers have created a functional sponge that is capable of efficiently soaking up certain pollutants from water and then releasing them on demand
Industrial manufacturing and agriculture, in particular, experience mineral and fertiliser loss due to runoff, leaving valuable non-renewable resources as pollutants in bodies of water. Those resources include heavy metals like zinc and copper and also phosphate.
The innovation presents a reusable and low-cost solution for cleaning storm runoff while simultaneously recovering valuable metals like zinc and copper, as well as phosphate. Using surface iron oxide nanoparticles specialised for capturing specific contaminants, the sponge collects the minerals and then discharges them only when triggered by changes in pH. These findings were achieved by researchers at Northwestern University and published in the American Chemical Society's journal Environmental Science and Technology Water.
Doctoral student and first author on the paper, Kelly Matuszewski believes it is important to understand the interaction between these minerals and utilise them, rather than finding ways to discard them. Through her research she discovered that lowering water pH flushed out the captured copper and zinc from the sponge, while raising water pH loosened the phosphates.
In an attempt to commercialise the sponge-based technology, Vinayak Dravid, co-author and Northwestern professor of materials science and engineering has co-founded a startup with additional NSF support through the Small Business Innovation Research programme, which will further develop the material for real-life scenarios.
"The technology can be used as a universal sorbent or 'catch-all,' or it can be tailored to certain groups of contaminants like metals, plastics or nutrients," said Dravid. In their future research, the team plans to account for biofilms, clogging or water flow dynamics on the sponge's performance, while also testing the maximum mineral levels the sponge can absorb.
Smart greenhouses utilise sensors responsible for heat control to modify in-house conditions based on the indoor climate. (Image source: Adobe Stock))
The continual development of AI technologies has opened up potential for their use in various farming systems, including greenhouses
As agriculture continues to be one of the top revenue generating sectors in Africa, the popularity of greenhouse systems has seen a significant increase in recent years. Various fruits, vegetables and high-value crops are now being grown in specially designed greenhouse systems throughout the year, irrespective of weather conditions in the region.
Greenhouses are a mode of controlled environment cultivation that aim to create micro-climates that are favourable for producing crops during any time of the year. One of the main advantages of greenhouse systems is their ability to regulate temperature, maintaining optimal conditions in both hot and cold climates. In addition, greenhouses offer protection against pests and diseases, owing to their transparent structures clad with flexible materials that provides excellent ventilation. Moreover, they also optimise the use of other humidification and energy saving technologies that facilitate climate management, thereby boosting overall yield and production.
Since these indoor growing environments mostly require manual operation, installing automation technologies help in maintaining the desired internal environment with reduced reliance on farm labour. Also known as IoT smart greenhouses, these automated systems utilise a wide range of technologies including sensors responsible for heat control that modify in-house conditions based on the indoor climate. Moreover, computer automation software is often used to adjust humidity and venting, while Co2 monitors are used to regulate gas levels in the atmosphere.
Other notable control systems include programmes that automatically dispense pesticides in calculated amounts; equipment control systems that handle the movement of installed lights and planting equipment; fertigation management systems that automatically dispense water through water systems and lastly, drip irrigation systems that use soil sensors to monitor moisture levels in the soil.
Given its vast and largely untapped economic potential, Nigeria’s cocoa value chain could act as a core pillar of Nigeria’s non-oil exports. (Image source: Cultivate Africa)
As Nigeria’s economy faces rising inflation, agro-investor and managing director of Cultivate Africa, Dr Dominic Joshua, has issued a call to action aimed at leveraging the cocoa value chain to revive the region’s economy
According to Dr Joshua, Nigeria continues to export raw cocoa beans while forfeiting billions in potential revenue that could be gained from local processing and finished goods export. He envisions a transformation where at least 50% of cocoa production is processed locally, creating thousands of jobs, generating stable forex, and revitalising rural economies.
Given its vast and largely untapped economic potential, Nigeria’s cocoa value chain could act as a core pillar of Nigeria’s non-oil exports. Dr Joshua emphasised that developing agro-industrial clusters and ensuring access to credit for smallholder farmers would make this possible.
Moreover, youth entrepreneurs have expressed a growing interest in agribusiness. However, access to mentorship, funding, and infrastructure remains limited. To address this, Dr Joshua has advocated for a public-private partnership model, wherein the government provides infrastructure and enabling environments, while private investors focus on innovation, scale, and export competitiveness.
In a recent thought leadership piece, Dr Joshua outlined the following four policy actions that could unlock this transformation:
- Streamlining export regulations to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies.
- Creating agribusiness-specific funds offering low-interest loans.
- Providing technical training across the cocoa value chain.
- Launching awareness campaigns to promote agribusiness among youth.
“Agribusiness is not a fallback. It is Nigeria’s future,” Dr Joshua stated. “If the nation invests in what it grows and processes what it produces, it can transform cocoa from a forgotten commodity into a currency of sustainable prosperity.”
The programme is an initiative designed to transform the country's agricultural landscape. (Image source: MOFA)
Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku recently held a public briefing on the innovative 'Feed Ghana Programme,' representing a crucial step forward in tackling Ghana's pressing agricultural challenges while enhancing food security and economic stability
The programme is an initiative designed to transform the country's agricultural landscape. It aims to enhance local agricultural production, minimise reliance on food imports, and create sustainable job opportunities, while also aiming to improve livestock production, foster industrial crop cultivation, and developing the oil palm sector to close the country’s consumption gap. Key features of the initiative include establishing farmers' service centers, promoting the development of grains and legumes, and introducing cutting-edge technologies, such as controlled environment farming and greenhouse cultivation.
The Minister outlined various initiatives to support institutional farming, including partnerships with national institutions and religious organisations to rejuvenate the poultry industry through a new 'farm to table project.' Opoku further announced plans to invest in agricultural infrastructure, which will significantly enhance food security, boost exports, and create jobs, ultimately contributing to Ghana's long-term economic growth.
In his address, Opoku underscored the vital role of a robust agricultural sector in national development. Despite Ghana's rich agricultural potential, the Minister recognised the obstacles that smallholder farmers face, including production inefficiencies, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to financing, and a lack of mechanisation. He also highlighted the problem of post-harvest losses stemming from insufficient storage and processing facilities, poor transportation networks, and weak market integration.
To combat these challenges, the Feed Ghana Programme will form part of Ghana's Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), which is set to be launched by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama on 12 April 2025, at the Methodist School Park in Techiman, Bono East Region. The minister further announced plans to invest in agricultural infrastructure.
The International Dealer Centre will again serve as the central meeting point for the international agricultural machinery trade at Agritechnica 2025. (Image source: Agritechnica)
AAGB-2025 featured a comprehensive scientific programme, including three plenary talks and a high-level panel discussion focused on outlining a roadmap for groundnut improvement over the next decade. (Image source: ICRISAT)
Ambassador Josefa Sacko during the launch event in Ethiopia. (Image source: WOAH)
Under the guidance of the Global Strategy for the Control and Eradication of PPR, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has collaborated with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), with the aim of eradicating peste des petits ruminants (PPR) by 2030
The strategy lays emphasis on disease surveillance, targeted vaccination campaigns, managing animal movement and adopting safe trade practices. Moreover, it focuses on boosting veterinary services and controlling other priority diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD). Effective PPR control involves identifying high-risk animal populations and transmission zones, while also carrying out targeted intervention strategies through the consistent monitoring of disease patterns.
African countries that have felt the impact of these outbreaks have made a significant contribution to food security by investing heavily in surveillance and vaccination programmes. The official launch of the Pan-African Programme for the Eradication of PPR and Control of Other Priority Small Ruminant Diseases in February has marked a US$599.6mn investment into PPR prevention. The programme highlights the critical role that veterinary services play in PPR eradication, thus emphasising the need to strengthen these services in not only the affected countries, but also their neighbours.
During the formal launch event held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ambassador Josefa Sacko, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), reasserted the AU’s commitment to PPR eradication. She also linked the initiative to Agenda 2063, highlighting the programme’s US$599.6mn budget and the necessity for synergised partnerships.
ILRI is helping to shape a sustainable future where livestock systems are both productive and climate resilient. (Image source: ILRI)
Fortena delivers significant benefits to broiler breeders, enhancing both the feeding process and overall farm management. (Image source: Roxell)
One of the trainers, Dermas Siltan, noted that this training would greatly enhance soil fertility and agricultural productivity. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
A training programme on the production of organic fertilisers and pesticides was held for members of the national service training centre from 27 April to 3 May in Sawa
The theoretical and practical sessions were organised by the Ministry of Agriculture under the theme 'Our Waste is Our Resource.'
One of the trainers, Dermas Siltan, said the training focused on the production of solid and liquid fertilisers, natural pesticides, and livestock treatment methods, while also addressing the impacts of chemical pesticides. He noted that this training would greatly enhance soil fertility and agricultural productivity.
Andebrhan Tedros, chairman of the committee overseeing the programme, stressed the importance of utilising locally available materials for producing organic fertilisers and pesticides. Trainees called for similar training programmes to be extended nationwide, for greater control over the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and for the provision of organic alternatives to farmers at fair prices.
Partners acknowledged the value of the commodity approach in advancing the transformation agenda and supporting the producers' progress towards commercialisation. (Image source: Adobe Stock))
AFSA general coordinator, Dr Million Belay called the campaign a 'call to action.' (Image source: AFSA)
Illustration showing how the sponge nanocomposite material recovers phosphate and metals from water. (Image source: Kelly Matuszewski, Northwestern University)
Researchers have created a functional sponge that is capable of efficiently soaking up certain pollutants from water and then releasing them on demand
Industrial manufacturing and agriculture, in particular, experience mineral and fertiliser loss due to runoff, leaving valuable non-renewable resources as pollutants in bodies of water. Those resources include heavy metals like zinc and copper and also phosphate.
The innovation presents a reusable and low-cost solution for cleaning storm runoff while simultaneously recovering valuable metals like zinc and copper, as well as phosphate. Using surface iron oxide nanoparticles specialised for capturing specific contaminants, the sponge collects the minerals and then discharges them only when triggered by changes in pH. These findings were achieved by researchers at Northwestern University and published in the American Chemical Society's journal Environmental Science and Technology Water.
Doctoral student and first author on the paper, Kelly Matuszewski believes it is important to understand the interaction between these minerals and utilise them, rather than finding ways to discard them. Through her research she discovered that lowering water pH flushed out the captured copper and zinc from the sponge, while raising water pH loosened the phosphates.
In an attempt to commercialise the sponge-based technology, Vinayak Dravid, co-author and Northwestern professor of materials science and engineering has co-founded a startup with additional NSF support through the Small Business Innovation Research programme, which will further develop the material for real-life scenarios.
"The technology can be used as a universal sorbent or 'catch-all,' or it can be tailored to certain groups of contaminants like metals, plastics or nutrients," said Dravid. In their future research, the team plans to account for biofilms, clogging or water flow dynamics on the sponge's performance, while also testing the maximum mineral levels the sponge can absorb.
Smart greenhouses utilise sensors responsible for heat control to modify in-house conditions based on the indoor climate. (Image source: Adobe Stock))
The project is designed to validate wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis as a rapid and affordable approach to drug development. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
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One of the trainers, Dermas Siltan, noted that this training would greatly enhance soil fertility and agricultural productivity. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Ambassador Josefa Sacko during the launch event in Ethiopia. (Image source: WOAH)
Partners acknowledged the value of the commodity approach in advancing the transformation agenda and supporting the producers' progress towards commercialisation. (Image source: Adobe Stock))
AFSA general coordinator, Dr Million Belay called the campaign a 'call to action.' (Image source: AFSA)
Illustration showing how the sponge nanocomposite material recovers phosphate and metals from water. (Image source: Kelly Matuszewski, Northwestern University)
Smart greenhouses utilise sensors responsible for heat control to modify in-house conditions based on the indoor climate. (Image source: Adobe Stock))
Given its vast and largely untapped economic potential, Nigeria’s cocoa value chain could act as a core pillar of Nigeria’s non-oil exports. (Image source: Cultivate Africa)
The project is designed to validate wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis as a rapid and affordable approach to drug development. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
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