In The Spotlight
This initiative targets vulnerable communities affected by climate change. (Image credit: Adobe Stock)
BRAC has received a US$300,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation to create a programme aimed at helping three million women smallholder farmers in Bangladesh, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda by 2030
This initiative targets vulnerable communities affected by climate change. It will first launch in Bangladesh's coastal and drought-prone areas, providing farmers with services like agricultural technology, weather forecasts, adaptive insurance, and better market connections.
Deepali Khanna, head of Asia, The Rockefeller Foundation, stated,“Smallholder farmers are on the frontline of so many challenges, including the impact of climate change. Through our support of BRAC, we are empowering smallholder farmers not only to withstand disruptions, but also to advance solutions that can help build the foundation for lasting economic opportunity.”
The programme emphasises a community-led approach, ensuring it is culturally relevant and sustainable. The aim is to equip communities with skills to build resilience against challenges like rising salinity and erratic rainfall. BRAC plans to raise an additional US$300mn for this programme, intending to impact around 14 million people positively.
“At BRAC, we believe in equipping people and communities with the skills they need to build their own resilience,” said Asif Saleh, executive director of BRAC. The Rockefeller Foundation’s support takes an important step in showing that locally driven innovation, when scaled up, can unlock pathways for millions of people to do that.”
Women leading the Liberia's agriculture. (Image credit: Adobe Stock)
In 2022, UN Women Liberia, in partnership with the Orange Foundation, started the ‘Digital Inclusion for Women’s Economic Empowerment (D4WEE)’ project
The goal was to help rural women farmers in Bong and Nimba Counties connect with the formal financial system and access disaster risk reduction resources. Significant progress has been made, such as integrating 15 women-led Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) into the formal financial system. This has benefitted 400 women farmers who now have mobile phones and bank accounts, with plans to connect these to Orange Money mobile wallets for better business support.
“By enabling these women to become community-based facilitators, we’re enhancing their income-generating activities through both traditional and digital innovations,” stated Aisha Kolubah, national programme officer for Women Economic Empowerment at UN Women Liberia.
The project introduced a social protection scheme allowing VSLAs members to save, borrow, and invest digitally, enhancing their financial security. In August 2024, a four-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop was held in Monrovia for 22 women-led farming cooperatives, focusing on digital literacy skills and market access. Participants learned about digital marketing, social media use, and financial management with digital tools, leading to exciting opportunities for their businesses.
This training empowers women to share knowledge in their communities, promoting economic growth across rural areas. Continued collaboration among UN Women, CBL, and the Orange Foundation aims to create more opportunities for women through digital technology.
“We are pleased with this new way of handling our Village Savings and Loan Association group. Going digital with our savings and loans has made things simpler and safer for us. Now, we can keep an eye on our money and loans using our phones. It’s made everything clearer and smoother for us,” says Diana Davis, community-based facilitator at Liberia Rural Women Network Empowerment Incorporated.
Liberia, China to mechanise agriculture. (Image source; Adobe Stock)
Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Yin Chengwu, recently met with J Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture of Liberia
Chengwu emphasised the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators stand on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, and expressed that China is willing to strengthen agricultural cooperation between the two countries, deepening the bilateral relations.
Nuetah said that Liberia is grateful to China for its strong support for Liberia's development and looks forward to continuing to strengthen cooperation with China on agricultural mechanisation and modernisation.
Uganda hopes to massively grow exports
Uganda’s Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Bwino Fred Kyakulaga, has underlined the nation’s commitment to massively boost exports on the back of its coffee and agricultural sector
“Uganda reaffirms its ambitious commitment to transform its export trajectory — from US$50bn to US$500bn — through strategic value addition,” the Minister noted at an industry event.
African growers, including Uganda, are taking part in the Specialty Coffee Association’s World of Coffee, Europe’s largest coffee trade show, taking place this year in Geneva.
“Coffee will be one of the primary drivers for achieving this target, reinforcing not only our economic competitiveness but also our national transformation agenda,” said Kyakulaga.
There are also confirmed plans to add greater value to coffee exports in order to further generate income for growers and the nation.
“Additionally, the Government of Uganda has set aside US$100mn to support investment in the gradual transition of the coffee sector from green bean export to both green bean and soluble coffee exports in a bid to generate more revenue and income for the farmers and the country as a whole,” the Minister noted.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is also showcasing its longstanding leadership in sustainable coffee development at the Geneva trade show with a focus on investing in value addition, technical capacity building and regional trade.
For over two decades, it has worked with the International Coffee Organisation and regional institutions to support coffee value chains and SMEs across Africa and elsewhere.
In separate meetings, Ugandan officials explored the possibility of a partnership with ITC focusing on value addition through science and technology transfer for sustainably increased coffee processing production.
“Coffee is more than a commodity,” said ITC executive director Pamela Coke-Hamilton.
“For the many small businesses we support in countries across the world, the ability to improve the quality of their beans, process at origin and meet sustainability requirements in the face of rising climate concerns means they’re able to adapt to changes to tap into new markets and compete at the global level."
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ZIVO Bioscience and top animal health firm launch studies on poultry immune-boosting compounds
ZIVO Bioscience, Inc., a biotech and agtech research company developing immune-boosting compounds from proprietary algal cultures, has announced a new partnership with one of the world’s leading animal health companies
The collaboration focuses on advancing ZIVO’s novel biologics for use in the poultry industry and may expand to other livestock and companion animals in the future.
The companies have signed two agreements to conduct independent studies that will explore the potential of ZIVO’s compounds to support poultry health. The goal is to enhance existing vaccination strategies and help address diseases that continue to affect poultry production.
Expanding poultry protection
The first agreement involves a 42-day challenge study focused on coccidiosis, a common and damaging parasitic disease in poultry. This study aims to confirm earlier positive results from ZIVO’s compound, now used alongside the partner’s vaccine. It will also collect samples to evaluate new performance measures. Findings will support ZIVO’s regulatory process with the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics and help establish a strong business case for commercial use.
The second agreement outlines a study of ZIVO’s compounds using a model for a viral poultry disease that causes high mortality and has no available cure. The virus was chosen for its well-known in vivo model, clear clinical results and short testing timeline. The goal is to confirm the antiviral effects ZIVO has already observed in earlier trials, including reduced severity and spread of low-pathogenic avian influenza. Positive outcomes could lead to broader studies covering more viral diseases.
The collaborating animal health company will fully fund both studies. Researchers will assess how ZIVO’s compounds can shorten the time between vaccination and immunity, protect birds in vulnerable periods, enhance immune response and reduce the impact of diseases that suppress the immune system.
“This collaboration supports our strategy to partner with a major animal health company that brings scientific expertise and R&D infrastructure to advance our innovations to global markets efficiently and at scale,” said John Payne, chairman and CEO of ZIVO Bioscience. “We are aligned with this company on the broad applicability of our immune-modulating technology and its potential to create a disruptive, non-antibiotic therapeutic platform.”
Crop farmers use Atlas Copco’s U190 PACE portable air compressors. (Image credit)
Crop farmers in South Africa are improving equipment maintenance and reducing risks with the help of Atlas Copco’s U190 PACE portable air compressors
These compact and rugged units are supporting smart farming by cutting input costs and extending the life of agricultural machinery through effective and regular cleaning.
Used on farms in the Bethlehem district of the Free State province, the U190 PACE has been praised for its manoeuvrability and ease of use. Its lightweight design allows it to be easily transported across rough terrain using a trailer, light delivery vehicle or forklift, making it ideal for field use.
Farmlands often present challenging environments, with dust, mud, plant debris and stones threatening the functionality of machinery. Equipment like diesel engines and coolers can become clogged, increasing the risk of overheating and fire. Daily cleaning using compressed air significantly reduces this risk and helps ensure equipment remains in peak condition. It also protects farmers from potential insurance claim rejections due to poor maintenance.
For crops like maize and sunflower, where dust is highly flammable, cleaning sometimes takes place twice a day. With farms often covering over 5,000 hectares, bringing machinery back to workshops for cleaning is inefficient. Instead, taking the U190 PACE compressor to the field is both practical and cost-effective.
The compressor is used with a 30-meter hose and blower pipe to remove built-up dust and debris from machines such as harvesters, balers, and tractors. This not only extends machinery life but also improves safety and reduces total operational costs.
Equipped with PACE (Pressure Adjusted through Cognitive Electronics) technology, the U190 PACE allows farmers to adjust pressure settings based on the task at hand. Beyond cleaning, the compressor can be used for inflating tires, sandblasting and operating pneumatic tools.
Chantal Jonker, operational manager at JR Compressors & Industrial Supplies (Pty) Ltd, noted that the compressor’s portability and performance have added immense value for South African farmers.
“It’s not just about cleaning, it’s about protecting investments, improving safety, and keeping operations running efficiently no matter how remote the location,” said Jonker.
The U190 PACE is proving to be a vital tool, supporting more efficient and safer farming practices across the country.
New livestock feed initiative for Libya
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has launched the ‘365 Days of Fresh Feed’ project in the Tajoura district of Tripoli, Libya, to support the development of the livestock sector and contribute to sustainable feed production
The ‘Hasılmatik: 365 Days of Fresh Feed’ project was implemented by TİKA in cooperation with the Municipality of Tajoura.
The project, introduced for the first time in Libya, is expected to significantly improve feed production efficiency, according to TİKA’s Tripoli coordinator, Ali Suha Bacanakgil and would have a transformative impact on the livestock sector.
“In this project, wheat and barley seeds turn into fresh fodder within 7 to 10 days. The feed produced by Hasılmatik is much more efficient than dry feed. Animals can consume it entirely, including its sprouts and roots, with 100% digestibility,” he said.
Bacanakgil outlined the intention to increase the number of local stakeholders and expand cooperation across municipalities and agricultural cooperatives.
Tajoura Deputy Mayor Ayman Al-Salim highlighted the issue of groundwater scarcity in the region, stating that the project offered a significant solution to this problem in terms of livestock production.
“A simple system, low water usage, and high productivity — this project will revitalise animal husbandry,” he said.
Mahmoud Marwan, one of the local farmers benefiting from the project, emphasised that the ‘365 Days of Fresh Feed’ system saves both land and time and noted that the resulting product is suitable for cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry.
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A workshop was organised to align national fisheries and aquaculture strategies and agricultural investment plans with the PFRS. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
The African Union's Policy Framework and Reform Strategy (PFRS) for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa aims to advance the continent’s blue economy
The initiative is a coherent continental roadmap for policy reform and investment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. It has been instrumental in guiding AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and Fisheries Bodies to strengthen governance, institutional frameworks, and climate resilience in aquatic food systems.
A Stakeholder Consultation and Validation Workshop was hosted recently in Lusaka, Zambia, by AU-IBAR in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of the Republic of Zambia. The workshop seeks to align national fisheries and aquaculture strategies and agricultural investment plans with the PFRS, while integrating relevant global and regional instruments and addressing climate change adaptation.
"We aim to grow our annual fish output to 225,000 metric tonnes by 2026 by scaling up fingerling production and enhancing monitoring and surveillance systems," said Fred Mwila, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
Representing the AU-IBAR Director, Patricia Lumba, said, “The PFRS and the Africa Blue Economy Strategy are not just policy tools—they are instruments of transformation for communities, economies, and ecosystems across Africa.”
Over the four-day workshop, stakeholders—including government officials, regional bodies, researchers, and consultants—are reviewing findings from national consultations on policy coherence with the PFRS. They are also making specific recommendations for the domestication of global instruments, such as those related to biodiversity, food safety, and small-scale fisheries. Discussions are being held in breakout sessions and plenary formats, focusing on improving national agricultural investment plans (NAIPs), ensuring climate-smart approaches, and identifying legal and institutional reforms needed to implement the PFRS effectively.
Ethiopex and ALEC back with new editions for 2025. (Image source; Ethiopex)
The association is working to acquire skills in fodder production. (Image source; Adobe Stock)
ZIVO Bioscience and top animal health firm launch studies on poultry immune-boosting compounds
ZIVO Bioscience, Inc., a biotech and agtech research company developing immune-boosting compounds from proprietary algal cultures, has announced a new partnership with one of the world’s leading animal health companies
The collaboration focuses on advancing ZIVO’s novel biologics for use in the poultry industry and may expand to other livestock and companion animals in the future.
The companies have signed two agreements to conduct independent studies that will explore the potential of ZIVO’s compounds to support poultry health. The goal is to enhance existing vaccination strategies and help address diseases that continue to affect poultry production.
Expanding poultry protection
The first agreement involves a 42-day challenge study focused on coccidiosis, a common and damaging parasitic disease in poultry. This study aims to confirm earlier positive results from ZIVO’s compound, now used alongside the partner’s vaccine. It will also collect samples to evaluate new performance measures. Findings will support ZIVO’s regulatory process with the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics and help establish a strong business case for commercial use.
The second agreement outlines a study of ZIVO’s compounds using a model for a viral poultry disease that causes high mortality and has no available cure. The virus was chosen for its well-known in vivo model, clear clinical results and short testing timeline. The goal is to confirm the antiviral effects ZIVO has already observed in earlier trials, including reduced severity and spread of low-pathogenic avian influenza. Positive outcomes could lead to broader studies covering more viral diseases.
The collaborating animal health company will fully fund both studies. Researchers will assess how ZIVO’s compounds can shorten the time between vaccination and immunity, protect birds in vulnerable periods, enhance immune response and reduce the impact of diseases that suppress the immune system.
“This collaboration supports our strategy to partner with a major animal health company that brings scientific expertise and R&D infrastructure to advance our innovations to global markets efficiently and at scale,” said John Payne, chairman and CEO of ZIVO Bioscience. “We are aligned with this company on the broad applicability of our immune-modulating technology and its potential to create a disruptive, non-antibiotic therapeutic platform.”
New livestock feed initiative for Libya
Nigeria's annual milk production is 700,000 tonnes. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
This initiative targets vulnerable communities affected by climate change. (Image credit: Adobe Stock)
BRAC has received a US$300,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation to create a programme aimed at helping three million women smallholder farmers in Bangladesh, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda by 2030
This initiative targets vulnerable communities affected by climate change. It will first launch in Bangladesh's coastal and drought-prone areas, providing farmers with services like agricultural technology, weather forecasts, adaptive insurance, and better market connections.
Deepali Khanna, head of Asia, The Rockefeller Foundation, stated,“Smallholder farmers are on the frontline of so many challenges, including the impact of climate change. Through our support of BRAC, we are empowering smallholder farmers not only to withstand disruptions, but also to advance solutions that can help build the foundation for lasting economic opportunity.”
The programme emphasises a community-led approach, ensuring it is culturally relevant and sustainable. The aim is to equip communities with skills to build resilience against challenges like rising salinity and erratic rainfall. BRAC plans to raise an additional US$300mn for this programme, intending to impact around 14 million people positively.
“At BRAC, we believe in equipping people and communities with the skills they need to build their own resilience,” said Asif Saleh, executive director of BRAC. The Rockefeller Foundation’s support takes an important step in showing that locally driven innovation, when scaled up, can unlock pathways for millions of people to do that.”
Women leading the Liberia's agriculture. (Image credit: Adobe Stock)
Liberia, China to mechanise agriculture. (Image source; Adobe Stock)
Zoomlion showcases tailored solutions for Africa’s growth at China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. (Image source: Zoomlion)
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. took centre stage at the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, China, from 12 to 15 June, showcasing its latest agricultural and engineering machinery solutions tailored specifically for the African market
Since making its entry into Africa in 2007, Zoomlion has played an integral role in infrastructure development and agricultural modernisation across the continent. The company has also been committed to nurturing local talent, evident in its ongoing technical training programs, such as those provided to Ugandan farmers to enhance agricultural skill sets.
At the trade expo, Zoomlion displayed a comprehensive line-up of machinery, ranging from construction cranes and earthmoving equipment to aerial work platforms and advanced agricultural machinery. These products are engineered to withstand and perform efficiently in Africa’s diverse and often demanding working conditions.
Zoomlion’s footprint in Africa has expanded significantly over the past 18 years. The company has delivered more than 10,000 units of equipment to markets across the continent, establishing itself as one of Africa’s leading machinery suppliers. In addition to setting up subsidiaries in key markets like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania, Zoomlion has developed a robust after-sales infrastructure. This includes spare parts centres in Algeria and South Africa, a joint-venture manufacturing plant in Algeria, and an expanding network of dealers and service providers across the region.
The company has also been instrumental in supporting critical infrastructure projects throughout Africa. These include Egypt’s New Administrative Capital—home to Africa’s tallest skyscraper at 385.8 metres—the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project in Tanzania, which boosts the country’s energy capacity nearly fourfold, and the N'Djamena Stadium in Chad, designed to host international sports and cultural events. Another notable contribution is the Rosso Bridge, linking Senegal and Mauritania, which will enhance regional trade and connectivity.
Zoomlion’s growth trajectory in Africa continues to accelerate. Sales in the first quarter of 2025 alone accounted for 60% of the total recorded in 2024, underlining rising demand for its solutions. As of May 2025, the company’s Africa team comprised over 300 employees, with more than 90% of them being locally hired—demonstrating Zoomlion’s commitment to job creation and skills development in the region.
The R1 Single-Plot Research Combine by Alamco. (Image source: Alamco)
Entomatic is highly versatile and can be used in horizontal and vertical row crops. (Image source: Biobest)
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This initiative targets vulnerable communities affected by climate change. (Image credit: Adobe Stock)
Women leading the Liberia's agriculture. (Image credit: Adobe Stock)
Liberia, China to mechanise agriculture. (Image source; Adobe Stock)
Uganda hopes to massively grow exports
ZIVO Bioscience and top animal health firm launch studies on poultry immune-boosting compounds
Crop farmers use Atlas Copco’s U190 PACE portable air compressors. (Image credit)
New livestock feed initiative for Libya
Egypt is actively working to boost its position in the international agriculture market. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
South Africa is keen to diversify export markets
Zoomlion showcases tailored solutions for Africa’s growth at China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. (Image source: Zoomlion)
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Zoomlion showcases tailored solutions for Africa’s growth at China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. (Image source: Zoomlion)
The R1 Single-Plot Research Combine by Alamco. (Image source: Alamco)
Entomatic is highly versatile and can be used in horizontal and vertical row crops. (Image source: Biobest)
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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)
Value Line Steering system marks a significant step toward more sustainable, efficient, and profitable farming practices. (Image source: Topcon Agriculture)
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