Biotechnology and the African Farmer

Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

An International Short Course for Training Professionals as Effective Science Communicators

Scholars have recognized a need for educational programs that prepare scientists, Extension practitioners, and other stakeholders to communicate science effectively. Such programs have the potential to increase public awareness and aid policy development. Having recognized this need, faculty at Michigan State University (MSU) developed an international short course in science and technology communication that was offered at MSU from 2010 to 2012. This article provides an overview of the design, implementation, and impact assessment of the course. We also share lessons learnt from this program and provide suggestions for other similar programs

Intellectual Property and Opportunities for Food Security in the Philippines

By 2050, the Philippine population is projected to increase by as much as 41 percent, from 99.9 million to nearly 153 million people. Producing enough food for such an expanding population and achieving food security remain a challenge for the Philippine government. This paper argued that intellectual property rights (IPR) can play a key role in achieving the nation’s current goal to be food-secure and provided examples to illustrate that the presence of sound intellectual property (IP) helps foster research, development, and deployment of agricultural innovations. This paper also offered key recommendations about how the IP system can be further leveraged to enable access, creation, and commercialization of new and innovative agricultural practices and technologies to enhance the nation’s agricultural productivity, meet rice self-sufficiency, and sustain food security

Virtual Training for Managing Emerging Zoonotic Diseases including COVID-19

The burden of zoonotic diseases is an important global issue affecting human and animal health, food value chains, international trade, and the environment. Two-thirds of the infectious diseases affecting human health are of animal origin. Information and knowledge of zoonotic diseases and associated effects is critical for managing these diseases. The World TAP at Michigan State University offered an online course in zoonotic diseases in March 2021, which a diverse group of 42 participants from 15 countries in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Americas attended. Grounded on Experiential Leaning Theory this paper discusses the conceptualization, design, implementation, outcomes of, and lessons-learned from this course. Key contents of this comprehensive course included epidemiology of zoonotic diseases, zoonoses of wildlife origin, utilizing a One Health approach to managing zoonoses, and roles of regional/international organizations in strengthening zoonotic disease management capacities, and the lessons-learned from the pandemic on diagnosis, prevention, and prediction of zoonotic diseases. The paired t-test results using pre- and post-course survey data showed significant increases in the participants’ level of knowledge on zoonoses post-course. in comparison to their pre-course knowledge. During the interactive discussion, participants stressed the need for continuing information sharing, and networking. For future offerings, the participants suggested adding impacts of zoonoses on international trade, and effect of climate change on zoonoses., and increasing collaborations between national, regional, and international organizations working on zoonoses. With the success of the first offering, MSU will continue to offer this course in the future, may be in a hybrid mode

Experiences and perspectives on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) management in Sub-Saharan Africa

It has been over five years since the first report of an outbreak of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Africa. The highly invasive pest, native to the Americas, has since spread across the African continent attacking many crops and causing significant yield loss to Africa’s staple crop, maize. From the onset of the outbreak, there have been massive and varied responses from farmers, governments and nongovernmental organizations. This mini-review provides various perspectives on S. frugiperda control in sub- Saharan Africa, building on previously published evidence, and experiences of the authors. It also highlights new technologies and lessons learned so far from the S. frugiperda outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, based on which suggestions on possible integrated management approaches are proffered.The National Research Foundation of South Africahttps://academic.oup.com/jipmam2022Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI

Crop Biotechnology and Smallholder Farmers in Africa

The tools of genetic engineering and modern biotechnology offer great potential to enhance agricultural productivity, food and nutritional security, and livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. Large and long-term investments have been made in several countries in Africa to access, develop, and commercialize safe biotechnology crops derived through modern biotechnology. This chapter presents case studies of biotechnology applications and progresses achieved in six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda targeting to address biotic and abiotic constraints faced by smallholder farmers and malnutrition. Based on the past 20 years of experience, the chapter identifies constraints, challenges, and opportunities for taking safe biotechnology crops to smallholder farmers in Africa