‘Few companies spin financial growth out of crop growth better than Monsanto. By making an early, successful R&D-heavy bet on biotechnology, Monsanto transformed itself from an agricultural-chemicals company in an increasingly commoditized sector into a cutting-edge seed-and-biotech firm. Because its rivals are still catching up to its prowess in creating biotech traits — the software … Continue reading
Category Archives: Biotechnology
Animal Breeding / Biotechnology / Fish / USA
Genetically altered salmon get closer to US tables
‘The [US] Food and Drug Administration is seriously considering whether to approve the first genetically engineered animal that people would eat — salmon that can grow at twice the normal rate. ‘The developer of the salmon has been trying to get approval for a decade. But the company now seems to have submitted most or … Continue reading
Africa / Agriculture / Biotechnology / CGIAR / ILRI / Research / Vaccines / Women
Clinton cites CGIAR research for women and livestock as targets of US aid for agriculture
Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State, this week (16 June 2010) announced that this year’s World Food Prize would be bestowed on leaders of two leading non-governmental humanitarian organizations focusing on reducing hunger and poverty — Jo Luck, President of Heifer International, and David Beckmann, President of Bread for the World. In her speech, … Continue reading
As ‘slow food’ becomes the preoccupation of the rich, food of any kind remains the preoccupation of the poor
In the May/June 2010 issue of Foreign Policy, agricultural policy analyst Robert Paarlberg argues that the trendy food causes of rich countries, whose sustainable mantra is ‘organic, local and slow’, ‘is no recipe for saving the world’s hungry millions’. ‘Too much food production is already organic, local and slow in the developing world,’ he says. … Continue reading
Africa / BecA / Biotechnology / ILRI / Research
BecA hosts ‘Agricultural Research Connections Workshop 2010′
This workshop by Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) brought together scientists based in sub-Saharan Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom to foster scientific collaborations with the potential to create new pathways … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Diseases / Biotechnology / CGIAR / Climate Change / Disease Control / Emerging Diseases / Epidemiology / Ghana / ILRI / Malawi / RVF / Senegal / Trypanosomiasis / Zoonotic Diseases
ILRI to build climate model to predict disease outbreaks
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), has received a $4.4 million award for research to build a climate model that can predict outbreaks of infectious disease in Africa. ILRI will work with 11 partners and researchers to integrate data from climate modeling and disease … Continue reading
Fish tales
Genetically modified fish could soon be on the table The Belgian blue is an ugly but tasty cow that has 40% more muscle than it should have. It is the product of random mutation followed by selective breeding—as, indeed, are all domesticated creatures. But where an old art has led, a new one may follow. … Continue reading
Africa / Agriculture / Biotechnology / Food Security / ILRI / Kenya
Biotechnology is key to food security in Africa
Africa missed on the “Green Revolution” that drove Asia; the West and the larger America out of food insecurity five decades ago, but Agricultural Scientists in Kenya say, it should not miss out on the “Gene Revolution” seen to transform food production policy in the continent. First, the statement marks the progress Agriculture Science has … Continue reading
Africa / BecA / Biotechnology / Central Africa / East Africa / ILRI / Research
Biosciences research facility in Nairobi opens its doors to Africa’s scientists
A world-class state-of-the-art biosciences research facility has officially opened its doors to scientists and students in Africa’s national research institutes and universities in Nairobi’s International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). According to Biosciences east and central African (BecA) Hub Director Segenet Kelemu; ‘This means that, Africa’s scientists can comfortably venture into new realms of science without … Continue reading
Africa / BecA / Biotechnology / Central Africa / East Africa / ILRI / Research
World-class bio-science research lab opens
After years of lagging behind in the scientific field, Africa’s bio-science research capability could now be effectively at par with research undertaken in the world’s most advanced institutes. A world-class bio-sciences research facility had just been launched in Nairobi and open to scientists and other stakeholders from Africa’s national research institutes and universities. The laboratory, … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 