Biotech crops can increasing food production.

In 2013, David Matabaro, a cassava farmer from Ruhango District, lost his entire 26-hectare plantation to the destructive Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD).

He recalls, “I expected to harvest between 30 and 35 tonnes per hectare. I had a supply contract with Kinazi Cassava Plant, but the disease destroyed my entire crops before maturity. All the tubers rotted, and the factory rejected my produce.” In a single season, Matabaro lost 910 tonnes of cassava, valued at Rwf 100 per kilogram at the time.

The outbreak of CBSD severely affected both income and food security for many Rwandan families. Over 700,000 households grow cassava across the country, producing up to 1.7 million tonnes annually. In 2013, cassava production dropped from 3.3 million tonnes to just 656,924 tonnes, before partially recovering to 900,000 tonnes the following year.

Now, there’s hope for farmers like Matabaro as genetically modified (biotech) cassava varieties, resistant to CBSD and cassava mosaic disease, are being developed and tested in districts like Huye, Nyanza, and Bugesera. Athanase Nduwumuremyi, Senior Research Fellow at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), states, “These biotech cassava seeds are expected to be released to farmers in the upcoming agricultural Season A.” He adds that approval from the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) is needed for field trials to move forward.

Apart from cassava, Rwanda is also focusing on biotech crops such as Irish potatoes and maize. For potatoes, researchers have developed varieties resistant to late blight, a major threat to Rwandan farmers. "During the rainy season, late blight affects up to 90% of the crop. We spray chemicals at least ten times in two months, but even then, yields are poor," said Adrien Ishimwe, a potato farmer from Musanze. The goal is to create potato varieties that reduce the need for agrochemicals.

For maize, Rwanda is working on drought-resistant varieties and those resistant to pests like fall armyworm. Jeanne Nyiramuhore, a maize farmer from Kirehe District, said, “We apply three types of pesticides, but when armyworms spread widely, the chemicals often fail.”

Rwanda plans to roll out these three biotech crops by 2025, supported by over US$9.8mn from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These efforts are in line with Rwanda’s commitment to adopting biotechnology in agriculture, following examples set by countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) emphasizes that these technologies will be royalty-free, making them accessible to smallholder farmers at low or no extra cost.

Biotech crops could play a significant role in increasing food production and improving food security across Africa, potentially reducing the continent’s US$50bn annual food import bill. Rwanda has already passed a biosafety law and is committed to ensuring the safety of these GMOs through REMA’s regulation.

Urban farming helps by growing fresh and affordable food close to where it’s needed.

As Namibia’s cities expand and climate pressures increase, urban agriculture is becoming a vital solution

It is more than just growing food – it offers a path to sustainable development, social fairness, and economic opportunity.

In Windhoek and other towns, communities are transforming empty plots, rooftops, and informal settlements into gardens, chicken coops, and small farms. These projects help address major challenges such as water shortages, food insecurity, and rapid urban growth.

Between 2011 and 2023, Windhoek’s population increased by over 65%, stretching infrastructure and services to the limit. More than 100,000 households now live in informal areas, where access to healthy, affordable food is often lacking. At the same time, climate change, rising food prices, and economic hardship have made it harder for families to feed themselves.

Urban farming helps by growing fresh and affordable food close to where it’s needed. It creates jobs for women and young people, and encourages better use of land and natural resources. It also supports several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including those related to hunger, health, gender equality, and climate action. By using ideas like waste recycling, nutrition education, and circular economy practices, communities grow stronger and gain valuable skills.

During the Covid-19 crisis, UNDP Namibia launched the Build Back Better Agriculture Project to respond to food shortages. Since then, it has grown into a wide-reaching programme that supports over 1,300 households and small businesses. It provides access to digital tools for planning crops, solar-powered transport for taking produce to market, water-saving systems, climate-smart farming, and skills training through vocational colleges.

With 70% of Namibians living under water stress, saving water is crucial. Local farmers are adopting precision irrigation, drought-tolerant crops, and modern mapping tools to grow more with less. Namibia can also take inspiration from countries like Mexico, where ancient farming techniques are combined with rainwater harvesting.

To grow further, urban agriculture will need support from government, business, and communities. With smart investment models, it can continue to improve lives and protect the environment. This green movement is about more than food – it’s about securing a better, fairer future.

Egypt’s move towards cleaner, safer, and more sustainable agricultural methods.

Koppert and Fresh Energy have renewed and expanded their partnership after the successful launch of Egypt’s first large-scale biological crop protection programme in commercial greenhouse farming last season

The new agreement, signed on 10 July, marks a major step forward in Egypt’s horticulture sector. Present at the signing were Henri Oosthoek (Director of Strategy & Alliances), Boaz Oosthoek (Business Unit Manager Middle East Africa), Yassin Lahiani (Area Manager), Alex Tetteroo (Consultant), and Fresh Energy’s CEO Mohamed Mohab and Managing Director Yousra Mahmoud.

The renewed deal will see Koppert’s biological crop protection methods used across 300 hectares of greenhouse cultivation for sweet peppers. This marks a significant expansion from the initial project and highlights the ongoing commitment of both companies to sustainable farming.

Fresh Energy is a key player in Egypt’s agriculture sector, involved in both greenhouse and open-field farming. The company supplies premium fruits and vegetables to top supermarket chains. In partnership with local firm BioEgypt, Fresh Energy and Koppert successfully introduced a fully biological crop protection system on a commercial scale for the first time in Egypt. This approach allowed the company to meet customer expectations by delivering high-quality produce that complies with strict Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs).

This continued partnership is built on a shared goal to promote sustainability and innovation in Egyptian horticulture. As growers face increasing pressure to reduce chemical usage and meet international food safety standards, biological solutions are becoming more important. This collaboration positions Egypt as a leader in sustainable greenhouse farming in the region, potentially influencing neighbouring countries and global markets.

Yassin Lahiani, area manager at Koppert said, “We are proud to have been the first to implement a successful biological program in Egypt together with Fresh Energy and our local partner BioEgypt. The achievements of last season have now resulted in an extended partnership, allowing us to support even more growers and greenhouse operations in adopting sustainable production practices.”

Mohamed Mohab, CEO of Fresh Energy stated, “We look forward to a long-term journey defined by mutual growth and prosperity. I am grateful for Koppert’s commitment to this partnership and the shared vision that brings our organizations together. We appreciate this cooperation and believe our partnership will pave the way to more remarkable initiatives and enterprise prospects. Koppert’s experience, combined with ours, will help us achieve Fresh Energy’s vision faster and more efficiently. We look forward to a successful collaboration and a beneficial relationship in the future.”

Both companies are now focused on scaling up their efforts to support Egypt’s move towards cleaner, safer, and more sustainable agricultural methods.

Science and innovation is reshaping Africa's agrifood systems.

African-led science and innovation are key to transforming agrifood systems across the continent

This was the central message of a special side event held during the Regional Policy Dialogue on Strengthening South-South & Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) in Africa, organised by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) and hosted by the Government of Tanzania.

The Scaling Science & Innovation for Resilient Agrifood Systems: African Solutions through South-South and Triangular Cooperation event took place on the second day of the Dialogue. It served as a precursor to the Science & Innovation Forum at the FAO World Food Forum in October. The event gathered African experts, researchers, and policymakers to explore how homegrown innovations can transform African agrifood systems.

Opening the session, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, emphasised the role of science and innovation in reshaping Africa's agrifood systems. He called for scaling successful practices through stronger partnerships and better policy alignment. "Africa stands today at a defining moment. Our agrifood systems face immense pressure from intensifying climate change, growing scarcity of land and water, frequent pest and disease outbreaks, and persistent post-harvest losses that undermine productivity and incomes. Yet, amidst these challenges, a new generation of African scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators is reimagining agriculture, its business model, mechanisms of knowledge sharing, and scaling up technologies," he said.

Anthony Egeru, professor from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) highlighted Africa's untapped potential in homegrown scientific knowledge and innovation. He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among African research institutions, as intra-African scientific cooperation remains limited.

Two expert panels followed, one focusing on scalable technologies benefiting smallholder farmers, and the other on how science-policy partnerships can foster innovation uptake. Among the innovators featured was Innovative Solutions for Decision Agriculture (ISDA), whose flagship product, the Virtual Agronomist, has increased yields by 60% among farmers using the AI-based tool.

FAO also showcased its work on plant protection with the eLocust3, a real-time data tool for monitoring locust outbreaks.

Peter Anaadumba, FAO South-South Cooperation Officer, stressed the need for strong policy frameworks, sustained financial support, and partnerships to create environments conducive to innovation. This event reinforced FAO's commitment to advancing African-led solutions and set the stage for further discussions at the Science and Innovation Forum in October.