New Agriculturist

Renewable energy for Malawi's mountain entrepreneurs

Formed in 2009, solar energy clubs around Mount Mulanje in southern Malawi are promoting new ways of making a living to over 250 young people, who were formerly engaged in firewood and charcoal trading.

Date published: August 2010

Making a mark for cowpea

In West Africa, cowpea breeders are being equipped and trained to carry out marker-assisted selection, using simplified technologies appropriate for small, rural crop breeding facilities.

Date published: August 2010

Fighting East Coast fever - lessons from Maasailand

An effective delivery system for East Coast fever vaccination has, since 1998, protected over half a million cattle belonging to Maasai pastoralists in northern Tanzania. Following national registration of the vaccine by Tanzania and Kenya, the way is now open for large-scale production and delivery of vaccination services by the private sector.

Date published: August 2010

The new Sussex Manifesto: the 3D approach

Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the original 'Sussex Manifesto' on science and technology for development, the STEPS Centre has created a new manifesto which recommends ways of linking science, technology and innovation to meet the needs of developing countries.

Date published: July 2010

Sharing belief in LEAF

Already used by farmers in 17 countries, the Integrated Farm Management approach developed by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) is being rolled out in sub-Saharan Africa, to help smaller scale farmers of export crops to adopt high environmental standards of production, thus securing good contracts with a European retailer.

Date published: July 2010

Learning for change: a logical approach for fodder innovation?

Tracking the right evidence to demonstrate impact is a conundrum common to many development projects. However, adopting a 'learning by doing' approach and having space to experiment at five pilot sites in India and Nigeria has provided valuable lessons in building innovation capacity to address fodder scarcity.

Date published: July 2010

New virulent rust threatens world's wheat

With the discovery of four new mutations of Ug99 - a strain of wheat stem rust - which have overcome two of the most important stem rust-resistant genes used in breeding programmes, scientists have warned that an outbreak in any significant wheat growing area could wipe out 40 per cent of the crop.

Date published: June 2010

Cloud over Africa's horticultural exports

The ban on flights across much of Europe in April, imposed due to a volcanic ash cloud, caused exports of perishable goods from Africa to Europe to grind to a halt. While African producers work hard to recover from the disruption, questions have again been raised about whether European countries should be importing so much fresh produce.

Date published: May 2010

Battle in the Congo Basin: preserving biodiversity

Overpopulation in the north Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo is threatening biodiversity in Virunga National Park, part of the Congo Basin. A partnership between WWF and local authorities is pioneering a community-driven model for protecting the 800,000 hectares of fragile ecosystems ranging from rainforest to savanna within the context of conflict.

Date published: May 2010