By 2030, Africa will account for 53 per cent of the world's population living in hunger, primarily due to climate change and worsening food shortages, the UN warns.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki investigates how scientists are tackling the region’s food crisis by exploring gene editing to develop climate-resilient crops, particularly wheat.

Cristobal Uauy, a project leader in crop genetics at the John Innes Centre in the UK, tells us how gene editing can be used to strengthen wheat's resistance to diseases and increase its nutritional value.

Godwin Macharia, centre director for the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), says gene editing can improve yields amid a 16 per cent decline in wheat production between 2022 and 2023.

Anna Backhaus, a cereal pre-breeder at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), says gene editing requires robust policies to prevent exploitation.

And Richard Shaw, director of the UK-CGIAR Centre, stresses the importance of international collaboration among organisations and countries to advance gene editing.

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This episode was supported by the UK-CGIAR Centre. The UK-CGIAR Centre, hosted at CABI (CAB International, the parent organization of SciDev.Net), aims to support global food security by bringing together scientists from the UK and CGIAR to form impact-focused research collaborations. This project is funded by UK International Development.

Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

By communicating their research, scientists can influence policy and drive meaningful change in society.

Findings from scientific research have the power to address pressing challenges in society, from climate change to disease outbreaks.

But what happens when important discoveries from these studies are left to gather dust in libraries or academic journals?

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki speaks with African scientists and researchers about the need for better communication of scientific research.

Jackie Opara-Fatoye, a science journalist and deputy coordinator at SciDevNet, Sub-Saharan Africa, highlights some of the barriers to effective science communication, including limited funding, technical jargon, and poor media coverage.

South African researchers Teboho Mofokeng and Amber Abrams share their experiences using local radio stations and engaging communities to promote their study on water sustainability.

Bosede Afolabi, a Nigerian professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, pushes for increased government funding to expand the reach of scientific research.

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This podcast was supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of 18 public science funding agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

Systemic barriers and poor support structures are stifling the progress of women in STEM

Underrepresentation of women in science and technology is limiting the continent's access to different perspectives and innovation, educators in the sector tell Africa Science Focus.

Women account for only 20 per cent of women in science and engineering in Africa and 32 per cent of research and development scientists, according to research by the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki talks to women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) about how to break the barriers women and girls face.

He speaks with Adefunke Ekine, educational expert and researcher at the Tai Solarin University of Education in Nigeria’s Ogun state, who says abstract teaching and a lack of female role models are among the problems.

Verdiana Masanja, mathematics professor at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania, pushes for more inclusive policies in STEM education.

Excellence Joshua, a social entrepreneur and creator of the Techy Train Incubator, a foundation that equips young African women with digital skills, wants to see more support for women in the workforce.

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This podcast was supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of 18 public science funding agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

Africa's indigenous knowledge holds untapped potential for scientific innovation.

In a continent with so many different cultures and traditions, indigenous knowledge has enormous potential to inform and strengthen scientific research. However, the legacy of colonialism has pushed African indigenous science knowledge to the fringes.

In this episode of African Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki speaks with African scientists and researchers about the importance of incorporating local knowledge in science communication.

Ayodele Ibiyemi, a US-based Nigerian culture researcher, notes that while colonial systems affected Africa’s culture and displaced its science knowledge, the continent is taking steps to regain its identity.

Kenneth Monjero, a Kenyan biotechnologist, highlights a critical disconnect between young people and their indigenous science.

To bridge this gap, Temilade Sesan, a Nigerian social development researcher, proposes a fundamental shift in education that reflects local realities including teaching STEM subjects in local languages.

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This podcast was supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of 18 public science funding agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant food security challenges, exacerbated by climate change and conflict.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we explore the potential of hydroponic farming. This type of farming uses nutrient-rich solutions instead of soil—allowing for controlled and sustainable food production.

Our reporter, Abdulkareem Mojeed, speaks to farmers and researchers who share their experiences and insights on harnessing hydroponics to improve crop yields.

Adeniyi Olayanju, a Nigerian professor of sustainable agricultural mechanisation, says hydroponic farming can mitigate the effects of herder invasions.

Ernest Larmie , a Ghanaian farmer, says the climate-smart method enables him to farm all year round, despite weather fluctuations.

Nigerian farmer Modupe Olafusi explains how she uses fish water as compost for her hydroponic farming system.

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This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

The Nigerian government's approval earlier this year of transgenic insect-resistant and drought-tolerant maize varieties, also known as TELA maize, has sparked intense debate among farmers, scientists, and the general public.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Jayne Augoye hears out the diverse perspectives on the introduction of TELA maize, a genetically modified (GM) crop, which proponents say will contribute to food and nutrition security.

Samuel Agele, professor and researcher in plant ecophysiology at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, emphasised the need for public education and the regulation of genetically modified crops in Nigeria, amid concerns over possible health and environmental impacts.

Ijeoma Akaogu, a plant breeder and geneticist and programme officer at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation - implementing partner of the TELA maize project in Nigeria - says the engineered crops have increased resistance to pests and diseases.

However, farmers Anthony Musa and Olusola Sowemimo have differing views on the benefits of GM crops.

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Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

Citizen science educates the public about science and enhances research for evidence-driven policies

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, our reporter Michael Kaloki speaks with African scientists who discuss the important role citizen science plays in scientific research.

Peter Elias, a geography professor in Nigeria, says communities use storytelling and folklore to document their experiences, providing valuable supplementary knowledge to scientific research.

Jaqueline Goldin, a professor of anthropology in South Africa, says a major challenge she faced in her citizen science project was gaining the trust of farmers, but she successfully addressed this by using social dialogue and partnering with education authorities.

And Doris Wangari, senior program officer at the Science for Africa Foundation, says her team engages citizens in reviewing proposals for innovative products that benefit the community.

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This podcast was supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of 18 public science funding agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

The dapivirine vaginal ring holds promise in the fight against HIV. But for the young women in Africa who need it most, access remains a major challenge.

Women aged 15 to 24 are disproportionately vulnerable to HIV infection due to a complex web of factors, including social, cultural, and economic forces.

The silicone ring reduces their risk of infection by continually releasing the antiretroviral dapivirine into the vagina.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Bunmi Yekini looks at issues such as access to the ring and the impact the ring has in countries that have approved its use.

Akhona Gxarisa, a research participant in the dapivirine study in South Africa, shares her experience of using the ring with her partner and advocates for greater availability of the product.

Patriciah Jeckonia, programme manager, policy and partnerships, at LVCT health, a non-governmental organisation in Kenya, says that the ring presents “an opportunity for women to prevent HIV and choose what works for them when they are at risk”.

In South Africa, the HIV prevention project FastPrEP is raising awareness of prevention methods among South African youths. Marketing and communications coordinator Mbali Jonas explains how this is being done, using mobile clinics and courier services.

Nigeria is one country that is yet to introduce the ring. Oliver Ezechi, director of research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and professor of maternal, reproductive and child health at Lead City University, in Nigeria, explains why.

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Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net