News

[KAMPALA] For Ojok Okello, a Ugandan shea nut farmer, turning his harvest into a marketable product was a lengthy and labour-intensive process, writes Johnnie Musenze. It would take at least ten hours, with several workers helping him, to process one kilogram of shea butter, a fatty substance derived from the nuts of the shea tree…

[MAUN, BOTSWANA] Could goat’s milk be the answer to Botswana’s milk shortage? Agricultural scientist Ntshepisa Lebetwa believes it could and has been exploring ways of making it even more nutritious, writes Baboki Kayawe. Botswana’s dairy sector has long been struggling from drought, disease outbreaks, and a shortfall of cattle, leaving the country to rely heavily…

[GABORONE] Complicated intellectual property (IP) procedures are slowing down innovation in Africa, according to researchers, who say “innovation agencies” must help simplify processes and link researchers to markets. Despite hosting talented innovators and researchers, Africa contributes less than 0.5 per cent of global patent filings annually. Weak IP frameworks and limited coordination between African countries…

[GABORONE] When Joel Mukwaya, a biologist and post-graduate student at Uganda’s Makerere University, discovered the immune-boosting benefits of tea made from a honey-by product, he immediately sent some to his grandmother. The tea was made with propolis—a resin-like substance bees use when building their hives “I know of propolis tea’s immune-boosting properties and appetite enhancement,”…

Scientists in Rwanda have found trees that could generate clean electricity. Scientists at Rwanda Forestry Authority have identified two tree species with potential to generate clean electricity, bringing power to remote communities. Rwanda has set a target of 100 per cent electricity access by 2030, but access to power in rural areas is still limited.…

Malawi’s solar-powered milking project could transform the livelihoods of small-scale dairy farmers living off-grid. When Robert Mbendera started out as a small-scale dairy farmer in rural Malawi 20 years ago, milking the one cow he owned was an arduous, time-consuming process. “It would take about 80 minutes to milk the cow — that’s 80 minutes…

The Department of Science and Innovation invites you to save the date for the upcoming Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) 2024, which will be held from 4 to 6 December at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria. The theme for the Forum is Igniting Conversations about Science – Innovation and Science for Humanity. The…

The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) and the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) have kicked off a series of events to boost research and innovation funding in West Africa. The activities started in Senegal with meetings on fundraising, grant call online management and Public Private Partnership development, among other subjects. The events…

Ugandan researchers have come up with a simple set of guidelines to help bakeries comply with food safety standards – potentially saving them from closure. The new standards for bread and cake production were designed to be practical and easily understood by all bakers, regardless of their educational background. Introduced by the Uganda National Bureau…