12 June 2020: It may be possible to manage potato cyst nematodes (PCN), currently a key threat to potato production in eastern Africa, by inducing ‘suicidal hatching’ of the pests using naturally occurring chemicals in crop roots.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that causes each year 700,000 to 1 million new cases globally, with 26,000 to 65,000 deaths. The disease is transmitted through bites of infected female sandflies, which feed on blood to produce eggs. Humans are among several animal species that have been found to harbor Leishmania parasites in nature.

Bee research and development activities were introduced at icipe in 1995. These efforts commenced with the inauguration of the Commercial Insects Programme at the Centre, aimed at developing sustainable apiculture and sericulture value chains as livelihood alternatives for rural communities in Africa, especially those living in fragile or natural resource-rich ecosystems.

The honeybee Apis mellifera occurs worldwide and is the most important managed pollinator. The global value of pollination is in the range of 200-500 billion USD every year and food security is at risk when bees are disappearing. In the Northern hemisphere, honeybee colonies suffer from colony collapse disorder and winter mortality.

30 April 2020: Over 100 talented African scientists interested in pursuing doctoral training in applied sciences, engineering and technology, have a chance to access fully funded scholarships tenable in selected, outstanding African universities in collaboration with highly recognised international institutions.