Across Sub-Saharan Africa, farmers are increasingly losing crops to shifting weather patterns, emerging pests and prolonged dry spells.

Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are changing the conditions under which food is grown, while gaps in monitoring systems make it harder to track and respond to these threats.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we examine how climate change is accelerating crop loss and what stronger data and climate-informed interventions can offer.

Our reporter, Michael Kaloki, begins in Kenya, where cereals and other staple crops remain vital to national food security. Farmers describe how delayed rains, new pest pressures and erratic seasons are reducing yields and disrupting their livelihoods.

Komi Mensah Agboka, a researcher at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), explains how climate-linked disruptions in the wider One Health system are increasing losses in farmers’ fields. He tells us how emerging technologies can help detect risks earlier.

Cambria Finegold, global director of digital development at the agricultural research organisation CABI (the parent organisation of SciDev.Net), outlines how the Global Burden of Crop Loss project is mapping climate-related hotspots and identifying where yields are most at risk. She discusses how digital tools are helping countries build better decision-making support systems for farmers.

And Elfatih Abdel-Rahman, senior research scientist and interim head of the Data Management, Modelling and Geoinformation Unit at icipe, describes how rising temperatures are altering interactions between crops and insects, increasing the likelihood of outbreaks and further losses.

The episode also features George Waruraya, a farmer in Kiambu County, Kenya, who shares how shifting seasons and water shortages are affecting production and how local groups are mobilising to secure support for adaptation.

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This episode is supported by CABI’s Global Burden of Crop Loss (GBCL) project. GBCL is funded by UK International Development of the UK government and the Gates Foundation.

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’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk and distributed in association with your local radio station.

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

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, farmers are losing large portions of their harvest before crops ever reach the market. Pests, droughts and shifting weather patterns are decimating yields, while weak data systems make the crisis even harder to fight.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we look at how better data and stronger plant health systems can help countries respond more effectively.

Our reporter, Michael Kaloki begins in Kenya, where cereals remain central to national food security. Anthony Kioko, chief executive officer of the Cereal Growers Association, explains that farmers routinely lose up to 40 per cent of their harvest and in some seasons as much as 100 per cent. He says losses directly affect farmers’ income, food security and ability to keep farming.

To unpack the impact of crop loss, Kaloki speaks with experts from the Global Burden of Crop Loss (GBCL) project, an initiative led by the agricultural research organisation CABI (the parent organisation of SciDev.Net).

Rasaki Arasah, a digital development project manager at CABI, says losing less of what is grown is one of the most efficient ways to strengthen food systems without expanding farmland.

Negussie Efa, a senior scientist at CABI, says many African countries still lack reliable diagnostic and surveillance systems. Without consistent data, he says, it is difficult for governments to identify where losses are concentrated or which emerging threats need coordinated action.

To understand the science behind crop losses, Kaloki speaks with Tilahun Negassa, assistant professor of plant biotechnology at Addis Ababa University. He explains how fungal diseases such as rusts, Septoria leaf blotch and Fusarium head blight can devastate staple crops like wheat by damaging the plant’s photosynthetic tissues. He adds that weeds, insect pests and increasingly extreme weather conditions compound the pressure on crops, reinforcing the need for stronger plant health services and improved diagnostics.

Technical lead of the GBCL project, Anna Szyniszewska explains how the team use data on climate and local farming conditions to estimate “attainable yield” and compare it with actual production to assess crop losses.

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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.

This episode is supported by CABI’s Global Burden of Crop Loss (GBCL) project. GBCL is funded by UK International Development of the UK government and the Gates Foundation.

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

Plant health is quietly shaping what we eat, the diseases we face and how our ecosystems function. But if you look at most One Health discussions, plants barely feature.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we unpack why that gap exists, why it matters, and what happens when plant health and One Health finally come together.

Reporter Justice Baidoo speaks with Solveig Danielsen, a plant health systems expert at the agricultural research organisation CABI (the parent organisation of SciDev.Net) and lead author of a study that offers a path forward on this issue.

She explains that One Health has traditionally focused on zoonotic diseases, limiting opportunities to tackle wider challenges. Ignoring plant health, she says, weakens the entire health system.

The study highlights how global One Health frameworks continue to centre around human and animal health, even though plants are essential to nutrition, livelihoods and environmental balance.

Some countries are already demonstrating what integrated approaches can achieve.

In Ghana, projects linking plant health and One Health have delivered tangible benefits, says Michael Osae, a research and development scientist at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission who was involved in such initiatives. He says farmers reported better yields, fewer harmful chemicals on their farms and reduced health risks for people, animals and the environment.

However, for many communities, the connections remain unclear. Kikope Oluwarore, executive director of the One Health and Development Initiative, says this lack of awareness is still one of the biggest barriers.

She believes One Health messaging needs to be integrated into health, agriculture and environmental programmes to help people understand how these systems intersect in daily life.

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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 episode was supported by Cabi’s One Health Hub.

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

[SciDev.Net] – Following up on our previous episode that explored the funding disparities faced by women in STEM across Africa, this episode of Africa Science Focus explores the ongoing efforts to foster gender inclusion within science granting councils.

In this episode, our reporters Ogechi Ekeanyanwu and Titilope Fadare speak with councils across Africa to understand the steps being taken to build a more inclusive research ecosystem.

Thomas Kaluvi, an officer at the National Commission for Science and Technology in Malawi, tells us about an internal review that revealed gender imbalances in team composition in previous research projects, discouraging women from participating.

In response, the council introduced a funding quota for women and vulnerable groups to encourage their participation in research projects.

Hildegalda Mushi, a senior researcher at the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), explains that the council developed a research grant manual that enabled men and women to compete on equal terms.

She adds that the commission also launched a special funding call for women-led projects, to encourage more female researchers to take the lead in research activities.

In Ghana, Mavis Akuffobea-Essilfie, a senior research scientist at the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, tells us the council is forming focal groups to monitor progress and promote consistent integration of gender considerations across its research system.

To ensure the efforts across councils are sustainable, Lorenza Fluks, senior research specialist at South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council, explains that a gender equality policy framework was developed to guide future work, embedding gender inclusion into funding, collaborations, and research outcomes.

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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.

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

The 2025 Global Food Policy Report warns that the world could be heading toward another major food crisis. For Africa, the warning is especially urgent.

Across the continent, food systems are under pressure from climate change, economic shocks, and political instability.

These overlapping challenges are making it harder for governments to respond to rising food needs or invest in long-term solutions.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki explores how research and evidence can help build food systems that are more resilient, inclusive, and better prepared for future shocks.

Steven Omamo, director of development strategies and governance at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), says many African countries already have food policies, but poor implementation and weak investment continue to undermine them.

He highlights the value of science in guiding early warning systems, promoting stress-tolerant crops, boosting local production, and supporting community-based responses to disruptions caused by climate and conflict.

Food systems specialist Jane Battersby, associate professor at the University of Cape Town, urges a shift in focus toward urban food insecurity. She says while there is attention on hunger in rural areas, a large number of food-insecure people live in cities, often in informal settlements where food is available, but unaffordable.

Zippy Ondisa Shiyoya, director at the Institute of Packaging Professionals of Kenya, says poor coordination, high policy costs, and unreliable data are barriers to effective food strategies.

She explains how science underpins food safety and quality, from production, through to distribution, consumption and data gathering. It guides better packaging solutions, which extend shelf life, reduce spoilage, and minimise post-harvest losses — a major source of food waste across the continent.

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.

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

[SciDev.Net] Millions of people parts of Africa are facing record levels of hunger, the UN World Food Programme has warned.

Yet at the same time, the region is rapidly losing forests, one of its most valuable food sources.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the rate of forest loss in Africa has been increasing steadily over the last three decades, with 3.94 million hectares lost between 2010 and 2020.

These forests are not just biodiversity hotspots, they are vital to the survival of millions of people who rely on them for wild foods, medicine, fuel, and income.

The result is a vicious cycle. As food insecurity grows, people turn to forests for survival, increasing deforestation. But as these forests disappear, so too does a critical safety net that could help communities cope with hunger and climate shocks.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki investigates why protecting forests is essential for food security across the continent.

Laura Mukhwana, coordinator of the Global Landscapes Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, explains that forests play a direct role in local food systems.

She also warns that forest conservation won’t work without better communication between researchers and the communities who depend on these resources.

Richard Sufo, a Cameroonian scientist at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry, points to traditional agroforestry systems, where trees and crops grow together, as a powerful, homegrown solution. He says it is important to integrate traditional knowledge with modern science to protect forests and build resilient food systems.

In Uganda, Joel Ngobi is putting these ideas into action. Through the School Food Forest Initiative, he combines indigenous knowledge with modern science to improve student nutrition and teach sustainable land management. His model empowers communities to grow their own food while conserving the land.

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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 space sector, while valued at US$22.64 billion in 2024, is still in its early stages—but scientists say it holds significant promise for addressing some of the continent’s development issues.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki explores how space research and innovation are being used across the continent.

Mary Makuate, a researcher at Cameroon’s Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, shares insights from her experience using satellite data to develop digital maps for the humanitarian response to the 2023 earthquake in Morocco.

Susan Murabana, CEO of The Travelling Telescope Africa Ltd, talks about her efforts to bring astronomy to underserved Kenyan communities.

Her mobile telescope initiative introduces students and local residents to space, aiming to spark interest in science and technology.

And Daniel Okoh, a research scientist at Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency, says Africa must strengthen its own space capabilities.

He tells us how global satellite models often underrepresent the continent, due to a lack of accurate local data, and calls for greater investment in homegrown technologies.

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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 oceans are vital for economic growth, supporting fisheries, tourism, and coastal livelihoods. But the costs of plastic pollution in our seas are mounting.

The World Bank puts the cost of the damage caused by marine plastic pollution at up to US$33,000 per tonne of plastic waste, in West Africa alone.

As pollution worsens, researchers say stronger policies, community engagement, and scientific collaboration can protect marine ecosystems in the region.

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki hears from researchers about the diverse ways to conserve the region's oceans and their ecosystems

Despite existing policies to protect Africa’s oceans, implementation remains weak. Juliet Koudonu, a marine biologist at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, says there is lack of enforcement and stresses that policies alone won’t drive change without government investment and accountability.

For conservation efforts to succeed, policies must align with the needs of coastal communities, says marine social scientist Danai Tembo, a researcher in ocean governance at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. She warns that laws failing to reflect local identities and livelihoods can backfire.

Effective conservation requires scientists and local communities to work together. Shehu Akintola, professor of fisheries at the Lagos State University, Nigeria, believes it is important to integrate traditional knowledge with scientific research.

The researchers say the continent can protect its marine resources for future generations by enforcing policies, empowering communities, and fostering scientific collaboration.

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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.

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