News on Food Trends from Africa

July 25, 2024

Solynta’s hybrid true potato seed varieties approved for commercial release in Kenya

The variety release committee of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has recently announced that three of Solynta’s hybrid true potato varieties have been approved for distribution in Kenya.

The UN says 40% of the world's land is already unable to sustain crops

June 22, 2024

UN food chief on soil degradation: Poorest areas have zero harvests left

Droughts and flooding have become so common in some of the poorest places on Earth that the land can no longer sustain crops, the director of the World Food Programme’s global office has said.

Seeds of Transformation: Empowering Rwanda's Farmers through Innovative Potato Varieties and Sustainable Agricultural Practices

May 13, 2024

Cultivating Innovation: Transforming Rwanda’s potato industry with new varieties

The lack of quality seed for improved varieties has been attributed to the limited capacity of seed multipliers to produce enough to meet farmer’s demands.

Lynette Dinga (WFP Nutritionist), Chalmers Mulwa (CIP Scientist), Simon Heck (CIP DG), Lauren Landis (WFP Country Director Kenya), George Njoroge (WFP Head of FtMA), Robert Ackatia-Armah (WFP Head of Programme Support)

March 16, 2024

Empowering Nutrition, Building Resilience: World Food Programme and International Potato Center Join Forces

To combat hunger and malnutrition, the World Food Program (WFP) and the International Potato Center (CIP) have extended their partnership for a further four years with a new memorandum of understanding (MOU)

November 05, 2023

Food Africa and pacprocess MEA to launch in December with an even larger area

Following the success of Food Africa and pacprocess MEA last year, concrete plans to expand this year’s duo of trade fairs have begun. Here, exhibiting companies can expand their contacts in Africa and the Arab region in a targeted manner.

KC-SWEET PURPLE is rich in beta-carotene, iron and zinc.

August 09, 2023

Kenya leads Eastern Africa with release of climate-adaptive and nutritious purple-fleshed sweet potato variety

The International Potato Center (CIP) has collaborated with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) to release the KC Sweet Purple variety of sweet potato in an effort to tackle ongoing climate challenges facing farmers in Kenya.

Paving ways to a robust and vibrant potato seed sector in Tanzania

July 18, 2023

Paving the way for a robust and vibrant seed potato sector in Tanzania

Tanzania and the Netherlands have agreed to collaborate on developing a joint roadmap for the thriving seed potato ecosystem.

Economists concerned frozen potatoes price may increase

May 25, 2023

Concern that price of frozen potato products in South Africa will increase

There are concerns among some economists that the price of frozen potatoes may increase, adding to already high food inflation in South Africa.

May 23, 2023

World Potato Congress 2026 to be held in Nairobi, Kenya

World Potato Congress Inc. has announced that World Potato Congress 2026 will be held in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme for the event is 'Developing Global Potato Partnerships for Enhanced Food Systems, Food Security and International Trade'.

April 27, 2023

Better Potatoes, Better Planet: McCain Farm of the Future Africa set to transform potato farming in South Africa

McCain Foods Limited, one of South Africa’s leading frozen food manufacturers, has officially opened its Farm of the Future Africa in Lichtenburg, North West, the second of three locations planned by 2025.

March 08, 2023

Ensayo de salinidad en Egipto: una variedad de patata resistente a los altos niveles de salinidad del agua

El obtentor de patatas y exportador de semillas holandés HZPC ha completado un ensayo de salinidad en Egipto con la cosecha organizada a finales de enero.

March 02, 2023

Solynta and PepsiCo Partner to Bring Hybrid Potato Seeds to Ethiopian Farmers

Solynta and PepsiCo’s Ethiopia-based Foods Unit, Senselet Food Processing PLC (Senselet), have launched a project to introduce hybrid true potato seeds (HTPS) to Ethiopia.

November 24, 2022

Food Systems in the spotlight at COP27 climate action negotiations

For the first time, food and agriculture systems have taken center stage in the global climate negotiations. COP27 has advanced the global recognition of food and agriculture as both a climate culprit and solution.

November 24, 2022

Local seed potato research promising in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Potato Micro-propagation Association (ZPMA) has spearheaded the resuscitation of seed potato production since this stalled around 2008. The current mandate is to substitute imported seed potato.

Centers of Excellence for Rooted Apical Cuttings: Plugging the gap in quality seed production to boost rural livelihoods and food security in Asia and Africa

November 13, 2022

Rooted Apical Cuttings: Plugging the gap in quality seed potato production to boost food security in Asia and Africa

A capacity-building initiative that started in Kenya to fill gaps in the supply of high-quality early generation seed (EGS) is now spreading across Asia and many African countries

PepsiCo deepens its commitment to Ethiopia with USD 40 million cash injection

November 04, 2022

PepsiCo invests USD 40 million in its Senselet Snack Business in Ethiopia

PepsiCo is finalising an investment proposal of approximately USD 40 million (ETB 2 billion) to expand its Senselet snacks business in Ethiopia, and is considering the possibility of further investments in the country.

October 31, 2022

University Outreach Project in Kenya Teaching Tissue Culture to Potato Farmers

Richard Mbaria makes a point at his potato in Kapsita village of Nakuru County, Kenya. The farmer has increased his production per acre thanks to training by a CARP+ project implemented in the area by Egerton University.

August 30, 2022

AgroScout teams up with AECI Plant Health across Africa

With almost 10 billion people to feed by 2050 and food production threatened by declining resources, global food security faces an immense challenge that needs to be addressed.