Exploring the capacity of modern biotechnology to enhance climate smart crop production in Africa
Abstract The changing climate is causing more and more problems for Africa's agriculture sector, such as heat stress, drought, and soil erosion, which endanger crop productivity and food security. However, little is known about the use of modern biotechnology tools for climate-smart crop produc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Discover Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00198-4 |
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| author | Gideon Sadikiel Mmbando |
| author_facet | Gideon Sadikiel Mmbando |
| author_sort | Gideon Sadikiel Mmbando |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The changing climate is causing more and more problems for Africa's agriculture sector, such as heat stress, drought, and soil erosion, which endanger crop productivity and food security. However, little is known about the use of modern biotechnology tools for climate-smart crop production in Africa. This review investigates how current biotechnology can promote climate-smart crop production throughout the continent. Several biotechnological techniques for creating crop varieties with raised resistance to pests, drought, and salinity, such as genetic engineering, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and marker-assisted selection were examined in this study. By focusing on crucial climate-resilient characteristics like improved water-use efficiency, pest resistance, and nutrient-use optimization, these biotechnologies present revolutionary avenues for sustainable farming practices in Africa. Along with problems like public perception, regulatory limitations, and absence of research infrastructure, strategies for overcoming barriers to widespread adoption are covered. This review emphasizes the importance of biotechnology in guaranteeing durable African food systems and reducing agricultural risks connected to climate change, while also emphasizing the necessity of global collaboration and capacity building, and favourable policies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c68d99a375ee46ca88d8ee2af87cfb5c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-9598 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-c68d99a375ee46ca88d8ee2af87cfb5c2025-08-20T02:11:47ZengSpringerDiscover Agriculture2731-95982025-04-013111810.1007/s44279-025-00198-4Exploring the capacity of modern biotechnology to enhance climate smart crop production in AfricaGideon Sadikiel Mmbando0Department of Biology, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, The University of DodomaAbstract The changing climate is causing more and more problems for Africa's agriculture sector, such as heat stress, drought, and soil erosion, which endanger crop productivity and food security. However, little is known about the use of modern biotechnology tools for climate-smart crop production in Africa. This review investigates how current biotechnology can promote climate-smart crop production throughout the continent. Several biotechnological techniques for creating crop varieties with raised resistance to pests, drought, and salinity, such as genetic engineering, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and marker-assisted selection were examined in this study. By focusing on crucial climate-resilient characteristics like improved water-use efficiency, pest resistance, and nutrient-use optimization, these biotechnologies present revolutionary avenues for sustainable farming practices in Africa. Along with problems like public perception, regulatory limitations, and absence of research infrastructure, strategies for overcoming barriers to widespread adoption are covered. This review emphasizes the importance of biotechnology in guaranteeing durable African food systems and reducing agricultural risks connected to climate change, while also emphasizing the necessity of global collaboration and capacity building, and favourable policies.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00198-4Agricultural productivityFood securityClimate-smart agricultureClimate changeGenetic engineeringGene editing |
| spellingShingle | Gideon Sadikiel Mmbando Exploring the capacity of modern biotechnology to enhance climate smart crop production in Africa Discover Agriculture Agricultural productivity Food security Climate-smart agriculture Climate change Genetic engineering Gene editing |
| title | Exploring the capacity of modern biotechnology to enhance climate smart crop production in Africa |
| title_full | Exploring the capacity of modern biotechnology to enhance climate smart crop production in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the capacity of modern biotechnology to enhance climate smart crop production in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the capacity of modern biotechnology to enhance climate smart crop production in Africa |
| title_short | Exploring the capacity of modern biotechnology to enhance climate smart crop production in Africa |
| title_sort | exploring the capacity of modern biotechnology to enhance climate smart crop production in africa |
| topic | Agricultural productivity Food security Climate-smart agriculture Climate change Genetic engineering Gene editing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00198-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gideonsadikielmmbando exploringthecapacityofmodernbiotechnologytoenhanceclimatesmartcropproductioninafrica |