Monday, December 11, 2017

'Super Beans' May Help Feed Drought-and Famine-Stricken Parts of Africa

Government and agriculture officials in Uganda are promoting a "super bean" amid efforts to feed hunger-prone parts of Africa.

The seed is a fast-maturing, high-yield variety that serves as a step toward the next goal: the "super, super bean" that researchers are hoping to create. These will be produced by conventional genetic selection instead of genetically modifying technologies.

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture says that the beans have been bred by conventional means to resist the drought conditions that can lead to starvation as arable land disappears. Rigorous testing is being done in order to ensure that the beans can perform well in different climatic conditions.

While currently in Uganda, the beans are being traded across the border to South Sudan in hopes of easing the threat of famine.

Original Article found here: https://weather.com/news/news/2017-12-04-uganda-africa-drought-resistant-super-beans-hunger

No comments:

Post a Comment