Tales of the Heliosphere

People in Kenya are being fed by a nutritious and drought-resistant wheat that makes better bread and grows well on land too barren for more traditional varieties.

"Scientists and crop researchers at Kenya´s Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) developed the new wheat seeds over the past decade. Through a process called 'mutation plant breeding', they applied radiation-based techniques to modify crop characteristics and traits. Kenya worked closely with the IAEA, through its technical cooperation arm and a regional programme called AFRA (African Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology). ...

"KARI is the country´s premier institution for agricultural research and technology transfer. Its plant breeders successfully released their first mutant wheat variety in 2001. Called Njoro-BW1, it was bred to be tolerant to drought and use limited rainfall efficiently. Key side benefits include a moderate resistance to wheat rust; high yields, with grains valued for flour production of good baking quality."

Read more about how scientists in Africa are saving lives and increasing prosperity for their own people. (Here.)

-tdr

Labels: Food, Good News, Science