Today marks the launch of widespread availability of biofortified (high nutrient) seed varieties. This is part of the Livelihood and Food Security Program (LFSP), which is funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has nominated Elizabeth Mpofu from Zimbabwe as the International Year of Pulses (IYP) Special Ambassador for the region of Africa.

FAO with support from the African Solidarity Trust Fund is implementing a regional project in the SADC region to strengthen controls of food security threats and better manage plant and animal pests and diseases. 

Southern Africa is currently in the grip of an intense drought driven by one of the strongest El Niño events recorded in the past 50 years.

In response to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance, a Global Action Plan was endorsed under which, countries are required to develop national action plans on antimicrobial to combat antimicrobial resistance by May 2017.