Agricultural Innovation in Africa – Belfer In The News

Calestous Juma on China-Japan relations

belferinthenews — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:51:07 +0000

Good Foundation to Build On
By Calestous Juma
China Daily

“Extending pragmatic trade and technology cooperation can help China and Japan improve their relations.
Tensions between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan, have alarmed trade and diplomatic circles around the world. The timing was particularly disconcerting because of the signs of a downturn in economic performance in both countries.”

Calestous Juma on trading in Africa

belferinthenews — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:21:12 +0000

Trading Places: Commerce Drives Science and Technology in Africa
By Calestous Juma
Forbes

“African countries have long aspired to transition from being raw material exporters to technology-based economies. But this vision has remained elusive.”

TUNE IN – Calestous Juma participate in #BBCAfricaDebate

belferinthenews — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:11:50 +0000

Calestous Juma (@Calestous) will be joining the debate this Friday, November 30, at 1900 GMT. His piece on African tribalism is the primer for this discussion.

Make sure you join Calestous on Twitter for this event. Tweet #BBCAfricaDebate

Be sure to follow @BBCAfrica and visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20465752 for more information.

Calestous Juma on African democracy

belferinthenews — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:42:35 +0000

Viewpoint: How tribalism stunts African democracy
By Calestous Juma
BBC

“Africa’s democratic transition is back in the spotlight. The concern is no longer the stranglehold of autocrats, but the hijacking of the democratic process by tribal politics.”

Calestous Juma on Africa and Obama

belferinthenews — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:46:57 +0000

Africa And Obama: What The Continent Should Do In His Second Term
By Calestous Juma

“Euphoria swept across Sub-Saharan Africa when Barack Obama was elected the first black president of the United States in 2008. Kenya, the ancestral home of his father, declared a national holiday to mark his victory.”

Interview with Calestoud Juma on US-Africa ties

belferinthenews — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:46:57 +0000

The Impact of Obama’s win on US-Africa ties
Interview with Calestous Juma
DW

“Because of his African roots, Africans had high expectations of Obama when he first entered the White House in 2008. This time round they are more pragmatic.”

Calestous Juma on Africa’s poor infrastructure

belferinthenews — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:30:50 +0000

Poor Infrastructure Is Africa’s Soft Underbelly
By Calestous Juma
Forbes

“In one of Africa’s most ambitious investment decisions, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has unveiled a plan to spend $97 billion on infrastructure over the next three years to upgrade roads, ports, and transportation networks aimed at accessing coal and other minerals.”

Calestous Juma on Africa’s leadership

belferinthenews — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:58:27 +0000

Africa’s Leadership Fails Billionaire Mo Ibrahim’s Test, But Technocrats Rise
By Calestous Juma
Forbes

“The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has announced that it could not find a winner for its US$5 million prize for good governance in Africa. … But it appears that the road to democracy is being bridged by a rising technocracy.”

Calestous Juma on preparing to care for a growing elderly population

belferinthenews — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:41:20 +0000

Why We Need Innovation To Prepare For The Global Aging Society
Forbes
October 3, 2012
Commentary by: Calestous Juma, director of the Center’s Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; principal investigator, Agricultural Innovation in Africa; member of the Belfer Center Board of Directors
Topic: Preparing to care for a growing elderly population

“A startling new United Nations Population Fund report projects that in 2050 there will be more people over the age of 60 than those under 15. …

These numbers suggest that the elderly will soon become a major burden on society. The challenge, however, is finding ways that turn the elderly into an asset by seeing them as sources of innovation.”

Calestous Juma on agricultural innovation

belferinthenews — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:30:25 +0000

Innovation Key to Unlocking Africa’s Horticultural Potential
Fresh Fruit Portal
August 23, 2012
Commentary by: Calestous Juma, director of the Center’s Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; principal investigator, Agricultural Innovation in Africa; member of the Belfer Center Board of Directors
Topic: Agricultural innovation

“African agriculture is at the crossroads. Persistent food shortages are now being compounded by new threats arising from climate change. But Africa faces three major opportunities that can help transform its agriculture to be a force for economic growth.”