Search Results (494)

Achieving food security for a growing population under a changing climate is a key concern in Senegal, where agriculture employs 77% of the workforce with a majority of small farmers who rely on the production of crops for their subsistence and for income generation. Moreover, due to the underproductive soils and variable rainfall, Senegal depends on imports to fulfil 70% of its food requirements. In this research, we considered four crops that are crucial for Senegalese agriculture: millet, sorghum, peanuts and rice. We used crop simulation models to explore existing yield gaps and optimal agronomic practices. Improving the N fertilizer management in sorghum and millet resulted in 40–100% increases in grain yields. Improved N symbiotic fixation in peanuts resulted in yield increases of 20–100% with highest impact in wetter locations. Optimizing irrigation management and N fertilizer use resulted in 20–40% gains. The best N fertilizer strategy for sorghum and millet included applying low rates at sowing and in early development stages and adjusting a third application, considering the expected rainfall. Peanut yields of the variety 73-33 were higher than Fleur-11 in all locations, and irrigation showed no clear economic advantage. The best N fertilizer management for rainfed rice included applying 30 kg N/ha at sowing, 25 days after sowing (DAS) and 45 DAS. The best combination of sowing dates for a possible double rice crop depended on irrigation costs, with a first crop planted in January or March and a second crop planted in July. Our work confirmed results obtained in field research experiments and identified management practices for increasing productivity and reducing yield variability. Those crop management practices can be implemented in pilot experiments to further validate the results and to disseminate best management practices for farmers in Senegal. Full article

West Africa faces persistent food and nutrition insecurity despite agricultural efforts, exacerbated by population growth, climate change, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. This study argues that integrating food processing principles with nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) and nutrition-smart agriculture (NSmartAg) offers a transformative solution for human health. Therefore, we delineate these interconnected concepts and highlight their synergistic potential for a nutrition-focused food system. Likewise, critical analysis of key regional challenges, including infrastructural weaknesses, policy gaps, and gender inequities, was made prior to identifying significant opportunities for leveraging food processing as a strategic entry point to accelerate the implementation of NSA and NSmartAg. Based on these insights, six strategic pathways are proposed to achieve this objective: (i) integrating food processing into policies; (ii) investing in interdisciplinary R&D that puts nutrition and health benefits at the forefront of desired outcomes along with others; (iii) strengthening farmer and food processor capacities; (iv) improving agri-food infrastructure; (v) fostering multi-sectoral collaboration; and (vi) prioritizing youth engagement and market development. By adopting these integrated strategies, West African countries can build more resilient, equitable, and nutrition-centered food systems, ultimately improving public health outcomes and fostering sustainable regional development. Full article

This article focuses on the story of a pirogue shipwreck that occurred in early September 2024, less than two miles from the coast of Mbour, about 90 km south of Dakar. It traces an ethnographic account of that tragic event through the lenses of different voices, standpoints, and testimonies from the survivors, the relatives and friends of the victims, and those involved in the organization of both the aborted ocean crossing and the rescue operations in various ways. By situating this extreme story of “potential migrants” among other accounts of migrants who disappeared at sea and of missing pirogues, the focus shifts to the different weights and possibilities of movement when dealing with disappearance and death, the unknown and known facts, addressing that which remains unknown even within this unambiguous and tragic event. Faced with the dense plot of ties at the core of that failed escape, we suggest that the reasons for the shipwreck are excess demand and solidarity, in terms of the impossibility of denying passage onboard the boat to friends, relatives, and neighbors. “On est ensemble” is therefore a way to recognize that there is no clear distinction or distance between captain and passengers, survivors and the dead, or victims and spectators, since in Mbour, everyone perfectly understands both the reasons and the risks, and the reason for the risks, of any illegal attempt to cross sea and land borders towards Europe. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max) is a protein-rich legume crop that plays an important role in achieving food security. The aim of this study was to isolate soybean-nodulating rhizobia from Côte d’Ivoire soils and evaluate their potential as efficient strains in order to develop local bioinoculants. For this objective, 38 composite soil samples were collected from Côte d’Ivoire’s five major climatic zones. These soils were used as substrate to trap the nodulating rhizobia using the promiscuous soybean variety R2-231. A total of 110 bacterial strains were isolated and subsequently identified. The analysis of ITS (rDNA16S-23S), glnII and recA sequences revealed a relatively low genetic diversity of these native rhizobia. Moreover, the ITS phylogeny showed that these were scattered into two Bradyrhizobium clades dominated by the B. elkanii supergroup, with ca. 75% of all isolates. Concatenated glnII-recA sequence phylogeny confirmed that the isolates belong in the majority to ‘B. brasilense’, together with B. vignae and some putative genospecies of Bradyrhizobium that needs further elucidation. The core gene phylogeny was found to be incongruent with nodC and nifH phylogenies, probably due to lateral gene transfer influence on the symbiotic genes. The diversity and composition of the Bradyrhizobium species varied significantly among different sampling sites, and the key explanatory variables identified were carbon (C), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N), pH, and annual precipitation. Based on both shoot biomass and leaf relative chlorophyll content, three isolates consistently showed a higher symbiotic effectiveness than the exotic inoculant strain Bradyrhizobium IRAT-FA3, demonstrating their potential to serve as indigenous elite strains as bioinoculants. Full article

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a pathogen that has caused various epidemics and sporadic localized cases. It is considered to be a public health problem worldwide. HEV is a small RNA virus with a significant genetic diversity, a broad host range, and a heterogeneous geographical distribution. HEV is mainly transmitted via the faecal–oral route. However, some animals are considered to be natural or potential reservoirs of HEV, thus elucidating the zoonotic route of transmission via the environment through contact with these animals or consumption of their by-products. Other routes of human-to-human transmission are not negligible. The various human–animal–environment entities, taken under one health approach, show the circulation and involvement of the different species (mainly Paslahepevirus balayani and Rocahepevirus ratti) and genotypes in the spreading of HEV infection. Regarding P. balayani, eight genotypes have been described, of which five genotypes (HEV-1 to 4 and HEV-7) are known to infect humans, while six have been reported to infect animals (HEV-3 to HEV-8). Furthermore, the C1 genotype of the rat HEV strain (HEV-C1) is known to be more frequently involved in human infections than the HEV-C2 genotype, which is known to infect mainly ferrets and minks. Contamination can occur during run-off, flooding, and poor sanitation, resulting in all of these genotypes being disseminated in the environment, contaminating both humans and animals. This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO 2025 CRD420251071192. This research highlights the importance of investigating the transmission routes and major circulating HEV genotypes in order to adopt a holistic approach for controlling its emergence and preventing future outbreaks. In addition, this article outlines the knowledge of HEV in Africa, underlining the absence of large-scale studies at the environmental, human, and animal levels, which could improve HEV surveillance on the continent. Full article

Today, coastal storms represent one of the most formidable environmental challenges, causing significant impacts on coastal communities. This situation underscores both the importance and urgency of studying storms and their characterization. This study proposes an innovative approach combining Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and machine learning (Classification and Regression Trees, CART) to characterize and distinguish damaging storms from non-damaging ones along the coast of Dakar, Senegal. The analysis revealed that among several hydrometeorological variables studied (wave height, period, direction, runup, wave energy, sea level anomaly, tide, etc.), the variables SLA and tide play a central role in the occurrence of damage, although they are weakly correlated with the others. By cross-analyzing these variables, critical thresholds were established, such as Tide > 0.53 m combined with SLA ≥ 0.061 m, Tide > 0.53 m and ECWL ≥ 1.3 m, as well as Runup ≤ 0.64 m associated with a high wave period (Tp), allowing accurate differentiation of potentially damaging storms. The CART method validated these results and identified three key combinations: (1) Tide–SLA, where no damage is observed if Tide < 0.53 m, and damage occurs beyond this threshold when SLA ≥ 0.061 m; (2) Tide–ECWL, where storms are damaging if Tide > 0.53 m and ECWL ≥ 1.3 m; (3) Runup–Tp, where storms are damaging if Runup ≤ 0.64 m or if Runup > 0.82 m with Tp ≥ 16 s. These results constitute the first application of machine learning for storm classification on the Senegalese coast, providing a novel quantitative foundation for better understanding the hydrodynamic conditions associated with damaging storms. The findings of this study could be valuable for risk management and the development of early warning systems Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been the most dependable and feasible choice for decarbonizing road transport over the last decade. To ensure the advancement of EVs and establish them as a sustainable alternative to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, the EV sector and technological growth have largely relied on government subsidies. A significant challenge for EVs is their faster depreciation compared to ICE vehicles, primarily owing to swift technological advancements that propel the market while simultaneously rendering older EV models outdated too soon. Another factor that leads to the quicker depreciation of EVs is subsidies. The anticipated cessation of subsidies is expected to provide the required leverage to mitigate the rapid value decline in EVs, given the larger price disparity between new and used EVs. Batteries, which enable EVs to be a viable option, significantly contribute to the depreciation of EVs. In addition to the potential decline in EV battery performance, advancements in technology and reduced prices provide newer models with improved range at a more affordable cost. The used EV market accurately represents the rapid devaluation of EVs; consequently, the two topics are tightly related. Though it might not be immediately apparent, it seems evident that the pace of depreciation of EVs significantly contributes to the small size of the second-hand EV market. Depreciation is a key factor influencing the used EV market. This manuscript outlines the key aspects of depreciation and sustainability in the EV transition, especially those linked to rapid technological advancements, such as batteries, in addition to subsidies and the used EV market. The objective of this manuscript is to expose and analyze the relation between the drivers of the second-hand EV market, such as the cost of ownership, technology, and subsidies, and, on the other hand, present the interplay perspectives and challenges. Full article

West Africa’s agri-food systems face a triple burden of malnutrition, climate vulnerability, and structural inefficiencies that compromise nutrition and public health. Despite increased attention to food security, agricultural strategies often prioritize yield over dietary quality. This paper explores the critical role of food processing in advancing Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) and Nutrition-Smart Agriculture (NSmartAg) across West Africa. Drawing on a systems lens, it positions food processing not as a peripheral activity, but as a catalytic mechanism that connects nutrient-dense production with improved consumption outcomes. Food processing can reduce post-harvest losses, preserve micronutrients, extend food availability, and foster inclusive value chains particularly for women and youth. Yet, persistent challenges remain, including institutional fragmentation, infrastructure gaps, and limited financial and technical capacity. This paper proposes a conceptual framework linking food processing to NSA and NSmartAg objectives and outlines operational entry points for implementation. By integrating processing into agricultural policies, investment, education, and monitoring systems, stakeholders and policymakers can reimagine agriculture as a platform for resilience and nutritional equity. Strategic recommendations emphasize multisectoral collaboration, localized solutions, and evidence-informed interventions to drive the transformation toward sustainable, nutrition-oriented food systems. Full article

This paper investigates religious encounters between Chinese and Senegalese Muslims in the relatively new Chinatown of Dakar. Chinese Muslims from Kaifeng City, Henan Province first arrived in Senegal in the 1990s following the Henan provincial state-owned construction company. They started a wholesale business mainly of clothing and shoes and brought their relatives and family members to Dakar. However, scholars studying the Chinese community in Dakar have largely ignored their Muslim identity and its significance. Moving beyond the conventional focus on tensions between Muslim and Chinese identities in the study of overseas Chinese Muslims, this paper turns to religious encounters in everyday life. Based on field research and interviews both in Dakar and Henan, this paper argues that for these Chinese Muslim businesspersons in Dakar, Islam as a shared religious identity sometimes provides opportunities to connect with their fellow Muslims in a foreign country. However, differences in religious practices can also lead to misconceptions between them and other Senegalese Muslims. This paper thus contributes to Islamic studies and the study of global China, particularly in relation to overseas Chinese Muslims, China–Africa encounters, and global Chinatowns. Full article

Food waste management is a major global issue, and alternative protein sources like insect farming offer a sustainable solution. This study investigated the environmental impacts of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) production using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), evaluating its role in both protein production and food waste treatment. The assessment considered three functional units: FU₁ (1 kg of dried larvae), FU₂ (per kg of protein), and FU₃ (treatment of 1 ton of food waste). The results indicate that larvae rearing is the largest contributor to emissions in FU₁ (46% of 18.51 kg CO₂ eq). In FU₂, BSFL protein shows a higher climate impact (49.41 kg CO₂ eq) than fishmeal or soybean meal but requires significantly less land. FU₃ demonstrates that BSFL-based composting can achieve net negative emissions (~−24.8 kg CO₂ eq), outperforming conventional waste treatment. An optimized scenario (Scenario A) shows marked improvements across all units compared to a Business-as-Usual case, including a 79% reduction in FU₁ emissions and a 577% increase in FU₃ carbon savings. These findings underline the environmental advantages of BSFL systems, especially in Singapore, and support their potential as sustainable alternatives for protein production and food waste management. Full article

The aim of the study was to assess the diversity of termites used in poultry feed in Burkina Faso. Termite samples were collected in eight of the thirteen regions of the country by poultry farmers, then conserved in 70° alcohol. The criteria used by poultry farmers for identifying the termite were also characterised and discussed with farmers in a village where the use of termites as poultry feed is well developed. Morphological identifications were carried out in the laboratory. Twenty species were identified in two families, six subfamilies, and thirteen genera. In the Heterotermitidae family, a single species belonging to the Coptotermitinae subfamily was identified. The rest belonged to the family Termitidae and the subfamilies Amitermitinae, Microcerotermitinae, Macrotermitinae, Nasutitermitinae, and Cubitermitinae. Three species, Microcerotermes fuscotibialis, Megagnathotermes notandus, and Isognathotermes fungifaber, were found for the first time in Burkina Faso. The largest number of species (eleven) was collected in the Cascades region. Poultry farmers are able to recognise eight genera of termites by the shape, size, and colour of the termites; by the termite mounds; and often by the location of the nest. These results may facilitate the promotion of the use of termites as poultry feed in Burkina Faso and West Africa. Full article

Momordica balsamina, a plant traditionally used in African medicine, contains a 30 kDa protein, MoMo30, previously identified by our group as an anti-HIV agent that binds glycan residues on the gp120 envelope protein, thereby acting as an entry inhibitor. In this study, we investigated whether prolonged exposure to MoMo30 exerts selective pressure on HIV-1 and induces mutations in the viral envelope (env) gene. T-lymphocyte cells were infected with HIV-1_NL4-3 and continuously treated with MoMo30 over a 24-day period. Viral RNA was isolated at regular intervals, and env genes were sequenced using the Illumina platform. RNA sequence variant calling was performed using iVar, which uses a frequency-based binomial test with a default allele frequency threshold of 3% and a minimum base quality of 20 and applies Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. The infectivity of the MoMo30-exposed virus was assessed using MAGI-CXCR4 cells, visualized by β-galactosidase staining, and compared to untreated controls. Statistical significance was determined via two-way ANOVA. MoMo30-treated HIV-1 exhibited multiple detrimental mutations in gp120 and gp41, including missense, nonsense, and frameshift changes. Notably, 32% of N-linked glycosylation sites were deleted in the treated virus, while no such changes were observed in controls. Functionally, the MoMo30-treated virus demonstrated a sixfold reduction in infectivity compared to untreated HIV-1_NL4-3. These findings suggest that MoMo30 imposes genetic pressure on HIV-1_NL4-3, selecting for mutations that reduce viral fitness. Full article

Vector-borne diseases pose a significant public health challenge in tropical regions, where complex interactions between hosts, vectors, and the environment drive epidemic dynamics. In this study, we develop a spatio-temporal mathematical model to describe the spread of such diseases, incorporating population dynamics and spatial–temporal factors affecting pathogen transmission. We conduct a theoretical analysis of the model, proving the existence, uniqueness, and positivity of solutions. Additionally, we examine equilibrium states and key epidemiological parameters, including the basic reproduction number. Our findings provide mathematical insights into epidemic propagation and offer a foundation for designing effective control strategies. Full article

This study aims to optimize daily forecasts of the PM2.5 concentrations in Dakar, Senegal using a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network model. Particulate matter, aggravated by factors such as dust, traffic, and industrialization, poses a serious threat to public health, especially in developing countries. Existing models such as the Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) have limitations in capturing nonlinear relationships and complex dynamics in environmental data. Using four years of daily data collected at the Bel Air station, this study shows that the LSTM neural network model provides more accurate forecasts with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 3.2 μg/m³, whereas the RMSE for ARIMA is about 6.8 μg/m³. The LSTM model predicts reliably up to 7 days in advance, accurately reproducing extreme values, especially during dust event outbreaks and peak travel periods. Computational analysis shows that using Graphical Processing Unit and Tensor Processing Unit processors significantly reduce the execution time, improving the model efficiency while maintaining high accuracy. Overall, these results highlight the usefulness of the LSTM network for air quality prediction and its potential for public health management in Dakar. Full article