FFF partner signs Grant Agreement with African Development Bank

(Brussels, 13 July 2012) FFF's project dealing the improvement of cocoa drying in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé has made an important step forward. Its partner and the implementing agency for the project - CocoaMasters - has signed the Grant Agreement with the African Development Bank. This means the project will soon kick off and yield tangible results. A project website was recently launched as well.

FFF support leads to two theses at the University of Kinshasa: Landolphia domestication and biochar on maize

(Kinshasa, 30 May 2012) - FFF is pleased to present two theses produced by biologists at the University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. A small grant by FFF helped the researchers to produce reports that may guide the development of innovative, sustainable agricultural systems. Orphée Mafuka tried to domesticate Landolphia spp - a wild tropical vine with a lot of potential for the production of delicious fruits and latex - and discovered germination and growth rates for 3 species. She is now planting out the seedlings in an enrichment planting concept. Jean-Pièrre Apandani analysed the effects of biochar on maize grown in depleted oxisols, close to primary forests. He studied yields and soils, and found that biochar may help phase out slash-and-burn farming by sedentarizing farmers. Jean-Pièrre Apandani's thesis: presentation (*.ppt), and Orphée Mafuka's thesis: presentation (*.ppt).

Expressions of Interest for Landolphia project yield success and are extended

(Kinshasa, 15 July 2011) - FFF's Landolphia project searched for EoI's from major rubber producers. It yielded an important number of expressions. In order to strengthen potential partnerships and increase funding, we now extend the deadline for EoI's to September 2011. This round will be aimed at scientific organisations, agro-industry agents and civil society organisations.While we prepare the application documents, please check out the project briefing. 

FFF launches Participatory Domestication Program I & II

(Brussels, 06 march 2011) - The programs, to be implemented in Central Africa, aim at ameliorating nutrition security, diversifying farmers' incomes, and creating value around the biodiversity of understudied (wild) edible species, while protecting the tropical rainforest from overexploitation. 

Participatory Domestication Program I focuses on amaranths and native potatos.

Participatory Domestication Program II focuses on wild edible fruits from the forest, in particular Landolphia.

Update (10/12/2010): Cameroonian government chooses FFF's renewable energy technology to dry cocoa

Cocoa farmers in southwest Cameroon, where cocoa quality has for years suffered as a result of unusually heavy rains, now have some good news: The government has announced a plan to dry cocoa beans with renewable energy.  To do so, it has chosen a technology developed by FFF. The technology will be implemented by two NGO's: CocoaMasters and Women for Green Growth . Read the article

Scanning the rainforest canopy in extreme detail: FFF's CanopyScan concept 

Brussels, 05 March 2010 - Poor rainforest nations have difficulties in obtaining ownership and control over Earth Observation (EO) technologies that allow them to assess the wealth of their forest resource.

Recognising this, FFF designs a low-cost tool that is easy to operate, durable and that yields extremely high resolution images of the forest canopy. The "CanopyScan" concept consists of a group of small, swarming unmanned airships that collaborate in order to extend their range and performance.

The technology may play a role in monitoring for REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) - a concept that will help these nations preserve their rich forests.  Read more .

FFF develops ultra-low cost, durable biogas units for developing countries

Brussels, 01 December 2009 - Farmers for the Future (FFF) have made a breakthrough design in biogas installations for rural households. The mass-manufactured units slash 75% of the cost of conventional plants, making rapid and massive uptake possible. 

The ultra-low cost units are currently undergoing pilot tests amongst rural families in Cameroon. If the units prove to meet stringent durability, functionality and cost criteria, they are set to become the leading tools for the switch to renewable energy in agrarian developing countries.

A switch to biogas amongst firewood-dependent communities prevents deforestation and indoor smoke pollution. It also helps farmers improve soil health and boosts sanitation in rural households

Satellite-based internet access for rural Africa can radically improve agriculture and lives of subsistence farmers

Abstract: Currently, only approximately 20 percent of the world population has access to the internet, which is mainly focused in North America, Australia, and Europe. More specifically, Africa being the most unconnected continent in the world has only 5 percent of its population utilizing the internet, whereas 70 percent of the population uses the internet in North America.

It is predicted that these unconnected areas of the world will soon be serviced via land lines in the coming decades. However, no short term solution to this problem currently exists.