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IMAGE: The edible yam tuber has a starchy, white flesh. Yams are a great source of fiber and potassium. view more
Credit: S. Yamanaka
Yams are a staple food in West Africa, which produces over 90% of the world s yams each year. Yams play a key role in the food security, economic income, and traditional culture for the region.
While they are commonly assumed to be the same as sweet potatoes in the U.S., yams are a completely different plant. The yam tubers are much starchier and drier compared to sweet potatoes. Yams are native to Africa and Asia, and most Americans have never had a true yam.
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2021 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers
123SHARES 2021
Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers.
This annual award is organized by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council (AFFRC), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan, and supported by Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS).
Its purpose is to increase motivation among young researchers contributing to research and development in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and related industries in developing regions. Young researchers who show outstanding performance and research achievements that may lead to future innovation will be commended with the Japan Award.
Up to three young researchers who have shown:
Application Deadline: March 22nd 2021
The Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers, which began in 2007, is organized and presented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan and Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). Its purpose is to increase motivation among young researchers contributing to research and development in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and related industries in developing regions, which is promoted by Japan for the benefit of those countries. Up to three young researchers who have shown
outstanding performance in research and development in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, or related industries for a developing region, and who show great promise
Scientists reveal the hybrid origin of the white Guinea yam
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18 December 2020
An international team of scientists has revealed the origin of the most popular food staple in Africa, the white Guinea yam.
Yam is a major staple widely consumed in West Africa. This starchy tuber is an important food crop that contributes to the sustenance and sociocultural lives of over 300 million people in the region. Many species of yam are grown in Africa, of which white Guinea yam (
Dioscorea rotundata Poir) is indigenous to West Africa. Despite its importance, relatively little is known about the white Guinea yam, especially at the genetic level, leading to its being branded as an “orphan crop.”