Mosquitoes Can Learn To Avoid Pesticide After A Single Exposure.

 

Mosquitoes Can Learn To Avoid Pesticide After A Single Exposure.Mosquitoes can learn to avoid pesticide after a single non-lethal pesticide exposure, according to a study published Thursday in Nature, highlighting an overlooked challenge in fighting the spread of diseases and parasites like malaria, which has grown more widespread and severe due to Covid-19 healthcare disruptions.

 Researchers studied two mosquito species that are common in tropical and subtropical areas around the world: Culex quinquefasciastus—which spreads avian malaria, Zika virus and West Nile virus—and Aedes aegypti—which spreads dengue fever and yellow fever. 

 Mosquitoes learned to associate the smell of pesticide with the negative effects of pesticide contact, and were willing to forgo blood-feeding to avoid landing in an area that smelled of pesticide, researchers said. 

 Mosquitoes have grown more resistant to pesticide in recent years, and researchers identified mosquito cognition as an overlooked factor in this change. However, new pesticide solutions could be developed with a delayed reaction, so that a mosquito that survives exposure will not learn to associate the smell of the pesticide with the negative experience, Frederic Tripet, director of the Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology at Keele University in the U.K., told ABC

How sneezing hamsters sparked a COVID outbreak in Hong Kong.

How Sneezing Hamsters Sparked a COVID Outbreak in Hong Kong Hamsters are only the second species known to have spread SARS-CoV-2 to humans

 

Pet hamsters probably carried the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 into Hong Kong and sparked a human COVID-19 outbreak, according to a genomic analysis of viral samples from the rodents. 

The research confirms earlier fears that a pet shop was the source of the outbreak, which has so far infected about 50 people and led to the culling of some 2,000 hamsters across the city. 

Hamsters are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and so are a popular model for studying the virus. But the Hong Kong study — posted online as a preprint1 and yet to be peer reviewed — is the first to show that hamsters can become infected outside the laboratory, and that they can pass the virus on to both other hamsters and humans. 

 Hamsters are only the second animal known to be able to infect people, after mink. In late 2020, small outbreaks of COVID-19 in people in Denmark and the Netherlands were linked to farmed mink, sparking panic and mass culls. 

 The latest study points to the pet trade as a route for viral spread, says co-author Leo Poon, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong. But “to be fair to the hamsters”, people are still much more likely to be infected by each other than by pets, he says. 

             NEW ROUTE FOR VIRAL SPREAD .

Nevertheless, it is important to monitor the pet trade closely, says Marion Koopmans, a virologist at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. SARS-CoV-2 could continue to circulate in animals, evolving in unexpected ways, and then spill back into people, she warns, adding that “we don’t need more surprises with this virus”. 

 Hong Kong has maintained a strict zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19, so when a 23-year-old pet-shop worker tested positive for Delta on 15 January, Poon says it was “a bit bizarre”. The last time the city had seen Delta in the community was in October. 

 Within days, public-health officials had swabbed more than 100 animals at the pet shop and another 500 at the warehouse supplying it. They detected SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA or antibodies against the virus in 15 of 28 Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), but in none of the dwarf hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas or mice. 

 The researchers then analysed genomic sequences of samples collected from 12 hamsters and the first 3 infected people, including the pet-shop worker and a visitor to the shop. 

All of the samples contained a variant of Delta that had not previously been detected in Hong Kong and probably originated from the same source. 

 The team also noticed some diversity in the sequences, and concluded that the hamsters were probably first infected in November, before their arrival in Hong Kong, and that the virus had been spreading undetected among the animals, accumulating a few single-nucleotide mutations along the way. 

  JUMPING BETWEEN SPECIES The pet-shop worker and visitor were probably infected on separate occasions, and Poon says there could have been more jumps. 

Most surprising, he says, was that even after replicating in hamsters, the virus could still “transmit between humans quite effectively”.

US to fund research on Garri production.

 US to fund research on Garri production. Garri in the news, this is an indication there is a lot of money to be made from garri production and export.

The United States of America is set to fund breakthrough research on garri production to support nutritional improvement in West Africa.“This innovative research is leading to scientific breakthroughs with huge potential to reduce iron deficiency anaemia and protein-energy malnutrition.” 

 This use of garri to reduce hidden hunger, protein-energy malnutrition is already ongoing in Nigeria, as EchbeeFoods is already churning out such wholesome products. 

 Why use wheat? when garri can be fortified to make for bread, cake cookies and so much more SEE GARRI BREAD: soft garri , nutritious, bro mate and saccharine free.

Enjoy with your cup of tea or milk, school feeding programme idea.

AGRO-PROCESSING HUB :Agro Processing for Export.

 Did you know that there is an increase in demand for agro-processed foods by Africans in diaspora?

Did you know that there are over 20 million Africans in diaspora?

Did you know that the commonly requested foods can be easily accessed in Nigeria?

Did you know agro-processing is one key to increase food security?

Do you know that you can own an agro-processing business without huge monetary implications?

Welcome to the agro-processing hub, where you learn all you need to start, scale and promote your business.

Echbee Foods: Peppered Garri with Plantain.

 

Peppered garri.

Cabbage sauce.

Diced eggs.

                      peppered garri with plantain.

ECHBEE FOODS: TURNING YELLOW GARRI TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS.

 

Garri is a common staple in the country and many sub Saharan African countries, garri has also found a place in the international market. 

Garri is a considered a healthy food because its a fermented product and also because its insoluble fiber. Garri though rich in carbohydrate can be fortified with other nutrients to cater for various needs. Garri usually consumed as EBA with various soups OR soaked in water. Garri can be prepared in a variety of ways to produce wholesome nutritious meals .

GARRI FRIES.

Making delicious healthy fries from yellow garri.

The African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA ) and Garri Export.

 The African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA ) 

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a United States Trade Act, enacted on 18 May 2000 as Public Law 106 of the 200th Congress. AGOA has since been renewed to 2025. The legislation significantly enhances market access to the US for qualifying Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. 

Qualification for AGOA preferences is based on a set of conditions contained in the AGOA legislation. AGOA builds on existing US trade programs by expanding the (duty-free) benefits previously available only under the country’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) program.

 Duty-free access to the U.S. market under the combined AGOA/GSP program stands at approximately 6,500 product tariff lines, including the tariff lines that were added by the AGOA legislation. Notably, these newly added “AGOA products” include items such as apparel and footwear, wine, certain motor vehicle components, a variety of agricultural products, chemicals, steel and many others 

 

The African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA )  benefits for garri export.

 The new window may have re-opened vista for Nigeria and other countries in the region to grow their present $4.8 billion worth of non-oil exports to the U.S. to over $8 billion within the next 10 years, under the extended trade deal. Essentially, under the programme’s extended regime, African countries would be engaged in the rules of origin to engender value-addition of raw materials as they could now include the cost of direct processing, as they share production from one country to another on their way to the U.S. market.

 Furthermore, African countries exporting to the U.S. can also use the programme across borders, thereby stimulating intra-African trade in regional markets, where value may be further added to export products. 

 Hitherto, processed cassava grains, popularly called “garri” is processed in Nigeria but packaged in Ghana for acceptability. Under the new regime, exporters of such products can enjoy the cost of direct processing with the rules of origin. 

 Nigerian Garri on Amazon and other online platform

Ministry introduces 'garri jollof' into school feeding menu: promotion of garri to a main meal.

Mrs Cynthia Maamle Morrison, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has said “gari jollof” has been introduced as a new menu into the school feeding programme. She said the invention of the garri jollof, which food nutritionist has recommended as good would enhance the sustainability of the programme. 

                       A nutritious way to eat garri is to make Garri Jollof.

 Mrs Morrison made this known when she addressed caterers from 11 schools at Agona Bobikuma and Agona Kwamang in the Agona West Constituency of the Central Region at a training workshop to update their knowledge on the preparation of the new meal. 

 The workshop was on “Promotion of Garri into a main Meal.” She asked the caterers to fortify the meal by using locally available ingredients such as vegetables, carrot, cabbage, spring onions, legumes, beans, cow pea and egg, adding; “This combination makes it highly nutritional.” 

                                              

Garri Jollof with plantain.

 The Minister said the introduction of the garri jollof would ginger cassava farmers to increase production and improve food security.

 Garri jollof is nutritious and very delicious can be served with peas, eggs,veggies, shrimps, sardine, meatballs and plantain. 

Zambia introduces Nigerian Garri to school feeding programme.

 Zambia has introduced the consumption and production of ‘Garri,’ one of Nigeria’s major staple foods, into the country’s school feeding programme.

Garri is derived from processed cassava, which is grown in almost all parts of Nigeria and in some West African countries. But the investment appetite for the staple in the Southern African country has prompted the Zambian government to enter into partnership with JR Farms of Nigeria to grow cassava on a commercial scale.

The agreement was entered into recently in Lusaka by the Chief Executive Officer of JR Farms Limited, Mr. Rotimi Olawale, and the Chairman of Zambia National Cassava Association (ZANACA), Mr. Brighton Mulonga.

   If Zambia can put Nigerian Garri into the school feeding ,then the market for garri value addition is enormous. Garri though rich in carbohydrate  can be used in combination with other nutrients to produce wholesome nutritious meals for children and adults.

Echbee Foods uses yellow garri with other nutrients to produce wholesome nutritious meals for people of different ages. The Echbee cassava flakes and Echbee choco balls is a nutritious meal ideal for children. This can be taken as snack or cereal.

Garri choco balls.

 

Garri Choco balls in milk as cereal.

 This is a balanced meal, no child needs to go to school on an empty stomach.

                       Cassava flakes as cereal.

Cassava Flakes as a snack.

 Thinking of the school feeding programme our Garri burger bread or the Garri Chocolate bread  can be served.

            

Garri burger bread.

 Echbee foods re-defining the garri value chain. Food security just got a new boost with garri value chain

Garri-Akara.

GARRI BUSINESS: Garri burger bread.

Garri burger bread.

 

Garri project: turning yellow garri to delicious bread.

   Echbee foods is poised to show the potential of yellow garri by unveiling opportunities in the value chain.

 Garri can be branded and packaged for export. It can also be used to make mouth watering delicacies such as bread, cake, finger foods and so much more.

  

Garri mix

HOW TO MAKE GARRI BREAD.

Garri bread mix.

Bread dough

Bread dough in portions.

Bread dough set for baking.

Delicious garri bread.

 

Garri Chocolate Bread .

Garri chocolate dough

Garri chocolate bread set 

 

Garri chocolate bread.
   
Benefits.
1) Nutritious.
2) Super- light.
3) Rich in fiber.
4) Bromate-free.
5)No saccharine.
6) No Additive.
7) No preservatives.

Garri Recipe: Garri Choco-Balls As A Functional Food .

 Garri a staple food for a lot of people in the world.   Echbee Foods produces nutritious meals and snacks from yellow garri. The recipe today is the Echbee Garri Choco-Balls.

This nutritious recipe is a healthy substitute to sugar -packed cereals. The choco-balls made from yellow garri,cocoa powder and other ingredients show cases the functional status of garri.

What is a functional food? Functional foods are referred to as power / super foods based on the health benefits they provide and wellness they promote.Functional foods help fight diseases/ prevent diseases and boost immunity utilizing different methods depending on the nutrients it contain. 

   Benefits of functional foods.

  1) promotes gut health and enhance immune system. Garri as a functional food promotes gut health because of its fiber content, which also helps it absorb toxins from the digestive tract. Garri is a prebiotic, the fiber resists digestion but goes to the lower digestive tract and acts as food for probiotics thus promoting gut health. read more

Yellow garri is a functional food because aside from providing the essential nutrients for growth ,provides Vitamin A  as well  as fiber for health and wellness. The addition of cocoa powder increases the benefits making the garri choco-balls a super food.

Look at few benefits of cocoa powder: its rich in theobromine that helps reduce inflammation, protects from diseases such as diabetes,cancer and heart disease. Cocoa  is rich in phytonutrients but low in fat and sugar. Cocoa powder contains rich natural antioxidant, mopping up free radicals from the system.

Garri Choco-Balls. Can be eaten as a snack

Garri Choco-Balls. Can be eaten as a cereal.
 

Agribusiness: the future of retail.

 This is the future: with details on a card, enter the store and leave. The advantages are enormous:1) No queues. 2) No checkout contact 3) fast.

China Garri: China starts garri production with invention of special manufacturing machine.

 China now processing and packaging garri for sale. China has come up with innovative machines to remove the stress involved in cassava processing to garri.

 

 Opportunities in garri business, jump in.

 https://www.seair.co.in/us-import/product-gari/i-ayoka-food-llc.aspx

The garri success story.

Read.
 

Echbee Foods adding Value to Cassava for Health and Wealth.

   Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava of which 70% of it is processed to garri. The need to provide food for the estimated population of 10 billion by 2030 is very important taking into consideration the impact of climate change on agriculture.

 According to research there is an urgency to promote innovative  use of crops to produce new healthy products as well as look into the need to look at other food alternatives.

 Each country is blessed with a staple crop or produce which if properly harnessed will ensure food security, wealth creation as well as employment opportunities. This is the case of using what you have to get what you want.

 In Nigeria, we are so blessed with cassava. Lets look at the possibilities of turning garri a product of cassava to innovative products. Garri has also found its place in the international market with Amazon, Tropical sun and other sites selling branded packs online. The Africans in diaspora also  order some African foods such as crayfish, melon, pepper, yam flour ,garri e.t.c.

 The African food in high demand is garri, this gives credence to the study by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC)  : there is a market for high quality garri for exports and supermarkets. The export market has the potential to generate US$343,524 while the local domestic demand can add US$62,312 to the economy.   This is the export potential of garri , increasing foreign income if properly harnessed.

  Echbee Foods uses this garri to make healthy, nutritious foods that are healthy and affordable. Garri can be used to make bread replacing wheat thus saving forex spent on wheat importation. 

Garri cakes.

Cassava Flakes: garri as cereal

Cassava Flakes: garri as snack.

 Garri will create more employment opportunities because of new investors that will tap into garri processing, garri packaging and garri based foods/ snacks.

   Interested in the garri business? join the train.