Kano Indigene Scientist Leads Breakthrough Research to Help Crops Use Nutrients from the Air

AA TIJJANI
A Nigerian scientist based in France, Dr. Mubarak Mahmud, has led a groundbreaking study that could transform modern agriculture by helping crops obtain a vital nutrient directly from the air, potentially reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Dr. Mubarak, who hails from Kano State, Nigeria, is conducting the research at the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, in collaboration with Université Bourgogne Europe in Dijon, France.

According to the scientist, the essential nutrient required for plant growth is abundant in the atmosphere. However, many major food crops such as maize, wheat and rice are unable to access it directly. As a result, farmers around the world depend heavily on chemical fertilizers to enrich soil with the nutrient.

Experts say the heavy use of synthetic fertilizers presents several challenges. Apart from being expensive for farmers, the chemicals can also contribute to environmental problems including water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that worsen global climate change.

The new research led by Dr. Mubarak focuses on how naturally occurring soil microorganisms can help plants access this important nutrient from the air through biological processes. By harnessing these natural mechanisms, scientists hope to develop sustainable agricultural practices that will allow crops to grow efficiently without excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers.

If successfully developed and adopted on a large scale, the discovery could lower farming costs, protect the environment, and improve food production worldwide.

Researchers say the study represents an important step toward building a more sustainable agricultural system that benefits both farmers and the planet.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BREAKING: FG Approves 40% Pay Rise —Non-Academic Staff Left Out

Image
Nigeria’s university system has been thrown into fresh debate following confirmation that the Federal Government’s newly approved 40% salary increase applies strictly to lecturers, leaving non-academic university workers completely excluded from the landmark deal. The historic agreement, signed between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ends a 16-year renegotiation stalemate and delivers a major financial boost to academic staff alone — professors, readers, senior lecturers, and other teaching personnel in federal universities. ZANCEN YAU 247 has gathered that , according  to official details of the agreement, the 40% increment is tied to the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONUASS) and enhanced academic-specific allowances, particularly the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) meant for research, publications, conferences, and teaching support.     ZANCEN YAU 247    has l...
Read more

Nigeria’s Ivory Towers in Ruins: An Investigative Look at the Dilapidated State of Nigerian Universities

Image
Across the country, Nigeria’s public universities — once proud centres of academic excellence — now tell a story of chronic neglect, crumbling infrastructure, and systemic failure.  Despite repeated government promises, reforms, and intervention funds, the reality on the ground remains stark: lecture halls are dilapidated, hostels overcrowded or unsafe, laboratories obsolete, and academic activity repeatedly disrupted by strikes and funding shortfalls. A Legacy Fading: What We Saw in the Country’s Premier Institutions At the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria’s oldest university and once a symbol of academic strength, the decay is unmistakable. Cracked walls, leaking roofs, and peeling paint scar once-majestic buildings, even iconic landmarks such as Trenchard Hall. Frequent power outages force reliance on noisy, polluting generators. Road networks within the campus are potholed, and water scarcity undermines hygiene.  “We are trying to provide a world-class educat...
Read more

BREAKING: US Finally Withdraws from WHO

Image
The United States has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move that strips the UN health agency of one of its largest financial contributors and marks a major shift in global health diplomacy. The withdrawal follows an executive order signed a year ago by US President Donald Trump, who repeatedly accused the WHO of being overly “China-centric” in its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision  ZANCEN YAU24  understood has now taken full effect, confirming the US exit from the global health body. In a statement, the US Department of Health and Human Services said the withdrawal was based on what it described as the WHO’s “mishandling” of the Covid-19 crisis, its failure to implement meaningful reforms, and what it called undue political influence from member states. ZANCEN YAU24 learned that the the World Health Organization has strongly rejected the allegations. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the US dec...
Read more