SciDev.Net

Encouraging the spread of probiotic foods that promote healthy gut bacteria could help developing countries tackle obesity, says Kingsley Anukam.

Kit Vaughan says South African research ratings foster healthy competition — but should expand to reward individuals, not just institutions.

Ajaga Nji argues that failing democracies and the selfish influence of donors are dooming healthcare policies and systems.

A test for malaria caused by Plasmodium knowlesi exists, says Balbir Singh, but it isn't routine in rural areas where the disease is common.

Questions remain as to whether other countries' success with biofuels can be replicated in Africa, says Barry Muckle.

Nuclear development is unnecessary since solar power, transmitted from North Africa and the Middle East, can supply Europe, argues Gerry Wolff.

Science, and solar energy in particular, can play a key role in providing Kenya with a better future, says Sam Aola Ooko.

Henning Baur points out that Mwai Kibaki has not yet been 're-elected', and science and technology alone is not sufficient for development.

Closing the gap between researchers and policymakers might yield more research that is beneficial to the public, says Francis Masiye.

Markku Lehtonen argues that the Brazilian bioethanol sector must be looked at regionally to ensure social and green issues are dealt with.

Biofuels and carbon capture, two of the most favoured methods for sustainability, are a 'catastrophe for humankind', argues David Hill.

There are good and bad biofuel programmes, and we would do well to distinguish between them, says Steven Savage.

Biofuels have tremendous potential, but there is a danger of policy leaping ahead of the science, says Jeff McNeely.

Higher food prices due to biofuels will benefit the rural poor — it's the urban poor who will lose out, argues J. H. Tim Williams.

The biofuel industry needs to highlight the effects of biofuel production on water availability, says Mike Baker.

Biofuels production will not have a negative effect on food security in the United States, says Jacob Dubail.

Redistributing ocean water, evaporating seawater and using ocean turbine arrays can help combat global warming, says Richard LaRosa.

It is wrong to consider nuclear energy as 'renewable', says F. Spite.

Although China now ranks second in S&T publication rates, there is more to the story, says Loet Leydesdorff.

The developing world needs 'big projects, not small ideas' — and nuclear power is a viable and necessary solution, argues Marje Hecht.