SciDev.Net

CGIAR reforms take research decisions too far away, says Hartmann, director-general of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

We must take responsibility for the costs of modifying tropical ecosystems for human consumption, says botanist Scott A. Mori.

Contrary to oft-repeated claims, climate change is unlikely to cause a major rise in malaria, says medical entomologist Paul Reiter.

We must reduce the poor's vulnerability to insect-borne disease regardless of climate change, says public health expert Ulisses Confalonieri.

Reporting on how climate change affects health is a real challenge — screen your sources and find reliable experts, says Asefaw Getachew.

Interrupting funding for mass treatment of lymphatic filariasis can lead to a quick resurgence in the disease, say Kimberly Won and colleagues.

Governments must do more to support research published in local journals and make it visible, says South African scientist, Wieland Gevers.

In a letter to Science, Venezuelan minister of science Jesse Chacón rejects criticisms of scientific guidance under the Hugo Chávez government.

Governments need to regain control over their agriculture to combat climate change, says commodities specialist Peter Baker.

Without knowing REDD's true costs we can't analyse the benefits, says the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins' Peter A. Minang.

South Asian countries must be rewarded for afforestation, reforestation and carbon stock growth, say N. H. Ravindranath and Shamama Afreen.

Reducing deforestation is crucial to mitigate climate change, but it mustn't be used as an excuse to continue polluting, says Roman Czebiniak of Greenpeace.

Venezuelan science is falling foul of the government's agenda warns Claudio Bifano, president of the country's science academy.

Compulsory licensing of clean technologies will only be needed if developed countries duck UNFCCC obligations, says Dalindyebo Shabalala.

A lack of political will to create vaccines is causing millions of deaths a year due to infectious diseases, says Manuel Elkin Patarroyo.

We should heed researchers' findings that ceasing deforestation in the Amazon could boost its climate change resilience, says Andrew Mitchell.

Developing countries are making good progress on nanotech for clean water, say Paulo Sergio de Paula Herrmann Jr. and José Antônio Brum.

Sustainably developing drylands means balancing local knowledge, science and conflicting demands, says Elena María Abraham.

Forests are valuable assets, and reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) should be prioritised, says Virgilio M. Viana.

The Dominican Republic's science secretary said there is an urgent need to redesign academic curricula and train more competitive professionals.