As Africa emerges from a season of pandemics and climate extremes, and braces for yet another drought, there is an urgent need to find new, sustainable ways to feed the continent's growing population.
In Asia, reptiles are playing a small but increasingly important role in addressing a wide range of novel agri-food challenges. Could reptile farming help Africa in a similar way?
But why reptiles?
As a highly specialised group of animals, reptiles require 90% less food calorie inputs and can cope with extreme conditions better than most warm-blooded animals, and they do not transmit dangerous diseases.
The impacts of climate change are bearing down on Africa's livestock systems like never before. A high likelihood of El Niño arriving on the back of record-breaking temperatures could severely strain both livestock production and fisheries.
The long-term climate forecast suggests this situation will continue to deteriorate.
Efforts to feed our growing population with safe, nutritious, and sustainable
