The warning comes after observations of 20,000 corn trials in Sub-Saharan Africa were compared to weather data collected from the same areas.

The new CNV map – compiled from 270 individual genomes of people with African, Asian and European ancestry – will change the way in which scientists search for genes involved in disease.

According to Euromonitor, Africa has the potential to become a future space port, challenging the Americas and Middle East in offering such facilities.