Bio technology and food security

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND FOOD
SECURITY IN AFRICA

Walter S. Alhassan, PhD
FARA
UNN NSUKKA UNESCO INT CENTRE FOR
BIOTECH MEETING

ANCIENT PROVERB

„He who has bread may have
troubles; He who lacks it has only
one‟


INTRODUCTION

West Africa is a food insecure region.
The FAO (2012) estimates that 1 in 4 of
the world’s 840 million malnourished live
in West Africa. Globally, more than 1
billion people are malnourished. Rising
population and low agricultural
productivity worsen the food situation.


GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX

GHI= number undernourished as per cent of
total population + proportion chldn aged 5 and
below underweight + mortality in chldn 5 and
below.


INTRODUCTION
The 2012 Global Hunger Index (GHI)
map shows:
• Nearly all of sub-Sahara Africa is
in the “serious” hunger
classification.
• Exceptions are South Africa,
Gabon, Mauritius and Ghana.


INTRODUCTION

• For West Africa, Niger and Sierra Leone
classified as “alarming”.
• Ghana is the only country the sub-region
classified as “Moderate” and meeting the
MDG 1
• Most of the increase in food crop production
has been attributed more to areal expansion
of farmlands than increased productivity per
unit area.


2012 GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX
Source 50 JAHRE welt hunger hilfe,: IFPRI CONCERN worldwide (2012)

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INTRODUCTION
Solution lies in:
• The application of known
technologies in agriculture.
• Coupled with the introduction of
modern biotechnology on a need
basis.


INTRODUCTION
• Modern biotech covers a range of tools:
 Tissue culture
 DNA characterisation of germplasm,
 Marker assisted selection (use of DNA
fragments as markers for the molecular
identification of desirable genes)
 In 2012 a major breakthrough in Marker
Assisted Breeding was reported in
Tanzania for cassava.


INTRODUCTION
 Cassava varieties resistant to the ACMV
and Cassava Brown Streak Disease both
devastating of cassava in East Africa
were developed using MAS. Was a
collaborative research effort: ARI, Tanz,
CIAT, NRCRI, IITA, Donald Danforth and
GCP.
 Genetic transformation (genetic engineering
or genetic modification). Most potent of the
biotechnology tools. Use governed by the
application of legislative frameworks that
guarantee acceptable levels of safety.

GM RECENT BIOETHICS ANALYSIS
Study (Casquier and Otiz, 2012) considered the
social, cultural, environmental and moral
impacts of the use of modern biotechnology in
the transgenic improvement of crops,
concluded that:
• “in order to feed so many people without
destroying the environment in this century it
is necessary to have more production using
agro-biotechnology,
• In spite of all the objections it will contribute
to the conservation of biodiversity and the
preservation of the environment.”

WHEN CAN GM BE APPLIED?

• Intractable pests and diseases,
• Declining soil fertility,
• Climate change phenomena of drought and
flooding,
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Danger of agro-chemical residues in food or
water resources.
• Sustainable intensification of agriculture.


SOME GM APPLICATION
CHALLENGES IN AFRICA

• The existence of enabling legislation
for GM crops,
• Infrastructural support services,
• Agro-input supply
• Seed legislation
• Markets and a core of well-trained and
motivated scientists and informed
farmers


Burkina Faso GM Crop Status
• Cotton is biggest export crop. Africa’s leader.
• In 2012-2013 57.5% increase in cotton
reported due to GM application. 400,000 tons
in 2011 to 630,000 tons in 2012.
• About 250,000 of the 350,000 producers are
small scale farmers.
• Area under Bt cottong is 250,000 ha. Bollgard
II (Monsanto) used. Insect damage to cotton
is 50-70%. Pyrethroids used from 1998 but
there is built up resistance now. Increase
number of sprays from 4-5 to 6-8.

Fig 2. insect Pests of Cotton in Burkina Faso

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Burkina Faso GM crop Status

• Conventional cotton : increased resistance
from pyrethroids. More spraying (6-8).
• Bt cotton future management : refugia zones.
Relates to BIOTECHNOLOGY
STEWARDSHIP.
Currently 15m wide refugia advocated.

• Reduces chance of insect resistance to Bt.


Bt Cowpea

• Burkina Faso is the third largest cowpea
producer in Africa. Nigeria is the largest.
producer. Produced 537,000 tons in 2008.
Current yield is 600kg/ha.
• Major pests : Aphis, thrips and maruca.
Maruca pod borer is the most devastating.



Bt cowpea
• Burkina Faso is one of 3 countries in
Africa undertaking confined field trials
on Bt cowpea.
• Cowpea is genetically engineered to
control the cowpea pod borer (Maruca).



Africa Biofortified Sorghum (ABS)

• Nutrient enhanced sorghum (hi carotene,
iron and lysine) on test as at 2011.
• Gene flow studies.
• Burkina Faso is part of the ABS consortium
involving Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria. Most
of the consortium work has been
coordinated by Africa Harvest.


Nigeria GM crop Status
• National institutions actively engaged in GM
biotechnology research at the CFT level are
the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR),
Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria and the National Root
Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike.

• GM crops under study at the field trial level
are cassava, cowpea and sorghum


Biofortified Cassava (BC+)
• This is GM cassava enriched in carotene and
iron.
• It has been selected for high resistance to
African Cassava Mosaic Virus.
• Material on study was developed by the
Danforth Plant Science Centre, St Louis, Mo,
USA. Original material tested is to be
replaced by a locally developed cultivar
preferred by farmers.


• TME 7 is a preferred cassava variety to the
one earlier tested. It is thus a candidate for
transformation for fortification in micro-
nutrients.
• Mock confined field trials, started March
2012 on this variety to prepare for the GM
event. Future?? Danforth challenge?
Stewardship?
• Data on agronomic characteristics, pests and
diseases are being collected at the mock trial


TME 7 BC+ Candidate crop
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Cowpea Production, Nigeria

• World’s largest producer.
• 2.2 m tons grain produced
• 7 m ha cultivated
• Av yield is 350 kg/ha
• Grown extensively in the
Savannas/Derived Savannas.


Cowpea Production, Nigeria
Bt Cowpea
• Trials have been on-going under CFT for 3
years now.
• Promising lines have been identified and
have been introgressed into preferred local
lines and being evaluated. At least 2 more
years’ study pending food safety and mulit-
locational trials.
• Trials are at the IAR of the Ahmadu Bello
University Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.


Bt Cowpea Pod. IAR, Samaru,
Nigeria
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Ghana GM Pipeline Products
Permits have been granted for the following
CFTs:
 GM Insect (Maruca) Resistant Cowpea
(CSIR-SARI)
 Nitrogen and Water Use Efficient and Salt
Tolerant Rice (CSIR-CRI)
 GM High Protein Sweet Potato (CSIR-CRI)


Other High Potential GM Crops,
Ghana
Uncertain timeframe
• ACMV cassava. Suggest linkages: IITA, GCP..
• Black Sigatoka banana and plantain. Suggest
link with NARO, Uganda.
• Lethal Yellowing Disease Resistant Coconut
(Central and Western Regions of Ghana).
French assistance. Molecular non-GM
approaches.
• Diamond Back Moth (Plutela) resistant
cabbage. External GM solution available.


ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
• Globally has received much less attention
than crop biotechnology.
• Active areas include breed characterisation
using molecular tools. Senegal, Ghana, etc.
• Recombinant vaccine production. CBPP
vaccine is candidate for recombinant DNA.
Mali interest.
• Diagnostics
• Vaccine and diagnostics production are
costly. Need public-private partnership.


GM PROSPECTS: WEST AFRICA
• For Ghana: at least 3 GM crops will be tested
under CFTs starting 2012.
• For Ghana, Bt cotton will be introduced
without the need for a CFT. Multi-locational
trials on farmer’s fields will suffice.
• Nigeria will release Bt cowpea and nutrient
enhanced cassava in a 3-5 year timeframe.
• Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria are working
on the same Bt cowpea event. All countries
might release Bt cowpea over the 3-5 year
timeframe.

GM PROSPECTS: WEST AFRICA

• The release of GM crops into the food chain
by local public sector research institutes
might create a bandwagon effect in the
uptake of GM technologies in West Africa.
• Biotechnology stewardship training will
assume great significance in the handling of
GM crops including by small holder farmers.
• Such stewardship training has been
introduced to Burkina Faso, Ghana and
Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Malawi by the
FARA SABIMA Project.

CHALLENGES/WAY FORWARD
• Need to accelerate biosafety legislation.
Legislation should not be restrictive.
• Enabling environment for agriculture: seed
and other input supply, infrastructure
support services, market, etc.
• Scientific human resource development in
the critical areas: plant breeding, animal
breeding, crop protection, veterinary
medicine, fermentation, molecular biology
and biosafety.
• Increased efforts in animal biotechnology.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

• Dr. Hamidou Traore, INERA,
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
• Dr. Chiedozie Egesi, NRCRI, Umudike,
Nigeria.
• Dr. Marian Dorcas Quain- CSIR-CRI,
Kumasi, Ghana.
• Prof. Mohammad Ishiyaku-IAR, Samaru,
Zaria, Nigeria.



Thank you

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