BT Cotton in Burkina Faso: The impacts and lessons. Was GMOs a necessary intervention?

Transcription

1 National Conference on Just Governance: The Nigerian Biosafety Act, GMOs and Implications for Nigerians and Africa holding in Abuja from May 24 25, 2016 BT Cotton in Burkina Faso: The impacts and lessons. Was GMOs a necessary intervention? Valentin S. Edgar TRAORE, Ph.D. Virologist/Plant Breeder Seed Expert INERA, Burkina Faso traorevalentin@gmail.com

2 Outline Presentation of Burkina Faso History of cotton cultivation in Burkina Faso BT Cotton technology & the Burkina Faso Bt cotton Key Steps in Bt cotton adoption Sustainability of Bt cotton cultivation Sharing information

3 Presentation of Burkina Faso Burkina is a landlocked country (274,000 Km²) in the heart of West Africa, Economy based on agriculture involving 85% of active population Cotton is the No1 cash crop in Burkina contribution with 25% agricultural income Cotton remain for a while the first export product 2 nd after gold Cotton is a very sensitive crop for Burkina Faso

4 History of cotton cultivation More than 300,000 smallholder farmers are involved in cotton cultivation in Burkina, feeding from more than 3 millions people Cotton contribute to 52% of edible oil in Burkina It s also source of proteins for livestock In Burkina there is evidenced that cotton is a locomotive for cereal crops such as Maize & Sorghum

5 History of cotton cultivation/long duration with pesticides Cultivated since 1924, long time before independence in 1960 Since that time, Cotton cultivation was closely related to the use of pesticides particularly insecticides Many pests affect cotton cultivation: Helicoverpa armigera o Carpophagous (mainly the bollworm Helicoverpa armigera and other related species) o Herbivorous insect Anomis flava Spodoptera litoralis

6 Farmers decided to increase the number of insecticide sprays from 6 to more than 15 in some cases although this was unsuccessful History of cotton cultivation/resistance to pesticides During the years 1990 cotton farmers in Burkina faced two serious problems : Whiteflies outbreaks & Resistance of bollworm and related species to insecticides The cotton sector was badly affected the development of resistance to insecticides Pyrethroid insecticides Organophosphate insecticides

7 It is also important to notice that these same insecticides are often used by farmers on vegetable crops.consequences!!! History of cotton cultivation /Use of prohibited pesticides Endofulsan insecticide was also used despite its prohibition Endofulsan insecticides HARMFUL

8 History of cotton cultivation/ Search of solutions From research side, two main alternatives were considered for the management of pests: o First alternative: Research effort on baculovirus in order to develop viral bio pesticides Unsuccessful results baculovirus Larvae killed by baculovirus o 2 nd alternative: Adoption of BT Cotton from GMO technology

9 BT Cotton from GMO technology This cotton was already being grown by several countries like USA, China, India, South Africa, etc.

10 Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) Product Moreover Natural toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) are being used long time ago to control pests in organic agriculture worldwide. You get it from any shop as any normal pesticide in Burkina

11 Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) Product (A) Bacillus thuringiensis colony, (B) bacteria; (C) crystal protein

12 Specific action of Bt toxins in Lepidoptera Membrane of intestinal tract Proteolysis Active toxin Intestinal tract Protoxine Perforation of the intestinal membrane 1. Destruction of intestinal cells 2. Paralysis of the digestive system 3. Caterpillar stops feeding 4. Death 1-3 days after ingestion of crystal proteins Membrane of intestinal tract Specific Receptor

13 Burkina Faso Bt cotton & Cotton seed system Bt cotton in Burkina Faso is BollgardII Oil mill (R5) o Involving 2 genes Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab from MONSANTO o Cry1Ac & Cry2Ab genes FIELD were PRODUCTION inserted by backcross into Burkina cotton varieties (R3-R4) 360,000 Ha Driving to a co-property between Monsanto and Burkina FIELD PRODUCTION o The cotton seed production (R2) (BT & Ha Conventional) is entirely handled by the national seed system of Burkina SEED PRODUCERS (R1) 680 Ha SEED FARM (G3) 20Ha INERA Research STATION (G0-G2)

14 Key Steps in Bt cotton adoption From 2003 to 2006 Confined field trials after permits were granted by the National Biosafety Agency (ANB) Confinement layout

15 Key Steps in Bt cotton adoption From 2007 to 2009 Pre-release trials (experimentation of new varieties in farmer fields) BT-cotton seed multiplication Beginning of production of commercial seeds of GM Bollgard II cotton and cultivation in field Commercial production starting from 2009

16 Key Steps in Bt cotton adoption Burkina has a strong commitment for biotechnology from high level decision makers Visit of field trials Researchers / Medias/ Civil society Policy makers Technical Ministries (MECV, MAHRH, MESSRS) Cotton companies (SOFITEX, SOCOMA, FASOCOTON) International organisations (ACA, ISAAA ) Partner MONSANTO ISAAA, 2006 MAHRH, 2006, Boni

17 Main results from INERA research stations

18 Main results from on station research Bt cotton efficacy test on specific pests: Carpophagous bollworm Helicoverpa armigera and related species (Earias, etc.) Number of caterpillars per Ha BT cotton Conventional cotton-sprayed Conventional cotton- Not sprayed DP50 Not sprayed

19 Main results from on station research Effect of Bt cotton Performance BT cotton Conventional cotton-sprayed Conventional cotton- Not sprayed Yield of cotton with seed DP50 Not sprayed

20 Main results from on station research Genes Flow Less than 0,5% at 15 m without any insecticide treatments ; 0,1% à 15 m with insecticide treatments Non targeted species- toxicity Non targeted fauna: Number of families (105); Number of individuals variables depending on years Non affected by Bt-toxin No major anomaly observed in behaviour of bee colonies and development within a Bt cotton plots (IRSAT 2005) Hymenoptera

21 Main results from farmers fields (rural area)

22 Main results from farmers fields (rural area) Production cost (ha) Insecticides Seed Cultural Fertilizer & operation Herbicide Total

23 Main results from farmers fields (rural area) Pests control BT-C CONV Pests incidence

24 Main results from farmers fields (rural area) Bt cotton contributed to reduce volume of pesticides to be used Economy on quantity of pesticides

25 Main results from farmers fields (rural area) Bt cotton contributed to reduce labor Reduction of drudgework

26 Main results from farmers fields (rural area) Effect of Bt cotton on yield ( ) Effect of BT Cotton on yield

27 Main results from farmers fields (rural area) Comparison of conventional and Bt cotton total production Evolution of BT Cotton production

28 Small country but No 1 in Africa with about 600,000 T of cotton in 2015 It is more than evident that Bt cotton contributed to push Burkina: from 11 th position in years 1990s to 1 st cotton producer (since 2009)

29 Challenges

30 Sustainability of Bt cotton cultivation Challenges 1. Train cotton farmers The durability of Bt technology require training of farmers on technical itinerary and GAP (Right doses of fertilizers, Spray itinerary, refuge zones ) Ex: 2009 implementation of the two required insecticide sprays : o 39% farmers = sprayed twice (as recommended) o 39% farmers = sprayed only once o 22% farmers = No spray 2. Insure quality seed management Germination + presence of both cry1ac and cry2ab genes 3. Insure quality traits such as fiber length management Cotton fibers are getting shorter and shorter : Financial lost for Cotton companies

31 Sustainability of Bt cotton cultivation Managing the problem of fiber length Transitional measures from cotton companies Reduction of Bt cotton cultivation area from 70% to 50% Return to conventional pending resolution of the fiber length problem As consequences: Additional 1,600,000 liters of insecticides will be pored in Burkina Faso this year 2016 Burkina became a field school for the whole Africa

32 Sustainability of Bt cotton cultivation Managing the problem of fiber length Solutions envisaged by research are: To advance backcross up to BC6 or BC7 (ONGOING) To convert other local varieties with longer fibers to Bt To keep improving production itinerary To perform research on more strong technology Cotton-BGII-RRF (roundup ready flex) To improvement seed production system by the implementation stewardship principles Possible introduction and evaluation of genetic materiel from other countries

33 Sustainability of Bt cotton cultivation What people needs? Right information on Agricultural Biotechnologies particularly on GM-crops

34 GMOs is not only about MONSANTO! Agricultural Biotech Research Institute (Iran), Agritope Inc. (USA), BASF, Bayer CropScience, Bayer CropScience and MS Technologies LLC, Bayer CropScience and Syngenta, Beijing University, Bejo Zaden BV (Netherlands), Central Institute for Cotton Research and University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad (India), Centre Bioengineering, Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Microbiology, CAS (China), J.R. Simplot Co. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Cornell University and University of Hawaii, Cotton and Sericulture Department (Myanmar), DNA Plant Technology Corporation (USA), Dow AgroSciences LLC, Dow AgroSciences LLC and DuPont (Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc), DuPont (Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.), EMBRAPA (Brazil), Florigene Pty Ltd. (Australia), Genective S.A., Huazhong Agricultural University (China),

35 OFAB-Burkina Faso Chapter The OFAB Burkina Faso chapter was launched in October 2012 PC Members (12): involving University of Ouagadougou, ABNE, ANVAR, RECOAB and ANB, INERA Prof. KONATE launching OFAB Burkina Dr. Denis KYETERE: AATF Executive Director

36 Sustainability of Bt cotton cultivation MISSION: Sharing the right information on agricultural Biotechnology 1. Historic of modern biotechnology and its management in Burkina Faso 2. Modern biotechnology and its management in Burkina Faso 3. Modern biotechnology products in Burkina Faso 4. Marker assisted selection for resistance to rice yellow mottle virus in farmers 'preferred rice varieties in Burkina Faso 5. Genetically modified plants 6. Genetically modified organisms: products of modern s biotechnology 7. Burkina Faso biosafety framework of Genetically modified plants 8. ISAAA annual report on global status of commercialized biotech/gm crops

37 Target public Students, farmers, civil society organisations, journalists etc

38 Sustainability of Bt cotton cultivation Press editors as well as Journalists were trained in INERA Labs In collaboration with ANB, Explanation of Bt Cowpea CFT and ongoing research activities

39 Contribution of medias in sharing right information

40 Contribution of medias in sharing right information Very Good titles in press! Not fear titles.

41 Contribution of medias in sharing right information The meetings were extensively covered by the media including national and private televisions, newspapers and radios.

42 Contribution of medias in sharing right information Debates on biotech products were animated through radio broadcasts

43 Contribution of medias in sharing right information Radios and TV which are shared OFAB events in 2014/2015 Radio Solenzo FM Solenzo Radio Télévision du Burkina Bobo-Diooulasso Savane FM Radio Ouagadougou Ouaga FM Radio Ouagadougou Horizon FM Radio Ouagadougou Radio Omega Radio Ouagadougou Radio Salankoloto Radio Ouagadougou Radio Télévision du Burkina/ Radio Ouagadougou Impact TV Ouagadougou Horizon FM Dédougou Radio Salaki Dédougou Radio Tamba Fada N Gourma

44 Contribution of medias in sharing right information Farmers as well as politicians should be conscious of the importance agriculture challenges in this context of climate change. Erratic rainfall combined with agricultural constraints such as pests and diseases need to be addressed by any innovative biotechnology developed by research scientists. GMOs are also part of such innovative and new technologies which are very interesting alternatives to face important constraints to our agriculture. For instance Bt cotton has hugely contributed to increase yield with very lower use of pesticides. This will surely limit environmental pollution especially our underground water table has said Naaba Patrick Ouédraogo Chief of Boussou also secondary school teacher in Life & Earth Science at Gourcy secondary school. Traditional Chief of Boussou (farming village around Gourcy) wearing a red cap

45 THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION MERCI POUR VOTRE AIMABLE ATTENTION