Integrating Modern Biotechnology into Africa s Agriculture for Food Security and Wealth Creation

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1 Integrating Modern Biotechnology into Africa s Agriculture for Food Security and Wealth Creation Stephen Mugo Principal Scientist and CIMMYT Regional Representative (CCR) for Africa Presentation to the Integrating the Path in Africa s Agricultural Transformation; High-level Conference on Application of Science, Technology and Innovation in Harnessing African Agricultural Transformation, September, 2017, Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda

2 Outline 1. CIMMYT 2. Global food security challenge 3. Main features of Africa s agriculture 4. Modern biotechnology defined (Traditional vs modern biotechnology) 5. Integrating modern biotechnology in crop breeding 6. Why Africa needs modern biotechnology 7. Contributions of modern biotechnology in Africa 8. Example: The Bt Maize in Kenya example 8. Concluding remarks 9. Acknowledgements

3 Key Office Field Station Project CIMMYT Around the World 1200 staff from over 50 countries! Turkey Iran Afghanistan Kazakhstan Guatemala Colombia Mexico, HQ Pakistan Ethiopia Kenya China Nepal Bangladesh India Zimbabwe

4 Global Food Security Challenge How to enhance annual yield gains of maize from 1.6% to 2.4% on essentially the same land area, and as climate changes and the costs of fertilizer, water, and labor increase? World-wide average yield (tons ha -1 ) Climate change Water, nutrient & energy scarcity Diseases Agronomy Breeding Projected demand by 2050 (FAO) Linear extrapolations of current trends Potential effect of climatechange-induced heat stress on today s cultivars (intermediate CO 2 emission scenario) Year

5 Main features of Africa s agriculture Agriculture - Predominant sector of the economy, accounting for >25% of GDP Small family farms dominates - main source of food, employment, and income. Mixed-farming and diverse crops species Agriculture - top of the development agenda with increased proportion of national budgets Major Staples of Africa

6 Main features of Africa s agriculture Significant private companies investments in agriculture value chains (seeds, fertilizers and markets and information services Evidence of faster growth in agricultural productivity, improved nutrition, and greater job expansion Challenges: o Food insecurity o Emerging effects of climate change o Rampant land degradation o Rapid population growth o Rising urbanization

7 Maize and wheat production in Eastern Africa (2013) Production (Tons) Productivity (t/ha) Area Harvested (Ha) Country Maize Wheat Maize Wheat Maize Wheat Ethiopia 7,234,955 4,231, ,114,876 1,663,845 Kenya 3,513, , ,116, ,210 Burundi 127,829 5, ,242 9,766 Rwanda 480,000 67, ,000 30,990 Tanzania 6,737, , ,200, ,380 Uganda 2,763,000 22, ,105,000 14,000 This situation has to change and its changing partly through use of modern biotechnology

8 Challenges faced in Maize Production in ECA Yield potential Low soil fertility stress Drought stress Foliar and ear diseases (+ emerging) Stemborers, weevils and grain borers Non optimal crop management practices Less than optimal seed systems to reach smallholder farmers Less than optimal nutritional content of current maize varieties Maize yield Africa average = 2.0 t/ha Global average = 4.9 t/ha

9 Definition A wide array of technologies that use living organisms or substances from them to make or modify a biological product or to improve the organisms for specific uses. Scope Molecular markers technology Genetic engineering o Transgenics o Genome editing Biotechnology Defined Transgenic: An organism that contains a transgene ( an isolated and genetically modified gene) introduced by technological methods rather than through selective breeding. Genome editing: A type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted or replaced in the genome of a living organism using engineered nucleases, or "molecular scissors."

10 Biotechnology Traditional Biotechnology Modern Biotechnology Brewing/ Fermentation Tissue Culture Molecular Genetics Genetic Engineering

11 Production molecular markers for high value Production Markers traits in for maize High Value Traits Discovery Heat Striga Validation TSC GLS TLB Aflatoxin Drought NUE Soil acidity Deployment Provitamin A MSV MLN Haploid Induction Rate

12 Historical Development of Plant Breeding Selection Crossing Molecular breeding Gene transfer (e.g. insect resistance => Bt) Hybrids 4000 B.C Modern Biotechnology is a natural fit in the development and evolution of plant breeding science

13 Plant Improvement Options Related and Unrelated Species Linkage Maps Functional Genomics GENES Conventional Selection Marker-assisted Selection Genetic Engineering IMPROVED GERMPLASM Modern Biotechnology fits very well as one of the options of plant improvement

14 Average Corn Yield (in bushels per acre) Combination of modern biotechnology and breeding can maximize gains 300 Step-Changes in Yield Potential Historical Yield Projection 30-Year Trend, Based on Historical Yield Projection Molecular Breeding Benefit Biotechnology Yield Benefit = Transgenic DT Innovations in modern biotechnology throughout the value chain contribute to yield gain

15 Food security through Additive Progression Productivity Knowledge (extension) Subsistence smallholders Agronomy Soil/water management Robust seeds: good varieties (OPVs) Manure use Basic inputs Semi-commercial smallholders Basic crop protection (e.g. herbicide) Better varieties Integrated soil fertility mgmt Infrastructure Markets Commercial smallholders Hybrid seeds Biotechnology Seed treatment More sophisticated crop protection Advanced farmers Multi-trait (+/- GM) hybrid seeds Integrated solutions Post-harvest storage Return on Investment is the decision paradigm from enhanced basics to sophistication Source: Syngenta Foundation Stages of progression

16 Breeding by Crossing Gene of interest ( construction plan for a protein) Other genes are transferred X wild type promising line new variety Several steps of backcrossing necessary to get rid of undesired genes Breeding by crossing transfers more than just the gene of interest and results in linkage drag in the new variety

17 How to Make a GMO promising line gene of interest + single gene genetically enhanced variety identification and isolation Making a GMO transfers only the gene of interest and results in no linkage drag in the new variety

18 Creating Genetically Engineered Crops

19 Genome Editing

20 Why Africa needs modern biotechnology 2030=8b 2008=6.6b 1950=2b Source: FAO, World Bank The increased and more prosperous population will demand nutritional quality of food as well

21 Desirable traits from GM crops First Generation Improved productivity. Resistance/ tolerance to biotic stresses Some pests and diseases Tolerance to abiotic stresses Drought, heat, acidity Improved nutritional quality Nutrient use efficiency Second generation Broad ally of traits benefits to consumers Disease resistance Quality/nutritional traits (pro-vit A Golden rice, banana and sweet potato; bio-fortified Sorghum)

22 Contribution of Biotech Crops to Food Security, Sustainability and Climate Change Source: Brookes and Barfoot, 2017 Forthcoming

23 Contribution of Biotech Crops to Food Security, Sustainability and Climate Change Source: Brookes and Barfoot, 2017 Forthcoming

24 Contribution to Food Security, Sustainability and Climate Change Source: ISAAA, 2016

25 Benefits of Genetically Modified Crops Increased production 1. Increased crop efficiency 2. Protection from diseases, pests & herbicides 3. Improved nutritional quality & marketability 4. Resistance to adverse soil and weather conditions 5. Develop agri-ceuticals for improving health & environment Benefits 1. Economic 2. Environmental 3. Social Potential risks 1. Efficacy of the technology 2. Health - human and livestock 3. Environment 4. Socio-economic

26 Pesticide Reduction is Part of a Broad Platform of Benefits Benefits for the farmer Biotech crop Benefits for the consumer Benefits for the environment

27 GM Projects in Kenya I. Projects approved for NPT testing 1.Bt. Cotton for insect pest control at KARI Mwea 2.Insect resistant maize at KARI Kiboko II. Projects at the confined field trial stage 1.Water-efficient/drought tolerant transgenic maize at KARI Kiboko 2.Virus- resistant transgenic Cassava at KARI Alupe 3.Vitamin-A-enhanced cassava at KARI Alupe and KARI Mtwapa 4.Bio-fortified sorghum at KARI Kiboko III. Projects at the contained use stage 1.Bacterial-wilt-disease-resistant banana 2.Insect-resistant pigeon pea 3.Stress tolerant cassava 4.Nematode-resistant and virus-resistant yam. 5.Trypanosome resistance model studies on mice. 6.Trypanosome resistance in cow 7.Improved vaccines against livestock infections

28 GM Projects in Uganda I. Projects at the confined field trial stage 1. Bt. Cotton for insect pest control at NARO Kasese 2. Water-efficient/drought tolerant transgenic maize at NARO Kasese 3. Insect resistant maize at NARO Namulonge 4. Virus- resistant transgenic Cassava at NARO 5. Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) resistant Cassava at NARO 6. NUWEST Rice Nitrogen Use Efficient / water efficient and tolerant rice at NARO Namulonge 7. Banana Bacterial wilt resistant Banana 8. Banana Nutritionally enhanced (Fe and pro-vit A) banana 9. Banana banana parasitic nematode resistant banana

29 Why have Bt GM crops been adopted rapidly? A. Food safety Safety due to the use of genes with known characteristics Safety due to the intensive safety evaluation prior to commercialisation Its safety has been supported by many credible world health bodies. There has not been any issue of safety for nearly 20 years ( ) it has been consumed by millions of people. It can reduce health risks by reducing pesticide use. It has been shown to reduce cases of aflatoxins in maize. B. Environment It has not shown any negative effects on the environment. It will lead to reduction in pesticides use thus reducing risks to the environment.

30 The Stem Borer Problem in Kenya Loss of photosynthetic leaf area Dead hearts Lodging from damaged stems Increased ear rots & mycotoxins Reduced grain yields Causes loss of about 13% annually, valued USD 90 million.

31 Stem borer Management Options 1. Cultural control 2. Chemical control 3. Biological control 4. Host plant resistance (HPR) Conventional Biotechnology (MAS / GE) Host plant resistance is the most economical method to control stem borers, as it is environment-friendly, practical, relatively inexpensive, safe, and easy to adopt and to use by poor farmers Bt Non-Bt

32 Bt crystal proteins: The active ingredient in Bt from Bacillus thuringiensis easily bio-degradable specific insecticidal efficacy not harmful to humans, animals and the environment Bt-insecticides are registered in organic farming The gene encoding for some Bt-Proteins can be transferred to crops

33 Bt proteins: Mode of Action Maize with Bt gene larvae feeds on Bt maize the Bt protein damages the midgut of the larvae larvae die within several hours

34 Stem borer plant damage parameters Leaf damage Harvesting Exit hole Stem tunneling 9/28/2017 Grain yield

35 Leaf damage (0-9) Yield t ha Performance of Bt, non-bt and commercial checks c 9.7 b Bt Non-Bt Com Checks a b Bt Non-Bt Com Checks a b 40% yield advantage >60% leaf damage reduction Bt-hybrid Non-Bt isohybrid

36 %Stem tunneled Holes/plant Exit holes and tunnel length among Bt, Non-Bt and Checks b c 1 a 0 Bt Non-Bt Com Checks Holes c b a Bt Non-Bt Com Checks Bt- Bt+ Stem tunnelling

37 CIMMYT s Position Statement on GM Products GM crops have a role GM crops are not a "magic bullet Other global priorities Sovereignty and safety first. Policies and protocols in place CIMMYT Biosafety Policy and Procedures on GM Organisms CIMMYT Biosafety Committee Committee of Occupational Health and Safety. The private and public sectors' complementary roles.

38 Concluding Remarks Modern biotechnology provides us with tools for trait improvements in crop germplasm for increased grain yields in ways compatible to human and environment welfare. Its important that farmers and consumers of crop products in Africa be given an opportunity to benefit from increased opportunities, productivity, and efficiency and perhaps costs of food by having GM crops commercialized in African countries.

39 Acknowledgements WEMA project partner institutions Thank you for your interest!