Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood- Transforming Technologies

Transcription

1 Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood- Transforming Technologies Annual Report 2016 Better tools, better harvests, better lives

2 Happy African woman carrying straw, Ethiopia Photo credit: Bartosz Hadyniak

3 Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood- Transforming Technologies Annual Report 2016

4 Correct citation: AATF (2017).Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood- Transforming Technologies. Annual Report Nairobi, Kenya: African Agricultural Technology Foundation ISSN African Agricultural Technology Foundation. All rights reserved The publisher encourages fair use of this material provided proper citation is made Editors: Nancy Muchiri, Emmanuel Okogbenin and Peter Werehire Design theme concept: Nancy Muchiri, Peter Werehire, Nancy Juma and Evelyn Situma Design and layout: Predon Company Limited, Nairobi, Kenya Printing: The Regal Press Kenya Limited Cover: Girls carrying farm produce, Ondangwa, Namibia Photo credit: Thomas Cockrem / Alamy Stock Photo

5 Contents Who we are...1 Highlights...5 Message from the Board Chair...17 Message from the Executive Director...19 Priority Areas...23 Priority Area 1: Mitigating Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture...24 Developing drought tolerant and insect resistant maize...29 Priority Area 2: Pest Management...34 Controlling Striga weed in maize farms...37 Managing the Maruca pod borer in cowpea...43 Improving banana, Ensete and cassava against bacterial diseases...49 Managing the maize lethal necrosis disease...53 Priority Area 3: Mechanisation...56 Promoting agricultural mechanisation for efficiency and better productivity...61 Priority Area 4: Soil Management...66 Improving rice productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa...69 Priority Area 5: Enabling Environment...72 Product profiling and ex ante socioeconomic impact assessment...74 Intellectual property management and licensing...76 Regulatory and policy engagement...78 Product stewardship...80 Communication, issue management and public acceptance...82 Deployment...84 Positively influencing policy change for an agriculture friendly environment...87 Building seed bridges to improve small-holder access to quality seed...91 Priority Area 6: Improving Breeding Methods...94 Developing hybrid rice with yield advantage...97 Priority Area 7: Improving Food Safety and Quality Financial report Board of Trustees AATF Staff Acronyms Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies i

6 Farmer carrying harvested rice, Madagascar Photo Credit: Michele Burgess / Alamy Stock Photo ii Annual Report 2016

7 Who we are The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is about linking African farmers with practical, technological solutions. Established in 2003, AATF is a not-for-profit organisation that is addressing a critical challenge for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) access and delivery of appropriate agricultural technology. AATF is meeting this challenge by facilitating and promoting partnerships with both public and private sectors to access, adapt and deliver appropriate agricultural technologies for use by smallholder farmers in SSA. These partnerships bring together the best academic, scientific and business expertise with experiences and indigenous knowledge of Africa. Use of appropriate technology is key to reversing the low agricultural productivity in Africa and unlocking the potential of African smallholder farmers. AATF believes African farmers deserve access to technologies available to farmers elsewhere in the world as they shoulder the burden of feeding a rapidly growing population estimated to grow to 2.5 billion by 2050 (UN). These technologies vary depending on the priority needs identified by farmers and can include chemical, mechanical, biological, biotechnological and process-based solutions. AATF s long-term commitment to African farmers is driven by its vision of a prosperous and food secure Africa. AATF works to ensure that farmers have better tools which will contribute to better harvests leading to better lives through: n Mitigation of the effects of climate change and improvement of on-farm efficiencies leading to improved and stabilised yields that will engender a more food secure Africa and enable farmers to plan for the future. n Increased income that leads to a better quality of life. n Better on-farm environment with reduced chemical use and enhanced nutrition levels contributing to a healthier life for the farmers and consumers. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 1

8 Who we are n Development of sustainable business-based solutions that will encourage growth of agriculture as an economically viable enterprise. n Strengthening of regional capacity for science that will facilitate decision making and uptake of innovative technologies by smallholder farmers. AATF presence and priority areas AATF is active in 13 countries of east, southern and west Africa. AATF s current focus is on confronting specific problems threatening the most important food and high priority crops for smallholder farmers and their families, including maize, rice, cassava, cowpeas, bananas and potatoes. It is involved in 10 partnership projects that address farmer priority areas affecting 160 million households. The priority areas are: 1. Climate change mitigation; 2. Pest management; 3. Soil management; 4. Improving food quality; 5. Mechanisation; and 6. Improved breeding methods. The seventh priority area that AATF works on is on realisation of an enabling environment to ensure that the technologies developed are supported by appropriate regulatory frameworks, 2 Annual Report 2016

9 Who we are stewarded appropriately to farmers and that market linkages are strengthened and relevant knowledge provided for sustainable technology use. Investors and partners The Rockefeller Foundation, United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) through UK aid, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were the original funders of AATF. The funding they provided enabled the establishment of the Foundation, initiation and implementation of projects, and building capacity to leverage additional support from other investors for both core and projects. AATF partners include African national agricultural research and extension institutions; national government; African seed traders, agribusiness, community based non-governmental and farmer organisations; leading industry technology developers; and major international research organisations, and research centres affiliated with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). UK aid from the UK government, one of the original funders of AATF, provides core funding that supports the Foundation s operations such as building institutional capacity and strengthening corporate governance. It partially supports some projects, complementing project funding from other investors, and wholly funds others. UK aid wholly funds the Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-processing Project. The US Agency for International Development (USAID), one of the original funders of AATF, supports the Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient, Salt-Tolerant Rice Project; Pod-Borer Resistant Cowpea Project; and the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project. USAID has also previously provided core funding for operational support. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supports the WEMA, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) and the Hybrid Rice: Breeding by Design projects. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has also previously provided core funding for operational support. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation supports the WEMA Project. Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture supports the Seeds2B Project. Fintrac supports the Striga Control Project Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 3

10 4Young men with a heavy load of bananas, eastern Congo Photo credit: Guenterguni 4 Annual Report 2016

11 Highlights January n The Uganda National Biosafety Commission granted a three-year Confined Field Trial (CFT) permit extension to the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA). n 19 Nitrogen Efficient, Water Efficient and Salt Tolerant (NEWEST) rice lines (NEWEST 1 to NEWEST 19) were shipped by Arcadia Biosciences, California, to National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) in Badeggi, Nigeria. n Dr Denis Kyetere, Executive Director AATF, attended the meeting on establishment of the African Hub of the Global Cassava Partnership for the 21 st Century (GCP21) January 2016 in Nanning, Guangxi, China. It was agreed that more African scientists and leaders be engaged on the advantages, establishment and management of GCP21 in Africa. Daily Monitor editors & senior journalists interact with NaCRRI scientists at the WEMA- CFT site for stacked-gene (Bt-Dt) maize trials Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 5

12 Highlights Cassava farmers participating in the CAMAP Project in their farm in Zambia February n WEMA received approval for environmental release of Bt insect pest protected Bt maize for Kenya the first in east Africa and most of Sub-Saharan Africa. n The WEMA Project held its 8 th Annual Review and Planning Meeting from February 2016 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania during which it assessed progress made during 2015 and prepared its 2016 work plans. n The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) of Ghana granted a threeyear CFT permit extension to the Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea project. In addition, compliance audits were carried out as per the United States Agency for International Development-Initial Environmental Examination (USAID-IEE) requirements to ensure biosafety compliance during field trials. n NBA reviewed and granted an approval to move the NEWEST Rice CFT site from Nobewam to CRI Station in Kumasi and a threeyear CFT permit authorisation that will allow the project to conduct CFTs until Planting of the 5 th NEWEST rice CFT at Nobewam, Ghana 6 Annual Report 2016

13 Highlights March n WEMA Project team in partnership with participating seed companies embarked on a campaign to promote DroughtTEGO over 3,500 farmers from Western and Eastern Kenya were reached. n AATF joined stakeholders in the biosafety regulatory field during the launch of the Association of National Biosafety Agencies in Africa (ANBAA), in Nairobi, Kenya on 9 March. ANBAA aims at promoting sharing of biosafety information. n AATF renewed the sublicense for the transgenes (Plfp, Hrap, Espflp) being used for the development of bacterial wilt resistant banana to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). n AATF participated in the launch of the Biotechnology and Biosafety Rapid Assessment and Policy Platform (BioRAPP) by the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Nairobi Kenya on 10 March The four-year project is focused on the development of economic models and a series of case study analyses to forecast biotechnology impact of GM crops and trait specific varieties. A farmer buys TEGO hybrid maize during the Eastern Kenya Road Show April n A stakeholder workshop for hybrid rice was held on 12 April 2016 in Malindi with a total of 29 participants from 13 private seed companies, Africa Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), Hybrids East Africa Ltd (HEAL), awhere and AATF. Participants to the Hybrid Rice Project Stakeholder workshop held on 12 April 2016 in Malindi Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 7

14 Highlights Demonstrating application of drone to WEMA PDT for phenotypic data collection during PDT field monitoring visit to CIMMYT Zimbabwe Station, Harare, Zimbabwe n The WEMA Product Development Team (PDT) visited breeding programs in Mozambique and Zimbabwe from 3-8 April 2016 to review quality of management of trial sites within the two countries. The PDT is made up of the WEMA partners that include the NARs in the five countries (Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda), Monsanto, the International Maize and Wheat improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and AATF. n The Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-processing Project (CAMAP) was officially launched in Zambia on 19 April 2016 by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Hon. Given Lubinda, MP. n An AATF team led by the Chair, Board of Trustees, Dr. Ousmane Badiane, paid a courtesy call on the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, in Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire, on 25 April 2016 to congratulate him for initiating the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program. TAAT is a critical strategy of AfDB to transform Africa s agriculture and ensure that the continent is self-sufficient in food production. n Kenya begun its first ever trials of stack maize hybrid (TELA DT-Bt) in confined fields at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) stations in Kitale and Kiboko. The trial in Kitale was aimed at collecting field data on efficacy of highland stem borer. n Field visit of WEMA PDT team to breeding sites in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 8 Annual Report 2016

15 Highlights May n AATF Executive Director, Dr Denis Kyetere, participated in the inaugural Alliance for African Partnership workshop that explored opportunities for collaborative engagement between Michigan State University (MSU) and its partners in Africa to address emerging challenges to smallholder farmers in Africa. The convention was held from May 2016 at MSU, Michigan, USA. n Over 40 participants from seed companies, research and development organisations met on 24 May 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya to review standard operating procedures (SOPs) for managing the Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease. The SOPs were developed by AATF, Alliance for Green Revolution (AGRA) and CIMMYT with proper seed management practices as part of mitigation. n AATF participated in the 2016 annual meetings of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank in Lusaka, Zambia, through exhibition and networking opportunities with AfDB officials and stakeholders. AATF Board Chair, Dr Ousmane Badiane, paid a courtesy call on the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, in Abidjan. He was accompanied by AATF staff Dr Denis Kyetere, Dr Emmanuel Okogbenin and John Makokha The Zambia Minister for Agriculture, Hon Given Lubinda, launches the CAMAP Project at Mansa Zambia with Dr Denis Kyetere, AATF Executive Director in attendance in April 2016 Sindiso Ngwenya (right), COMESA Secretary General, and Denis Kyetere, Executive Director, AATF, during the signing of the MOU. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 9

16 Highlights Maize field affected by MLN disease n AATF and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 23 May Under the MoU, AATF will be responsible for the identification and engagement of key stakeholders in the development and dissemination of information on agricultural technologies including biotechnology. Participants to the stewardship and CFT compliance training held for CFT operators and representatives of the Tanzanian Ministry of Science and Technology at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro and the Makutupora CFT site from July 2016 n The WEMA Project and the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) organised a biotech training workshop for Tanzania scientists and research managers from National Agricultural Research Systems on May 2016 at the Sokoine University of Agriculture. June n AATF organised a side event on Taking GM Crops to Market in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Special Focus on Policy and Regulatory Environment on 13 June during the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) 7 th Africa Agriculture Science Week held in Kigali Rwanda on June. Meeting participants urged African governments to establish favourable biotech regulatory regimes and made three recommendations: intensifying engagement of policy makers; increasing farmer and consumer education; and coordinating collaborative efforts. The event 10 Annual Report 2016

17 Highlights attracted 41 leading scientists and policy experts in Africa. n Tractor operators, project coordinators and extension officers under the Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-processing Project (CAMAP) project in Nigeria were trained on cassava mechanisation and modern agricultural practices from 13 to 18 June 2016 at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Kwara State, Nigeria. n AATF held a training workshop for accountants managing the OFAB project funds during the project s annual review and planning meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 8 to 9 June The training aimed at forging a common understanding on financial management of OFAB funds. July n The Hybrid Rice Breeding by Design Project (AATF) in partnership with awhere, ihub and IOTA hosted a 3-day hack4farming hackathon competition under the theme: Inspiring Technological Intelligence for Seed Companies from July Data analysts, computer programmers, developers and seed company representatives took part in the competition. n Tanzania gave approval for planting the first transgenic CFTs in the country following which WEMA planted its first batch of Bt Maize. n A biotech communication and sensitisation workshop for journalists and extension officers from central Kenya region was held in Embu from 7 8 July 2016 attracting agricultural extensions agencies, the media and seed companies. Participants at various state of training during the CAMAP training in Nigeria Participants during the OFAB accountants training in Addis Ababa Gilbert Gumisiriza, National Biosafety Committee, Uganda, presenting at the AATF side event during the FARA conference in Kigali, Rwanda Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 11

18 Highlights n The WEMA project conducted a training on stewardship and compliance for CFT operators and representatives from the Tanzania Ministry of Science and Technology at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro and the Makutupora CFT site, Dodoma from July n WEMA Uganda officially introduced the DroughtTEGO maize into the market on 14 July 2016 during the Nile Annual Agricultural Show in Jinja where His Excellency President Museveni had a chance to visit the DroughtTEGO exhibition. Dr. Kayode Sanni (second right), Rice Project Manager, AATF and Ms Leila Al-Hamoodah (third right), Data Analyst, awhere with members of Team MbeguBora, the overall winners of the Hack4Farming Nairobi 2016 Hackathon August n The PBR Cowpea Project planted trials on the efficacy of the Bt gene in controlling Maruca vitrata in Burkina Faso (Farako-Bâ) and Ghana (SARI Research Station of Nyankapala). n The first farmer-managed confined field trials were planted in three PBR Cowpea Project sites of Nigeria Bakura (Zamfara), Minjibar (Kano) and Zaria on August. n Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) approved the Hybrid Rice Project request for client managed National Performance Trials (NPT), using a modified KEPHIS protocol in five designated locations: Hola, Malindi, Mwea, Kisumu and Bondo in Kenya. n The AATF Executive Director hosted a delegation of Uganda MPs to discuss approaches of promoting the science and technology agenda in agricultural development in Uganda. President Museveni visits the AATF stand at the Nile Show in Jinja, Uganda 12 Annual Report 2016

19 Highlights September n The seeds of 8 potential NUE lead events, the bulk nulls and NERICA4 were shipped from National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), Uganda to National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), in Badeggi, Nigeria on 9 September n The Hybrid Rice Project submitted the 15 best performing rice hybrids for National Performance Trials (NPTs) in Kenya. The first NPTs were planted in five KEPHIS designated locations in Hola, Malindi, Mwea, Kisumu and Bondo. n The Legal and Licensing Team of the WEMA Project held a training for scientists from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) dealing with crops research on Intellectual Property Management from 8 to 9 September n The Executive Director AATF addressed the Sixth African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) held from 5 to 9 September 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya. He spoke as a panellist during a side event on showcasing models with potential to deliver dubbed Transformative Models for Scaling Up in the Face of Climate Change. October n AATF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) facilitated a CAMAP workshop in Abeokuta, Nigeria held October to deliberate and strategise on economically feasible and sustainable business approaches for the successful mechanisation of the cassava sector in Nigeria. The meeting attracted 55 participants from eight countries. Farmers showing cowpeas at various status of development during the farmer-managed CFTs Dr Denis Kyetere (third right), AATF Executive Director, participated in the Sixth African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Nairobi, Kenya Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 13

20 Highlights n OFAB participated in the Cornell Alliance for Science Biotech Global Leadership Program held October 2016 in Ithaca, New York. During the meeting, OFAB made presentations and discussed biotech advocacy needs with the Global Alliance for Science 2016 fellows from Africa. OFAB also chaired panel discussions on agricultural biotechnology during an open town hall meeting in Ithaca. n The Executive Director represented AATF at the World Food Prize event in Des Moines, Iowa, for continued networking with current and new partners. November n The Seeds2B project organised a field day to review performance of new n sorghum and pearl millet hybrids in Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Seed Trader s Association, Market Linkage Organisation and the Lowveld Research Institute of Zimbabwe s Department of Research and Specialists Services. Over 150 participants from Zimbabwe and Malawi participated. Ten OFAB partners graduated from Cornell University with certificates in Science Communication and Advocacy after a 12-week intensive training. The partners drawn from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Malawi and Ethiopia were beneficiaries of the on-going OFAB Africa partnership with the Cornell Alliance for Science. All the graduates are now lead probiotech advocates in their countries in partnership with OFAB. OFAB team participants at the Cornell Alliance for Science Biotech Global Leadership Program 14 Annual Report 2016

21 Highlights n OFAB in collaboration with WEMA Kenya commenced biotech awareness training for scientists and non-scientists working at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) institutes. The target of the workshops is to reach 47 KALRO centres across the country to build awareness on agricultural biotechnology. n The NEWEST Rice Project team in Nigeria planted the second NUE Confined Field Trial at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi on 11 November December n The second National Performance Trials (NPTs) for the 15 best performing rice hybrids were established in five KEPHIS designated locations in Kenya (Hola, Malindi, Mwea, Kisumu and Bondo). Seeds2B Sorghum Review field day Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 15

22 African ladies transpoting water for domestic use Photo credit: Sisoje 16 Annual Report 2016

23 Message from the Board Chair The most effective way to reduce poverty is to raise the productivity of resources that poor people depend on for their livelihood. For most African countries, these resources are agricultural land and labour. Growth within the agriculture sector does not only lead to improved food security among rural farming communities, it also spurs growth in other sectors of the economy as farmers spend their incremental income on locally produced goods and services. With sustained growth and transformation of the agricultural sector and the rural economy, more wealth is created, generating fiscal resources to invest in infrastructure, education, health, science and technology all catalysts for economic transformation and industrialisation. Agriculture is however a technologyintensive undertaking and is bound to be even more so in the decades to come. While we are looking for responses to the technological challenges faced by the agricultural sector today, we also need to pay attention to the future. The global community cannot meet the challenge of feeding an additional 2.5 billion people by 2050 without a more productive and competitive agricultural sector in Africa. A failure to sustainably and competitively raise production in the agricultural sector would penalise African countries in two significant ways. Global food supplies would rise less, leading to higher food prices. African countries would not only miss the opportunity to earn foreign exchange from higher exports, they would also have to import food at higher prices to meet their domestic needs. 2.5 bn additional number of people expected by 2050 At AATF we are doing what we believe is important for the continent Ousmane Badiane, AATF Board Chair and its future. What we do today as a continent and what others do will affect what we become. Through our work in partnership with others, we are ensuring that Africa has the relevant expertise to manage a variety of technologies so that the question is not whether to use or not to use a particular technology but rather how much we have mastered particular technologies to the level where we have the freedom to select what benefits our farmers and the continent. We continue to work with country governments and organisations in Africa and elsewhere on a number of public-private partnerships to avail to smallholders technologies that can address key problems they face for enhanced productivity and improved livelihoods. Such technologies include those that aim at increasing yields, improving nutrient content, dealing with pests and mitigating climate change. Another key element to accelerating agricultural transformation is an enabling Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 17

24 Message from the Board Chair environment that will nurture publicprivate partnerships and encourage investment in the sector. In countries where the agricultural sector has witnessed remarkable performance, there has been strong political commitment and support, often at the highest levels of government. Governments, donors, farmer groups, private sector, and civil society all play important roles in driving a common vision for agricultural development. 110 number of hybrid maize seed released to African Seed market through AATF in last 13 years We are encouraged by progress made during We saw more products get to farmers hands some of them novel such as the TELA Bt maize planted for the first time in South Africa bringing total number of hybrid maize seed released through AATF since inception to 110 (99 through WEMA and 11 through the Striga Control in Maize Project). More seed companies expressed interest in our products, increasing the number of companies working with AATF to 40 by end Despite the challenges posed by the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease, certified seed produced increased to more than 4,800 tonnes through our WEMA and Striga Control projects. Close to 1,960 tonnes of this seed was sold to farmers sufficient to plant 78,000 hectares of farmland (at a rate of 25kg/ ha). The enabling environment greatly improved especially for biotechnology, though we continue to experience a 40 - number of seed companies working with AATF by end ,800 - tonnes of seed produced through our WEMA and Striga Control projects during 2016 number of challenges. We are doubling our efforts and working more closely with governments to find answers and facilitate further progress. As I commence my service as Chair of the AATF Board of Trustees, I am encouraged by the achievements we have realised over the years with our partners. I recognise and salute the efforts made by my predecessors, especially Prof Idah Sithole-Niang, in steering this unique initiative towards success. During the year, we welcomed to the Board Dr Ingrid Wünning Tschol, Senior Vice President for Strategy at Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH. I look forward to tapping into her extensive experience as we strategically steer AATF towards successful realisation of its goals. With her and other colleagues, we will work with management to enhance the position of AATF as a major player in the technology area. May I therefore take this opportunity to thank our partners, including governments, investors, my fellow trustees and our staff for their continued support during I urge them to keep up their interest in AATF as we look to doing more during ,960 - tonnes of maize seed sold to farmers during ,000 - hectares of farmland that can be planted with the 1,960 tonnes of seed sold 18 Annual Report 2016

25 Message from the Executive Director AATF progressed well in all its project goals during the 2016 financial year recording key firsts in some areas as we continue to focus on providing technology-based solutions to a broader farmer community based on their needs. A key highlight for us during 2016 was injection of an additional 38 maize hybrids into the commercial seed market in east and southern Africa. Of these, 33 were realised under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa Project (WEMA) that released 28 conventional (DroughtTEGO ) and 5 transgenic varieties as part of our climate change mitigation work, while 5 hybrids trademarked StrigAway were released through the Striga Control in Maize Project that is contributing towards pest management interventions. Some of the conventional WEMA hybrids are recording, under moderate drought, yield benefits of up to 56% (3.9 tonnes per hectare) compared with the commercial varieties used as checks (2.5 tonnes per hectare). StrigAway hybrids have achieved yield benefits of between 0.5 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare, which at times is about 100% depending on severity of Striga infestation. We also expanded the range of products that is getting to farmers through our activities. The first transgenic product out of the WEMA Project, the insectpest protected (Bt) maize, trademarked TELA, was planted by farmers in South Africa. This is a first for AATF and we are excited and thankful to all our partners. The five TELA hybrids are being licensed to seed companies for production. The year also saw us broaden our engagement with farmers and farmer groups to enhance better understanding of the technologies and encourage uptake of products in the various countries. For Denis T Kyetere, AATF Executive Director the first time, the farmers we work for were able to evaluate the performance of transgenic crops through the Pod Borer (PBR) Cowpea Project. The farmers planted, managed and harvested the PBR cowpea and presented the results to other farmers during field days eliciting excitement and interest. The PBR Cowpea Project looks forward to moving towards environmental release. More farmers managed to get access to financing opportunities through our mechanisation initiative, the Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-processing Project (CAMAP). This was achieved through partnership with financial institutions and the private sector. These opportunities allowed farmers access to affordable mechanisation services for their cassava production under an arrangement where farmers pay 50% of the total cost at the start and the balance within the cropping period. This builds on the project s business model of cost recovery that is developing a revolving fund that seeks to increase the number of Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 19

26 Message From The Executive Director 56% yield benefits recorded by conventional WEMA hybrids under moderate drought, farmers utilising mechanisation on their farms. By close of year, the project had received commitment from financiers to support mechanisation of 3,900 hectares in Nigeria. The number of participating farmers grew within the year to 5,000, up from 4,500 in 2015 as a result of the favourable returns on investment due to higher yields and better quality. The land under cassava cultivation also expanded to 6,000 hectares, up from 4,500 in It is our hope that additional investors will come on board in 2017 to enhance the farmers opportunities for mechanisation. We continued to work with a number of seed companies to address bottlenecks that hinder smallholder farmers access to appropriate quantities of high quality seed in a timely manner and at affordable prices. We engaged in about 30 collaborative activities through the WEMA, Striga Control in Maize, Seeds2B, Hybrid Rice and PBR Cowpea projects to achieve this objective which we believe will provide a wider reach and better choice of products for smallholder farmers. We recorded good progress under product development. WEMA-Mozambique released its first conventional DroughtTEGO hybrids under WEMA and also received approvals to carry out the first confined field trials in the country to test the stacked drought tolerant (DT) and Bt insect-pest protected varieties. Tanzania also granted the first-ever CFT approval in July/August 2016 to the WEMA Project. Additionally, WEMA Kenya and WEMA Uganda tested the stacked drought-tolerant and insect-pest protected varieties for the first time in confined field trials. In our soil management interventions, the Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant (NEWEST) Rice Project closed the year with identification of two Nitrogen-Use Efficient (NUE) lead events for further evaluation. Early food safety evaluation for the NUE protein was carried out. The Hybrid Rice Project entered 15 varieties into the National Performance Trials in Kenya in readiness for release to farmers. Regarding product deregulation, a key development during 2016 was approval by the Government of Kenya in February to allow environmental release of WEMA s insect-pest protected (Bt) maize. This was the first time such an approval was granted not only in Kenya but the whole of east Africa and indeed most of Sub-Saharan Africa and we are delighted to have been part of this achievement. It is unfortunate that this approval has not yet translated into a product for farmers due to unprecedented regulatory and policy constraints that we are currently engaged in addressing. We continue to face challenges on the overall regulatory and policy front. However, we recorded a number of victories indicating progress towards success. In Nigeria, the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) made its first approval for environmental release of Bt cotton and Bt/HT maize for Confined Field Trials. In Kenya, biotech stakeholders were pleased with Parliament s decision to remove the contentious clauses from the proposed Natural Resources (Classes of Transactions Subject to Ratification) Bill, 2015, that sought to introduce parliamentary ratification of all CFT permits for genetically modified (GM) 20 Annual Report 2016

27 Message From The Executive Director crops and material transfer agreements (MTAs) involving any natural resource in Kenya (plants, animals and microorganisms). Through our Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFA Project, we continue to work with partners in Uganda towards the passage of the Biosafety Bill into law, and we are hopeful of success. Our finances were stable during the year which allowed us to meet our obligations fully. We were encouraged with mobilisation of an additional US$ 13.5 million to support our work in advocacy and seed systems. We are grateful to all our investors for the continued support and belief in our work. With the support of our Board of Trustees, we are focusing our resource mobilisation on driving annual work streams and on more long term sustainability. We grew our human capital by 10%, building the core competencies on commercialisation, project coordination, 1.5 tonnes yield benefit through StrigAway maize seed in tonnes per hectare communications, advocacy, information systems, legal and resource mobilisation. This growth is in line with the need to build on our core strengths to support our work across Sub-Saharan Africa and it brings the total AATF staff complement to 56. The year 2016 was therefore quite productive even with the few policy challenges that delayed attainment of some goals. We are grateful to our dedicated team at AATF and the Board of Trustees that have continued to provide advice, our partners, investors, the researchers and other professionals who work with us to improve smallholder farmers lives. We look forward to an even more exciting Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 21

28 An orange street vendor carries goods for sale on a street in Bafoussam, Cameroon Photo credit: Jean-Pierre Kepseu 22 Annual Report 2016

29 Priority Areas The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) has assigned high priority to agricultural technologies that would otherwise not have been accessible to smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Identification of the priority areas and selection of projects to address these areas is undertaken through a demand-driven process that includes a needs assessment and review of priorities by other key players in the sector in Africa. Currently AATF has 7 priority areas under which it has built a portfolio of 10 projects covering 6 key staple crops maize, cowpea, banana, rice, cassava and potatoes. The priority areas are: 1. Mitigating Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture page Pest Management page Mechanisation page Soil Management page Enabling Environment page Improving Breeding Methods page Improving Food Safety and Quality page 100 Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 23

30 Mitigating Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture: Constant changes in global climate mean that crops are affected by factors such as changing temperatures and/ or higher carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, resulting in yield declines and disease spread. Weather patterns (changes in temperature, humidity and rainfall) affect survival and rate of growth in crops ultimately determining the level of yields at harvest (Wheeler 2015). The IPCC-5 Report (2014) indicated that there will be greater impact of climate change on food security, health and education in Africa. The impact of fluctuations in climate patterns on crop production has shown a negative effect on crop yields globally (Gumel et al. 2016), with further effects on hikes in commodity prices as a result of climate extremes in key producing regions (FAO 2016). In any given year, an estimated 20% 25% of the global maize production area is affected by drought (Heisey and Edmeades 1999). In Africa, climate change is characterised by reduced levels and more so delayed or erratic rains at planting and during active growth stage of crops leading to declines in maize crop yields over years (Msowoy et al. 2016, Omoyo et al. 2015). Up to 70% declines in maize yields was reported in Swaziland between 2004 and 2005 according to FAO/ WFP (Osen and Masarirambi 2011). Severe drought accounts for half the world s food emergencies annually (FAO, 2006). In 2003 for example, the World Food Program spent US$565 million in response See Pg 29 WEMA 20% 25% - Global maize production area affected by drought each year 20 million number of tonnes of tropical maize production lost each year to drought 24 Annual Report 2016

31 Priority Area 1 to drought in SSA (Doering 2005); while in 2011, aid agencies requested for US$2.48 billion to address the drought crisis in east Africa. According to the Rockefeller Foundation, approximately 20 million tonnes of potential tropical maize production is lost each year due to drought (Doering 2005). There are also broader, more systemic effects of drought beyond food and nutrition insecurity such as decreased household income, the loss of assets due to slaughter of livestock, health threats due to the lack of water for hygiene and household uses, environmental degradation, increased conflicts between crop farmers and herdsmen over use of scarce water resources, and less sustainable land management. Drought continues to ravage the rainfed crop production in Africa, making rain-fed agriculture an increasingly daunting task especially for smallholder farmers, the majority of whom are women. AATF has been working on development of novel technologies to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture through two of its projects the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project and the Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant (NEWEST) Rice Project. 22 million number of people in Africa affected by frequent drought 12 million number of people WEMA aims to impact positively Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 25

32 Mitigating Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture: References Doering Don S Public-private partnership to develop and deliver drought tolerant crops to food insecure farmers. Winrock International FAO Crop and food supply assessment mission to Swaziland. j2678e/j2678e00.htm (accessed August 2006). FAO Climate change and food security: risks and responses. Rome: Available at fao.org/3/a-i5188e.pdf Garrity D.P., Oldeman L.R. and Morris R.A Rainfed lowland rice ecosystems: characterization and distribution. In: Progress in Rainfed Lowland Rice. Los Banos, Laguna: IRRI p3. Gumel D.Y., Abdullah A.M.B., Yacob M.R., Sood A.M., Bose M.M. and Ghadimzadeh A A status quo review of approach, method, and empirical studies on assessing the impacts of climate change variability on agriculture. Journal of Agriculture Environmental Science 5: Heisey P.W. and G.O. Edmeades Maize Production in Drought-Stressed Environments: Technical Options and Research Resource Allocation. Part 1 of CIMMYT 1997/98 World 26 Annual Report 2016

33 Priority Area 1 Maize Facts and Trends; Maize Production in Drought-Stressed Environments: Technical Options and Research Resource Allocation. Mexico D.F.: CIMMYT. IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2014), pp Msowoya K., Madani K., Davtalab R., Mirchi A. and Lund R.J Climate change Impacts on maize production in the warmer heart of Africa. Water Resource Management 30: Omoyo N.N., Wakhungu J. and Oteng i S Efects of climate variability on maize yield in the arid and semi-arid lands of lower eastern Kenya. Agriculture & Food Security 4: 8. Osen T.O. and Masarirambi M.T Effect of cliamte change on maize (Zea mays) production and food security in Swaziland. American-Eurasian J. Agric and Environ. Sci. 11(3): Wheeler T Climate change impacts on food systems and implications for climate-compatible food policies. In: Aziz Elbehri (ed). Climate Change and Food Systems: Global Assessments and Implications for Food Security and Trade. Rome: Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 27

34 Woman carrying a bag of flour on a bicycle in Chikowa, Zambia Photo credit: Elfart 28 Annual Report 2016

35 Mitigating Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture Priority Area 1 Developing drought tolerant and insect resistant maize Maize production is severely affected by drought and insect pests, which negatively impact yields leading to hunger and poverty. The Water Efficient Maize in Africa (WEMA) Project is developing maize hybrids that are suitable for moderate drought conditions and are resistant to insect pests. Moderate drought occurs about two weeks before flowering to about three weeks after flowering leading to 25% 50% yield reduction compared with well-watered crops. Stem borer insect pests feed on maize leaves, stems and ears causing substantial yield reduction in maize. Insects impact yield by reducing the plant s ability to use already limited water and nutrients. Insects present a challenge for small-scale maize farmers in Africa who have little to no resources to effectively manage the insects. During drought, maize is particularly susceptible to pests and farmers can experience complete loss. The WEMA partnership is developing insect pest protected (Bt) maize to protect maize from the spotted stem borer (Chilo partellus) and the African stem borer (Busseola fusca). The project is using a combination of conventional, marker-assisted breeding and advanced biotechnology techniques. It is estimated that 22 million people in Africa are affected by frequent drought and insect-pest damage and WEMA aims to benefit at least 12 million people by The project, which commenced operations in 2008, is being implemented in five countries of Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project Making history moving science closer to farmers The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project seeks to help farmers manage the risk of drought by developing and deploying maize varieties that yield better under drought conditions and can tolerate stem borer insect pests that inflict further damage to the maize crop during drought. The year 2016 was Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 29

36 Developing drought tolerant and insect resistant maize one of great achievements in the project especially on maize hybrid release and progression of the transgenic work. The project also faced some unprecedented challenges in the policy environment area and complications from new diseases affecting maize. A boost to farmer yields and the commercial seed market By the end of 2016, WEMA had contributed an additional 33 maize hybrids that included 28 conventional (DroughtTEGO ) and five transgenic (TELA ) varieties towards boosting the commercial seed market in east and southern Africa. For the first time, two conventional hybrids were approved for commercial release in Mozambique. The total number of WEMA hybrids released to date stand at conventional and 5 transgenic varieties. Some of the conventional hybrids are recording yield benefits of up to 50% compared with the commercial varieties used as checks. The WEMA Project s breeding pipeline is still full with over 12,000 hybrids and more than 20,000 parental lines under various stages of development and testing, even though only WEMA-RSA was able to register some conventional WEMA hybrids from their breeding programme for commercialisation by seed companies during It is expected that the other NARS will be entering materials from their breeding programmes into the WEMA-wide testing network from The project continued to build uptake and use of its products through engagement with farmers and seed companies. Over 1,600 on-farm product demonstrations were set up in the five WEMA Project countries. The demonstration plots were established to compare the performance of WEMA hybrids with other varieties grown by farmers. The demonstrations were used to host 90 field days and workshops through which the project reached out to over 18,000 farmers 59.2% women and 40.8% men. These field days provided opportunity for farmers to interact, buy WEMA products, and learn about product stewardship. The project used the events to also gather feedback from farmers and seed companies on product performance. Tackling the MLN menace Breeding for tolerance to the notorious Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease recorded great results. In evaluations done in Kenya, the top three hybrids had five times higher grain yields than the best commercial check (DroughtTEGO WE1101), indicating a highly significant improvement in breeding for tolerance to the disease. Those hybrids also had MLN scores of compared to the commercial checks with MLN scores of Four MLN-tolerant hybrids have been recommended for commercial release in Kenya. The MLN tolerant trait is currently being incorporated into the various WEMA breeding programmes. Historic milestone in drive towards commercialisation of Bt maize At the beginning of 2016, Kenya s National Biosafety Authority (NBA) granted the WEMA Project conditional approval for environmental release of Bt insect-pest protected (MON810) trait. This was the first time such an approval was made in Kenya and east Africa and indeed most of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a development that the project partners are highly proud of. The NBA conditions required the applicants the Kenya Agricultural 30 Annual Report 2016

37 Mitigating Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture Priority Area 1 99 Number of hybrids released by WEMA to date. 33 maize hybrids Total number of hybrids released by WEMA during ,600 number of on-farm product demonstrations during % - Yield advantage with Bt gene over non-bt maize. and Livestock Organisation (KALRO) and AATF to carry out compositional analysis of the maize under Kenyan environment conditions. Compositional analysis is used to verify that the improved variety is equivalent to the conventional variety except for the insect protection characteristics. The analysis is to be carried out during National Performance Trials (NPTs) under the guidance of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) as part of the variety certification process. NPTs are the usual means of assessing the performance of the varieties against existing varieties and determining which varieties are suitable for which agroecologies. The conditions further required that an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) on the NPT sites be carried out prior to planting the trials, and the report be submitted to the National Environmental MLN disease trial field at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organisation Naivasha station Management Agency (NEMA) for review and approval. The ESIA project report was submitted to NEMA on 19 April 2016 by the applicants KALRO and AATF; and the licence to proceed to the next stage is being awaited. First WEMA GM product in farmers hands South African smallholder farmers were the first to benefit from WEMA s insectpest protected (Bt) maize, trademarked TELA. This is a first for AATF and the project appreciates support from all its partners and stakeholders. Five of these TELA hybrids were licensed to seed companies for commercial production, and limited seed sales were made to farmers in 2016/2017 cropping season. First trials of stacked drought tolerant and insectpest protected maize carried out in east Africa For the first time, confined field trials of the stacked drought tolerant (DT) and Bt insect-pest protected maize were done in Kenya and Uganda to test the efficacy of hybrids for protection against the African Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 31

38 Developing drought tolerant and insect resistant maize same hybrids. The Bt gene significantly reduced the number of exit holes and tunnel length across varieties and trials as evidence of protection against the pest. Tanzania and Mozambique join elite nations carrying out GM trials The WEMA Project supported Mozambique and Tanzania realise their first ever GM trials. Following advice from the Inter-sectoral Biosafety Advisory Committee - GIIBS (Grupo Inter- Institucional Sobre Bio-Segurança), Mozambique s National Biosafety Authority granted the country s first ever CFT permit to allow for the testing of stacked drought tolerant (DT) and Bt insect-pest protected maize under WEMA in early 2016 and complementary Seed Import Permit in November In Tanzania, the application for testing WEMA s drought tolerant maize was finalised and submitted in July The permit approval was granted by the country s National Biosafety Committee and trials were planted on 5 October A farmer shows produce of TEGO maize on his farm in Kenya stem-borer (Busseola fusca) and the spotted stem-borer (Chilo partellus). The WEMA South African team harvested the second trial of these stacked hybrids and data are being processed. Tests for protection of Bt (MON810) against stem-borer pest in Kenya and Uganda also presented encouraging results, with data collected over five seasons from Kenya and Uganda indicating that the Bt gene had, on average, a yield advantage of 52% compared with the non-bt version of the WEMA trait stewardship The Stewardship Plan for deploying the WEMA transgenic hybrids developed earlier was incorporated into the WEMA Trait License Agreement. The Stewardship Plan guides partners and end-users on quality assurance and quality control that include quality management systems, procedures and documentation, training requirements, inventory management, seed handling and shipping, field activities, product discontinuation, incidence response and compliance auditing. A farmer stewardship pamphlet for handling Bt maize hybrids was developed for South Africa. In addition, a draft booklet has been developed to be 32 Annual Report 2016

39 used to train extension agents to oversee the implementation of the stewardship requirements by farmers. WEMA Project partnership The WEMA project is coordinated by AATF in the five countries of Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. The partnership includes AATF as the project coordinating institution, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Monsanto Company, and the national agricultural research systems in the five project countries: Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO); National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Uganda; Institute of Agricultural Research (IIAM), Mozambique; Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH); and Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa. Looking forward The WEMA partnership is looking forward to expanding into more countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and continued funding to commercialise the transgenic TELA varieties in the coming years. Sylvester Oikeh, Project Manager, WEMA Boaz Nyateng (left), a farmer and chairman of Lambwe Seed Growers Association in Homabay, Western Kenya, with a WEMA Project enumerator at his farm I now have extra bags to sell, says TEGO maize farmer Boaz Nyateng is one of the few farmers from Lambwe Seed Growers Association (LASGA) that survived effects of drought in This is because he planted DroughtTEGO maize hybrid. Last season there was drought but I still managed to harvest 9 bags of 90kg (0.8 tonnes) from my 1-acre farm. Those who planted other maize seed varieties harvested as little as 1.5 (0.1 tonnes) bags, said Boaz. Boaz has been growing DroughtTEGO, a hybrid maize from Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project, since 2014 and has become an advocate to members of his group because of its performance and yield. I have been growing this variety from 2014 and even encouraged members of my group to do the same. I now have extra bags to sell. Boaz learnt about TEGO in 2014 from a field demonstration plot hosted by one of the farmers in his group. The performance of that demo changed his perception and now he is growing the variety for consumption and sale. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 33

40 Pest Management: African agriculture is immensely threatened by biotic stresses which in turn affects food security for the continent s expanding population. Farmers in Africa suffer lower yields due to the devastation wrought on their crops by stubborn pests like weeds, insects and plant diseases. A number of methods are used to control these pests such as the safe and environmentally sound use of pesticides as well as integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that avoid reliance on chemical pesticides. On the other hand, agricultural research to enhance genetic improvement for resistance to these stresses is yielding good progress. However, the increasing dynamic changes in production climes have meant that specific measures need to be taken to adopt relevant and well adapted technologies to reduce threats posed by insect pests, diseases and parasitic weeds which severely affect some key staples on the continent. Maize, cowpea and banana are major staples that contribute to food security and livelihoods for smallholder farmers and the rural populace which accounts for 70% of the labour force in African countries. No less than 500 million Africans depend on these crops for food. Pests such as Maruca pod borer, stem borers, Striga (parasitic weeds) and maize lethal necrosis disease cause devastating yield losses for farmers in Africa which could reach 90% and 100% under extreme cases. AATF in partnership with NARS and international research centres have initiated projects exploring novel pest management technologies Striga See Pg 37 $2bn per year - annual loss to Striga. Cowpea tonnes/ha - increase in yield with StrigAway maize. Annual Report million number of households to benefit from Striga control technology. 80% - cowpea yield loss to Maruca every year.

41 Priority Area 2 to complement breeding initiatives to effectively control the target pests for these three crops. The projects also seek to reduce problems associated with the indiscriminate use of harmful pesticides that have strong disruptive capacity to natural ecosystems. In line with its mission to strengthen Africa s agricultural value chain, AATF is also building strong business models to support sustainable agricultural development for improved accessibility of pest management technologies by smallholder farmers and other stakeholders through commercialisation of the entire chain. AATF and partners favour and strongly promote pest management technologies that effectively and efficiently enhance reduced cost per unit agricultural productivity and maximise crop production level while reducing environmental pollution. Through public private partnerships, AATF and partners are developing and promoting technologies to manage impact of pests. Four projects that have pest management as a key focus include the Pod-Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea Project; Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) Diagnostics and Management Project; The Water Efficient Maize for Africa Project; the Striga Control in Maize Project; and work being undertaken towards improving banana, Ensete and cassava against bacterial diseases. PBR Cowpea See Pg 43 See Pg 53 MLND Bacterial Wilt See Pg 49 30% 100% maize yield losses to MLN disease. 2 - number of insecticide sprays needed with PBR cowpea instead of usual million number of households to benefit from Maruca resistant cowpea. $2 8 billion economic losses to banana bacterial wilt over the past decade. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 35

42 Woman carrying Sorghum on her head in a village, Burkina Faso Photo credit: Friedrich Stark / Alamy Stock Photo 36 Annual Report 2016

43 Pest Management Priority Area 2 Controlling Striga weed in maize farms Striga (witchweed) parasitic weeds attack cereal crops including maize, rice and sugar cane causing losses of over $2 billion per year. Striga control methods have been researched in Africa for over 50 years with limited success. A key challenge negating progress in the control of Striga is the longevity and prolificacy of the Striga weed, enabling it to produce in excess of 20,000 seeds per plant; and the seed remaining viable for up to 20 years in the soil. Maize, the staple food for the majority of east Africans, is susceptible to Striga. The weed is currently choking over one million hectares of arable farmland in east Africa. AATF in partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), BASF and private seed companies in east Africa are promoting a Striga control technology utilising herbicideresistant maize. The variety, trade marked as StrigAway Maize, is a market-proven twin technology that combines conventionally-bred herbicide resistant maize varieties and innovative Imazapyr-herbicide seed coating technique. This potent combination kills Striga seeds and seedlings in the soil allowing the maize plant to thrive. Farmers are recording increased yields from an average of 0.5 tonnes/ha to about 2 tonnes/ha in severely Striga infested farmland. The technology has the potential to benefit 12.9 million people out of the 42.9 million affected. Striga Control in Maize Project Determined to get seed to farmers despite challenges The Striga Control in Maize Project aims to increase maize yield productivity in Striga-affected areas in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania through commercialisation of the Imazapyr-Resistant (IR)-maize seed technology package trademarked as StrigAway TM. The elite StrigAway TM maize technology is environment friendly and has been pivotal in contributing to food security of households in Striga-infested rural farm lands of east Africa. AATF is supporting private seed company Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 37

44 Controlling Striga weed in maize farms partners to produce and avail certified IR-maize seed to smallholder farmers in the three east African countries while also supporting farmer awareness and knowledge. The project targets 500,000 smallholder farmers in east Africa whose food security is threatened by Striga. Good progress was realised during 2016 despite continued impact of the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) and drought on seed production. Increased interest by seed companies Interest from seed companies increased during the year as three more seed companies, Elgon Kenya Ltd, Meru Agro in Tanzania and Victoria Seeds in Uganda joined in the production and selling of StrigAway, bringing the total number of companies involved to seven. The seed companies also increased acreage under seed production. Kenya Seed, for instance, more than quadrupled the acreage under seed production from about 12.5 hectares in 2014 to 64.5 hectares in Freshco Seeds doubled acreage from 50 hectares in 2014 to 116 FRC425 IR demonstration field in Migori County, Kenya hectares in In Uganda, Nalweyo Seed Company (NASECO) doubled acreage for IR seed production from 12.5 hectares in 2015 to 25 hectares in In Tanzania, Meru Agro Ltd, which is producing the IR maize seed for the first time, committed 40 hectares to production of the IR maize seed. A new hybrid maize, CKHRM120, has been released for commercialisation by Elgon Kenya bringing the number of commercially-released IR maize varieties to 11. The company plans to market its certified seed under the trade name StrigAway Prestige 01 and has commenced basic seed production. Increased seed production and sales Through efforts by various commercial seed companies, the Striga Control Project reported a 60% improvement in the supply of certified IR maize seed. A total tonnes was produced with 168 tonnes sold (Kenya 118 tonnes; Uganda 50 tonnes) which is 195% above the 57 tonnes sold during The seed is valued at over US$336,000 and is enough to plant close to 6,720 hectares when sown at an average seed rate of 25 kg/ha. The increased production facilitated availability and adoption of certified IR maize seeds and StrigAway technology by smallholder maize producers. In Tanzania, Meru Agro Seed Company harvested 45 tonnes of the hybrid Meru IR 621 seed from a 40ha field in Mbeya, while Tanseed International Ltd produced 7 tonnes from 15ha in Kilimanjaro. In Uganda, NASECO Seed Company produced 60 tonnes of hybrid Longe 7H-IR from 37ha planted in Kibaale District. In Kenya, Freshco produced 104 tonnes while Kenya Seed Company produced 39.6 tonnes. 38 Annual Report 2016

45 Pest Management Priority Area 2 Seed production continued to suffer challenges including MLN disease where Kenya Seed Company lost 38 hectares to the disease and Victoria Seed in Uganda lost its total crop while NASECO s production was affected by water stress caused by the low rainfall during the cropping season. As part of market development and technology stewardship activities, the project assisted Elgon Kenya Ltd to acquire seed processing equipment to improve seed quality of IR maize seed sold to smallholder farmers. The new CF-35 Tiger seed dresser has a capacity to coat and dry three tonnes of seed per hour. The project has undertaken to support all seed companies involved in production of StrigAway seed with special seed treaters for production of quality StrigAway seed. Further training of the company s field staff on protocols of IR maize seed production as well as follow-up visits during critical production stages were carried out to improve proficiency in certified IR maize seed production. Longe 7-IR demonstration plot in Mayunge District, Uganda Product promotion and education The project continued its efforts towards enhancing uptake of the technology through demand-creation activities such as product demonstrations. This year the project reduced the number of demonstration plots to allow participation by more seed companies in promotional activities. Therefore only 1,110 trials were planted in the Pre-planting training in Siaya County, Kenya Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 39

46 Controlling Striga weed in maize farms three countries, while 1,250 were done during An average of four out of ten demonstrations were managed by women. The demonstrations were used for education and awareness and they incorporated practices and recommended environmental risk management associated with StrigAway technology. H528 IR demonstration plot in Migori County, Kenya During the year, 50 postharvest training sessions involving over 3,700 farmers were carried out with equal attendance by men and women Farmer trainings included pre- and postplanting sessions. During the planting period, farmers are trained in safe use aspects of StrigAway technology to avoid mishandling and environmental hazards due to poor application. A key recommendation is wearing of gloves while planting pre-treated IR maize seed. A total of 2,600 farmers were trained with women participants ranging from 30% 50%. Pre-planting training in Siaya County, Kenya Post-harvest trainings include topics such as harvesting conditions, drying practices, maize shelling, good grain storage and evaluation of yield advantage of StrigAway. During the year, 50 post-harvest training sessions involving over 3,700 farmers were carried out with equal attendance by men and women. The training was meant to help farmers minimise postharvest losses. A key observation was the low weed emergence on all IR 40 Annual Report 2016

47 Pest Management Priority Area 2 maize plots as compared to non-ir maize plots. The training and stewardship support was extended to the seed companies as well. Working with CIMMYT and BASF, the project provided stewardship support to seed companies during seed multiplication, treatment, handling and distribution to ensure that IR maize seeds meet quality specifications for customer satisfaction and performance. NASECO (Uganda) was trained on IR inbred line maintenance, Meru Agro (Tanzania) on procedures of IR maize seed production and Kenya Seed on procedures for basic and certified IR maize seed maintenance and production. Looking forward The project has built momentum for seed bulking, production and sales by the six partner seed companies in east Africa. It is expected that the seed companies will continue to tap into the opportunity of supply and demand of the technology and foster sustainable commercialisation of StrigAway TM in east Africa. Gospel Omanya, Senior Manager, Projects Management Richard Amolo (left) works on his farm as Caleb Adede a Field Officer at AATF looks on Striga has gone; the witch has left Richard Amolo Richard Amolo is among dozens of farmers in Siaya, Western Kenya who have battled the destructive purple coloured weed, Striga, that attacks cereals, including maize, sorghum and millet. He used to harvest just one bag of 90kg on the parcel of land outside his homestead. Now he harvests four bags (360kg) since he decided to try the StrigAway maize seed. Striga can destroy up to 80 per cent of the crop. I have witnessed the fruits of the battle; now I can eat and sell the surplus maize. Previously I barely managed to feed my family. I plan to extend the farming area as I now have the weapon to fight this nightmare; I know I will get yields. I even want to get into agri-business, he says with excitement. For Amolo, a retired hotelier, the science that has transformed his livelihood is beyond his compression. All that s important to me is that Striga has gone; the witch has left. He then gestures towards the sky, where dark clouds are forming. The rains can delay, but they will come eventually. But the Striga weed is fatal, unless you control it with the new StrigAway technology. It can wipe out your livelihood. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 41

48 A man transporting cowpea leaves for fodder by camel in Nigeria Photo credit: AATF 42 Annual Report 2016

49 Pest Management Priority Area 2 Managing the Maruca pod borer in cowpea One of the greatest threats to the production of cowpea, a legume consumed by about 200 million people in Africa, is the Maruca-pod borer that accounts for yield losses of about 80% in cowpea. Farmers in SSA regularly spray 5 8 times within a season to get kg/ha as against the potential yield of kg/ha. The Pod-borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea Project was initiated to control this pest through the use of the Bt gene (Cry1Ab). Through a public-private partnership led by AATF, the PBR Cowpea Project has successfully developed genetically-enhanced improved varieties resistant to Maruca vitrata. Results have indicated that when Bt cowpea is adopted, the number of sprays (to control other pests) required during production is reduced from 10 to 2 thus cutting down the cost of production associated with insecticide purchase and reducing health hazards associated to exposure to insecticides. It expected that the project will directly benefit at least 8.6 million households out of the 28.6 million that are affected by the Maruca pod borer. Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea Project Making crucial steps towards getting insect protected cowpea to farmers The Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea Project is expected to increase smallholder farmer yields by over 20 percent as a result of reduced damage from the Maruca pod-borers. In 2016, the project carried out a number of successful trials that are giving it confidence to prepare for application for environmental release of the Maruca pod borer resistant cowpea. This optimism is based on progress made so far and farmers evaluation of the products. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 43

50 Managing the Maruca pod borer in cowpea First farmer-managed GM trials carried out One of the most exciting developments during the year was the involvement of farmers in carrying out trials of the transgenic PBR cowpea in Nigeria. The farmer-managed confined trials aimed at getting feedback from farmers on the PBR cowpea while evaluating its performance under their management. Two trials on conventional varieties and the transgenic one were planted in three localities in Nigeria Zaria, Kano and Zamfara. The farmers planted, managed and harvested the PBR cowpea in the same way as they do their own. They then presented the results to other farmers during field days eliciting excitement and interest. Results showed percent of farmers interviewed preferred the transgenic variety. This is very encouraging because this is the first time the farmers are participating in testing the PBR cowpea. Of special interest to farmers was the fact that the PBR cowpea matured faster than the conventional and also required less sprays to control insects. Journey towards commercialisation commences Preparations towards environmental release of the PBR cowpea were heightened with trials carried out in various locations in Nigeria, Ghana and Burkina Faso. The multi-location trials are a prerequisite in regulations governing the release of new crop varieties. The trials compared the farmer varieties with the newly developed pod borer-resistant variety under natural infestation conditions in different agroecological zones. The pesticide reduction trial confirmed that the number of sprays could be reduced from 10 to only 2 for the PBR cowpea Prior to the multi-location trials, the project implementation teams were taken through regulatory compliance and trial management training to enhance their skills in generation of data in accordance with national and international regulatory standards, protocols for the various studies, requirements for biosafety compliance and other relevant issues on regulatory science. The data generated will help in preparation of the regulatory dossier for deregulation and commercial release of the PBR cowpea. The main trials were on efficacy and agronomy. Farmer-managed PBR Cowpea CFT in Zaria, Nigeria In addition to the farmer-managed trials in Nigeria, two trials to assess the efficacy of the Bt gene in controlling Maruca were carried out in August Annual Report 2016

51 Pest Management Priority Area 2 in Burkina Faso and Ghana. Harvesting for both trials was done three months later. The trials confirmed effectiveness of the Cry1Ab gene against Maruca. Agronomic performance of the PBR cowpea was evaluated in various locations in Burkina Faso and Ghana in August 2016, with the harvesting done in October. In Burkina Faso the trial was planted in Farako Bâ, Kamboinse and Pobe Mangao, while in Ghana it was in Manga Bawku, Damango and Nyankapala. At Farako Bâ in Burkina Faso where the Maruca pressure is very high the average yields of the PBR cowpea lines were at least five times higher than the average yields of the conventional varieties. In Kamboinse and Pobe Mangao, a low pressure of Maruca and drought affected the trials. In Ghana, at Damango and Nyankapala the PBR cowpea line out-yielded the conventional isogenic line by 34% and 14% respectively. But in Mango Bawku the average yields of the two cowpea varieties were similar. The pesticide reduction trial confirmed that the number of sprays could be reduced from ten to only two for the PBR cowpea. PBR cowpea sprayed twice gave higher yields than the conventional line sprayed five times. Additional trials carried out included effectiveness of bio-pesticides against other pests that cause damage to cowpea other than Maruca. Two bio-pesticides made with a soil-borne fungus were compared to the standard chemical pesticides used by farmers. These trials are still ongoing in Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Seed density trials to monitor the possibility of gene flow between PBR cowpea and wild cowpea species continued into the third season. Gene Monitoring of a farmer-managed trial site in Minjibir, Kano State, Nigeria, by PBR Cowpea Project Manager, Dr Prince Addae exchange between domesticated crops and their wild relatives sometimes occurs naturally and this might have some implications such as the wild cowpea increasing its weed quantity as a consequence of the transfer of the Bt gene. Data collection is continuing prior to preparation of a conclusive report. Preliminary results indicate that PBR cowpea does not constitute a risk to the environment. Second gene introduce to strengthen PBR cowpea in managing insect resistance New cowpea lines carrying a second gene, Cry2Ab, were developed to improve pest control capabilities. These new cowpea lines will strengthen and improve durability of resistance to the pest. The first set of PBR cowpea varieties developed contain only the Cry1Ab gene for resistance. As a control measure against emergence of a new biotype resistant to the Cry1Ab gene that could render PBR cowpea vulnerable to Maruca, the project is using a second gene (Cry2Ab) for greater resistance. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 45

52 Managing the Maruca pod borer in cowpea An efficacy test conducted for Cry2Ab gene indicated that all Maruca larvae feeding off the selected lines were killed, and it was expected that between four and six of these lines will be ready for confined field trials in the countries in Looking forward The agronomic tests have shown the outstanding performance of the PBR cowpea wherever Maruca is present and constitutes a major constraint to cowpea production. Furthermore, the pesticide trials clearly indicated that the number of sprayings could be reduce to two. On the basis of the results, future efforts should be focused on completing the regulatory dossier for approval of PBR cowpea in Nigeria and Burkina Faso, then in Ghana; and the development of a plan for insect resistance management (IRM). The deregulation of PBR cowpea will allow us to carry out large scale demonstration trials with the participation of key stakeholders (seed companies, farmers and variety release offices). In the meantime, the project will undertake activities leading to deployment and commercialisation, in particular designing and conducting training in the areas of seed production, handling, and certification of seeds of GM crops. An agreement with the seed companies to sell the PBR cowpea seeds at an affordable price to the farmers should be secured. Issoufou Abdourhamane, Project Manager, Cowpea 46 Annual Report 2016

53 Mu awi Isa Makura shares his experiences on growing PBR cowpea Mu awi Isa Makura on his plot in the CFT site in Talata Mafara Mu awi Isa Makura, 60, has been farming cowpeas for 15 years and is one of the six farmers sampling the PBR cowpea variety in Talata Mafara. Sharing his experience he said: Maruca insect damages our beans and usually causes a lot of problems for us. Sometimes instead of getting 20 bags at harvest per hectare, we end up with 5 to 6 bags per hectare, I am happy this new cowpea will stop this insect and I am also glad that we can harvest early compared to the variety we have been planting, This way we can make money and solve some of our immediate financial problems. Speaking further Alhaji Makura emphasised his joy and expectation in relation to reduction in the use of agrochemicals: Chemicals are expensive to buy and it affects our income after harvest, and we were told it s not good for our health. We sprayed this farm only twice and the crop did well. I normally spray my farm eight times or more before harvest, indeed I am happy and hopeful. More info at: Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 47

54 African farmer carrying harvested vegetables on wheelbarrow in South Africa Photo credit: subman 48 Annual Report 2016

55 Pest Management Priority Area 2 Improving banana, Ensete and cassava against bacterial diseases Banana, Ensete and cassava are very important food crops in Africa, but these crops suffer from major bacterial diseases. Banana and Ensete are severely devastated by the bacterial wilt disease (caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. Musacearum) while cassava production is highly affected by bacterial blight (caused by Xanthomonas axonpodis pv. Mainihotis). The economic impact of both diseases is potentially disastrous because it leads to huge yield losses in these crops estimated economic losses to banana bacterial wilt is about US$2 8 billion over the past decade. The rapid spread of the disease has endangered the livelihoods of millions of farmers who rely on banana, Ensete and cassava for staple food and income cooking bananas generate income for an estimated 100 million smallholder farmers. The use of disease-resistant cultivars has been an effective and economically viable strategy for the management of plant diseases in agriculture. Unfortunately resistance to Xanthomonas wilt has not been found in any banana or Ensete cultivars. In the case of cassava, while there is moderate tolerance in cassava varieties to the bacterial blight, breeding for high resistance to the disease is yet a huge challenge. AATF is working with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to improve banana, Ensete and cassava for resistance to bacterial diseases. The project on transgenic banana was started in 2006 while the project on transgenic Ensete and cassava for the bacterial diseases began in AATF facilitated access to three genes being used for the transformation of these crops for resistance to the target bacterial diseases from the technology provider (Academia Sinica) and then sublicensed them to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) that is leading the initiatives. To complement these efforts, phytosanitary practices are being explored to reduce infection and the spread of the disease. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 49

56 Improving banana, Ensete and cassava against bacterial diseases Developing Transgenic Bananas Resistant to BXW Disease Safeguarding Africa s staples against bacterial diseases The banana project is at the confined field trials (CFTs) stage under product development and is being implemented in two pilot countries (Uganda and Kenya). The banana transgenic lines have so far exhibited strong resistance to Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) in the laboratory and screen house tests. Commercial and farmer preferred varieties of banana are being used for transgenic product development in the two countries. These include varieties Nakitembe and M9 in Uganda, and Cavendish Williams and Gros Michel in Kenya. In Uganda, NARO carried out screen house evaluation for resistance to BXW on transgenic lines of banana matoke cultivar Nakitembe and hybrid variety M9 using single gene and stacked gene constructs provided by IITA. They also received approval for multi-locational evaluation of the transgenic bananas from the National Biosafety Council of the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology. The multi-locational CFTs will be carried out in three agroecological zones of Uganda: Central low altitude, Western highland, and Lake Albertan region. Multiplication of transgenic lines has started, and sites for the trials were selected and verified for infrastructure development. In Kenya, approval for the first transgenic banana confined field trial was given in December 2016 by the National Biosafety Authority. The trials will be carried out by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) at their Alupe farm for two promising Development of plantlets in a growth room at NARO Kawanda 50 Annual Report 2016

57 Pest Management Priority Area 2 transgenic banana lines of cultivars Cavendish Williams and Gros Michel. Following the approval, a replicated trial of 30 transgenic lines and their respective control non-transgenic plants was planted. For the trial, 12 plants were planted for each transgenic line or its corresponding non-transgenic control per replication. Research on transgenic Ensete and cassava The Ensete transgenic research is being implemented in Ethiopia while cassava transformation activities are being carried out in Kenya. Genetic transformation is still at the proof of concept stage for bacterial wilt control in Ensete and bacterial blight in cassava. Regulatory compliance A Biosafety and IP Compliance Guideline to facilitate the efficient implementation of the project by NARS in accordance with the requirements of Academia Sinica was developed and is being used for compliance audit visits. Two of such audits were carried out at NARO facilities in Kawanda and the IITA Lab operations site at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Both audits revealed no sub-license infringements. Looking forward Following the proof of concept which established the efficacy of the genes for the control of BXW, the last two years have focused on product development Banana introgressed with the licensed genes of banana using farmer-preferred varieties in Kenya and Uganda. Confined field trials and multi-location testing of the transformed transgenic lines of these commercial varieties are on-going which will support dossier compilation and associated bio-safety tests (compositional analysis, molecular characterisation, allergenicity, toxicity, environmental impact assessment etc.) for the full deregulation of the lead events. It is envisaged that the process will be completed in the next five years (2022) with new transgenic BXW resistant banana products available to farmers in Africa. The cassava and Ensete transgenic evaluation to establish proof of concept for resistance to the diseases being investigated will continue in Emmanuel Okogbenin, Director Technical Operations, AATF Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 51

58 Woman carrying fish over a walking bridge on the Volta estuary, Ada Foah, Ghana Photo credit: Ariadne Van Zandbergen 52 Annual Report 2016

59 Pest Management Priority Area 2 Managing the maize lethal necrosis disease The outbreak of maize lethal necrosis (MLN) caused by two viruses, Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV) and Sugarcane Mosaic Virus (SCMV) is threatening maize production in Africa. The MLN outbreak was first observed in 2011 and is now spread in at least six countries in east and southern Africa. All commercial varieties of maize are susceptible to the disease with yield losses of between 30% and 100% depending on the stage and severity. The disease is spread by vectors (aphids) and through seeds. Recent AATF facilitated breeding efforts have resulted in new MLN tolerant inbred lines and hybrids under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa Project. To complement the breeding efforts, AATF and other partners have rolled out MLN management activities to reduce the spread of MLN in ten countries. Some of the activities include production and promotion of MCMV-free seeds, creation of MLN phyotosanitary community of practice and development of MLN surveillance protocols. Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) Diagnostics and Management Project Enhancing preventive measures against MLND The role of AATF in the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) Diagnostics and Management Project is to support the commercial seed sector in Ethiopia Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in production of maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV)-free maize seed, as well as promote the use of certified seeds by farmers in the countries. This work is supported through a four-year USAID-funded MLND Diagnostics and Management Project designed to mitigate grain yield losses incurred by maize farmers in eastern Africa due to MLND. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 53

60 Managing the maize lethal necrosis disease Guiding production of MCMV-free seed In 2016, AATF, working in collaboration with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), produced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and checklists to support production of MCMV-free commercial maize seed by the commercial seed sector in MLNendemic countries. The SOPs were adapted from protocols successfully used by major US maize seed companies which produce large quantities of maize seed in MCMV-endemic areas such as Hawaii. The protocols were appropriately refined and customised to suit respective eastern African countries, existing seed laws, governance and local agricultural practices. These SOPs will guide breeders and seed companies towards the production of MCMV-free seed. The SOPs covered general field sanitation, regular scouting of MLND symptoms and rogueing of symptomatic crops, regular monitoring and control of insect vectors, sampling of suspect plants for diagnostic testing, proper drying of seeds to a moisture content of 12% 13% before storage, shipping and planting. A series of consultative workshops were organised between May and November with seed industry stakeholders to harmonise the SOPs. Discussions revolved around field practices that were important in the control and mitigation of the spread of MLND in maize seed fields, priorities and procedures, including the costs and practicality. A total of 164 public and private seed sector stakeholders from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda participated in the discussions that included 75 plant breeders from seed companies and National Agricultural Research Systems. Project staff inspecting an MLND affected farm In Kenya, a special meeting was held with 400 maize seed outgrowers at Perkerra Irrigation Scheme, Baringo one of the major seed production sites, and an MLND hot spot. The irrigation scheme is used by major seed companies such as Kenya Seed, Dryland Seed and Freshco for certified seed production. These seed companies suffered heavy losses due to the disease during the year. The meeting aimed to assist the maize seed outgrowers in understanding and agreeing on the contents of the 54 Annual Report 2016

61 Pest Management Priority Area 2 harmonised checklists and SOPs for proper implementation. The seed outgrowers agreed to use the checklists and urged breeders and seed companies to develop more MLND tolerant maize varieties. Looking forward AATF and its implementing partners will work with farmers, breeders and seed companies to implement the management procedures. Education and awareness activities will be enhanced to encourage SOP effectiveness and easier implementation. MLN disease management information materials will be produced and capacity of farmers, seed companies and seed outgrowers strengthened. Participants in the consultative meeting in Ethiopia Gospel Omanya, Senior Manager, Projects Management Participants in the consultative meeting in Uganda. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 55

62 Mechanisation: African agriculture is still largely driven by traditional methods based on human muscle power which alone will not be able to meet the increasing demand for food in the immediate future. In most African countries 70% 80% of the population remains in agriculture but food production is still insufficient. Farmers will have to mechanise otherwise food production will continue to fail to keep up with population growth. Investments in agricultural research and development have resulted in increased technologies/inputs that are being availed to small-scale farmers in Africa. Notwithstanding these advancements, African farmers have not really been able to adopt optimised technologies/ inputs (such as improved varieties, fertilisers and pesticides, among others) to maximise productivity capacity potential on farmers fields in the continent due to low utilisation/application of efficiency and generally poor agronomy. Another key major challenge farmers are contending with is the huge postharvest loss they experience owing to poor handling, poor processing and lack of storage facilities for fresh perishable produce which restrains their access to global market as their quality quickly declines. Losses after harvest can range from 5% to 40% and largely occur during transportation from the field to store. Local processing can reduce transport cost, reduce wastage and increase the value of the crop, increasing the returns to the farmer. The heavy dependence of smallholder farmers on the use of manual labour for production often results in high production cost that makes African produce less competitive than that from other continents. Where demand for high land cultivation is required to boost productivity, the high drudgery required to make this See Pg 61 Cassava Cassava Cassava 30 days number of days needed to manually plant one ha of cassava 9 12 tonnes/ha low cassava yield levels in Nigeria/ SSA 25 tonnes/ha Global cassava yield per ha 56 Annual Report 2016

63 Priority Area 3 possible and the limited animal resource available to the farmers are often a major hindrance. These factors mean that agricultural productivity is largely lagging behind in Africa. These challenges will have to be overcome to achieve the level of agricultural productivity necessary to meet food demand in Africa in Agricultural mechanisation is one factor that has had a significant effect on total food productivity (TFP) which is the output per unit of total resources used in production since the beginning of modern agriculture. Mechanisation can also significantly contribute to better management of inputs, which is critical to increasing TFP in agricultural production systems that vary widely among crop types and regional economic status. Mechanisation is therefore crucial to agricultural transformation of Africa. Agricultural mechanisation is the application of mechanical technology and increased power to agriculture, largely as a means to enhance the productivity of human labour and often to achieve results well beyond the capacity of human labour. Mechanisation also includes the improvement of all tools and equipment used in agriculture from clearing and cultivating the land to planting, harvesting, irrigation and also transport, storage, processing and packaging. There are several advantages of farm mechanisation. It increases production; reduces dependence on animal Cassava Cassava 9 ha per day number of ha that can be planted in one day with mechanisation 30 tonnes/ha cassava yields for farmers under CAMAP/using mechanisation 3.5 million households to benefit from CAMAP project Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 57

64 Mechanisation: power which is costly and slow in operation; increases acreage under cultivation, saves labour, makes land preparation easier; brings more land under cultivation, improves efficiency of farmers; facilitates timely water supply through irrigation, and makes it easy to apply modern inputs which in turn increase farm yields. Due to efficient use of resources through mechanisation, the cost of production of various crops goes down. With increased production and productivity and reduced post-harvest losses, the farmer s income from the farm yields goes up. Mechanisation can be a game changer for agricultural systems. Promoting mechanisation in agriculture means that more tasks can be completed at the right time, more efficiently and saving labour and energy in order to achieve sustainable crop production intensification. AATF is facilitating agricultural mechanisation through the Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-processing Project (CAMAP). Africa is the highest producer of cassava in the world yet its yield per unit area is the least (9 12 tonnes/ha as compared to over 25 tonnes/ha recorded in Asia and Latin America) and it has the smallest fraction of the international global market because of its low competitiveness arising from high production cost (principally from manual labour production). Cassava which is a root crop has a month growth cycle depending on the ecology where it is grown. High labour requirement for cassava production operations include land clearing, land preparation, planting, weeding and harvesting. Other high operation costs are those related to transportation, storage and post-harvest processing. These high labour requirements of cassava production come with high cost over a long growing season that makes cassava production less attractive to farmers, especially 58 Annual Report 2016

65 Priority Area 3 youths, compared with other staple crops that are less labour-intensive and require less operational costs. AATF has been working with smallholder farmers under CAMAP since 2013 to offer productivity solutions for cassava farming. The overall goal of the project is to improve cassava production through mechanisation for sustainable food security and commercialisation towards enhanced incomes and livelihoods of farmers in SSA. The project has accessed cassava specific field implements including cassava planters, root diggers, cultivators, and boom sprayers from Brazil. The project is using an integrated approach to addressing constraints of cassava productivity in SSA by combining mechanisation with best agronomic practices such as the use of high quality stems of improved varieties with yielding potential of above 30 tonnes/ha, use of fertiliser, efficient weeding using appropriate herbicides, and timely planting and harvesting. Results from CAMAP activities have shown cassava fresh root yields on farmers pilot fields in Nigeria rose to over 30 tonnes/ha, three times higher than the current national average. For example where it takes 30 days to manually plant a one-hectare farm, mechanisation covers nine hectares in a day. By lowering production costs, mechanisation increases business opportunities and levels of profits realised by farmers and service providers. It has improved the overall operational efficiency of production especially for women who provide the bulk of labour in cassava operations in Nigeria. We have also observed that youths are getting interested in going into cassava production because of the mechanisation opportunities. The CAMAP project is expected to benefit 3.5 million households once it is out scaled across SSA. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 59

66 A man heads home with a stock of millet in Djibo, Burkina Faso Photo credit: Irene Abdou / Alamy Stock Photo 60 Annual Report 2016

67 Mechanisation Priority Area 3 Promoting agricultural mechanisation for efficiency and better productivity Africa is the world s largest cassava producer, accounting for nearly 55 percent of the world s output. However yields per unit area on the continent are the lowest in the world (10 tonnes per hectare compared to 35 tonnes per hectare in India). AATF is facilitating a partnership project that aims at transforming the cassava sector in Sub-Saharan Africa by enhancing commercial production, processing and market linkages based on business models that engender sustainability. It also aims to address key constraints to cassava production in Africa, related to limited use of improved varieties, poor agronomy, and lack of mechanisation and processing. Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-processing Project Sustainable commercial business models attract smallholder farmers to cassava farming The Cassava Mechanisation and Agroprocessing Project (CAMAP) is being implemented in three countries Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. The project aims to improve cassava productivity through increased efficiency in agronomic operations, mechanising cassava production processes and creating market linkages for smallholder farmers in the three countries. The project explores mechanisation in land preparation, planting, weeding, fertiliser application and harvests and encourages farmers to use high quality stems of improved and well adapted varieties to maximise productivity. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 61

68 Promoting agricultural mechanisation for efficiency and better productivity During 2016, the project realised exciting results from the previous year s efforts that saw the project increase the number of mechanisation equipment and focused on developing and implementing business models for sustainability of project impact. Commercial viability and sustainability During the year the project attended to four aspects that are important to building the desired impacts by the project. These included enhancing access to mechanisation services by farmers through working with local service providers; strengthening the capacity of service providers to handle the machinery and serve farmers; ensuring affordability and access to finances by farmers; and increasing users of mechanisation services. Access to mechanisation services was enhanced through engagement of eight private service providers in the three countries to provide mechanisation of ploughing, harrowing and herbicide application on full cost recovery basis. The strategy empowers local entrepreneurs to provide services on commercial basis. To counter the highly competitive pricing for mechanisation operations in the three countries, CAMAP negotiated fair and competitive price rates with service providers for farmers. The project brokered deals for the engagement of service providers to provide mechanisation to farmers, with the brokerage fee being converted by AATF into a revolving fund to support expansion of the project. This fund will allow more farmers to benefit from the project. Tractor operators, project coordinators and extension officers being trained on various aspects of mechanisation Before engaging the mechanisation service providers, training was carried out for tractor operators, project coordinators and extension officers on various aspects of mechanisation. The 62 Annual Report 2016

69 Mechanisation Priority Area 3 training included agronomy, tractor operation, repairs and maintenance, use of cassava planters, boom sprayers, cultivators, cassava harvesters and servicing of all equipment. It especially sought to develop the capacity of the youth and potential entrepreneurs to become credible mechanisation service providers to farmers beyond the project s lifespan in line with the project s objective of creating employment opportunities for youth as entrepreneurs. More financing opportunities were opened up for farmers in Nigeria as partnerships with financial institutions and the private sector were entered into. On their part, farmers who benefited made full payment for services rendered which encouraged the project to expand further by increasing number of farmers participating in the project. An exciting financing arrangement was entered into between Mokk Investments Limited, Fortis Micro Finance Bank and AATF on behalf of 100 farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. Under the arrangement, Mokk Investments, a company venturing into cassava processing, mobilised the farmers who owned a combined 500 hectares into clusters and Fortis Micro Finance Bank provided financing for the service, paying AATF, on behalf of the farmers, 17 million Naira (equivalent to US$87,000 at that time). The farmers committed to pay back to Fortis Micro Finance Bank upon harvesting. In Ogun State, Nigeria, AATF partnered with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) who paid half of the mechanisation costs for at least 600 ha for the farmers engaged in the IFAD Value Chain Development Project in the state. The participating Ogun State farmers will pay the remaining half of mechanisation cost at harvest around end Similarly, in Osun State, Nigeria, the FADAMA II Project, a governmentfunded project on developing crop value chains, paid 50% of the cost of mechanisation for 300ha. At Abraka, in Delta State of Nigeria, Ere-Egwa Farms, plans were put in place to mechanise 2,500ha and by end of 2016 at least 500ha had been planted. These financing arrangements were intended to build on the project s business model of cost recovery for the purpose of creating a revolving fund where farmers pay 70% of the total cost of mechanisation as commitment and the balance is paid within the cropping season. Significant progress in the implementation of the model was registered in Nigeria where it was first started with over US$120,000 paid by partners as payment for mechanisation services and implements. The model was rolled out in Zambia in November 2015 and the project plans to do the same in Uganda. Increased farmer interest and more land under cassava mechanisation During the year, the number of farmers participating in utilisation of the cassava mechanisation machinery increased. This was as a result of the farmers getting higher returns on investment emanating from increased yields and better market linkages facilitated by the project. The number of farmers participating in the project rose to over 5,000 from 4,500 in A large number of these farmers are participating in the pay-forservice initiative of the project that seeks to increase the number of participating farmers and expand the services. In Zambia, six groups with more than 350 farmers registered as part of the CAMAP project for 2016/17. By the end of the year, 51 farmers in Zambia had adopted Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 63

70 Promoting agricultural mechanisation for efficiency and better productivity was paying NGN 22,000 (equivalent to US$88 in October 2016) per tonne of fresh storage roots compared to the average price of NGN 16,000 offered normally to farmers by processors. A boy enjoys raw cassava in Zambia during the launch of the project mechanisation for more than two seasons, up from 33 in 2015/16 season. In Uganda, the number of participating farmers rose by almost 14% from 220 in 2015 to just over 250 during Farmers also earned more as a result of better quality tubers and higher yields that increased to an average of 33 tonnes, up from 7 10 tonnes they were getting before CAMAP. This translates to yield increase of over 300% as a result of mechanisation and good agronomic practices. During 2016, Mr Mushili, one of the farmers from Zambia, recorded harvests of 46 tonnes, up from the 10 tonnes per hectare he used to get before joining the project. The higher yields earned farmers an average of US$2,750 per hectare compared to previous earnings of less than US$500 per hectare. In Nigeria, the project negotiated premium prices for high quality cassava roots on behalf of CAMAP farmers who recorded yields of between 28 and 33 tonnes per hectare. As a result, one of the leading processors in the country Land under cassava cultivation expanded to over 6,000 hectares from 4,500 in In Zambia, 310 hectares were identified for the 2016/17 season, while in Uganda about 144 hectares of land were earmarked for the 2016/17 season. In Nigeria, land area under cassava mechanisation expanded to 5,462 hectares as a result of gains achieved for the farmers through enhanced partnerships with financial institutions and the private sector. Government recognition Following the tremendous effort and progress made in Nigeria, CAMAP received recognition by the Ogun State Government for its contribution to agricultural development in Ogun State. This recognition contributed to wide publicity and visibility for the project in Nigeria. Looking forward The project now plans to develop strategies or approaches to effectively and sustainably integrate technology solutions and farmer aggregation for the provision of economically sustainable field mechanisation services to smallholder cassava farmers in Nigeria. The project also aims to reach out to many more smallholder farmers in the three countries of Uganda, Nigeria and Zambia. George Marechera, Business Development Manager 64 Annual Report 2016

71 Pastor Felix Afolabi mentors youth on cassava farming Pastor Felix Afolabi stands next to his new John Deere tractor on his farm The owner and founder of Afolabi Agro Divine Ventures (AADV) has been a farmer since 2014 farming on 360 hectares of land 300 of which he intends to set aside for growing cassava. Motivated by the desire to give back to the community, pastor Afolabi uses his own experience to mentor the youth. AADV has engaged youth in cassava mechanisation providing them with stems for free at inception while they provide the required labour on the field. Pastor Felix, as he is popularly known, is now actively supporting the community working closely with youth groups. AADV in collaboration with Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) through its Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-processing Project (CAMAP) also plans to set up a cassava processing plant to provide a market for cassava farmers in Imeko, Ogun State and its environs. Through the intervention of AATF, the rigours involved in cassava field establishment has been greatly reduced, said pastor Afolabi. More info at: Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 65

72 Soil Management: African agriculture is largely dominated by smallholder farmers (SHF) and characterised by low resource/input usage that essentially undermines agricultural productivity. Small size farm holdings and its repeated use over seasons essentially results in soil nutrient depletion and poor status which among other factors contribute to declining per capita food production in Africa. Long fallows typically used under traditional cultivation systems to replenish soil nutrients are not sustainable under increasing population growth, food security and poverty threats. Fertiliser is a general traditional way to replenish depleted nutrients from the soil, but its use is not always fully maximised or optimised. For example, nitrogen fertiliser is a key input for increasing crop yield, but crops hardly utilise half of the nitrogen fertiliser applied. About half of the nitrogen added to cropland is lost to the environment, wasting the resource, producing threats to air, water, soil and biodiversity, and generating greenhouse gas emissions. Soil management is central to realising agricultural productivity and protecting the environment. Soil management concerns all operations, practices, and treatments used to protect soil and enhance crop productivity while maximising the agronomic efficiency of applied inputs towards sustainable intensification. Agronomic efficiency is defined as extra crop yield produced per unit of fertiliser nutrient applied. The See Pg 69 NEWEST Rice RICE 30% - increase in yields from NEWEST Rice 4.3 million - number of people that NEWEST rice aims to reach 66 Annual Report 2016

73 Priority Area 4 variable biophysical environments under which smallholder farmers operate have immense effects on crop productivity. Targeted soil management practices are necessary to enhance agronomic efficiency. This is crucial to Africa s agricultural transformation as smallholder farmers are transitioning from subsistence farming to market-oriented agriculture. The application of soil management practices is best done along with improved varieties or germplasm that have the best capacity to efficiently use nutrients. Furthermore, the increasing threat of climate change has resulted in increased dryland farming and use of irrigation with increased incidences of salt tolerance. In addition there is need for more water-use efficient crops which, from a business point of view with respect to reducing irrigation cost under commercial agriculture, are more economically viable. AATF is strategically focusing on the application of soil fertility management practice technologies of rice, with improved germplasm to boost the crop s productivity in Africa. AATF s Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant Rice (NEWEST) Project is exploring soil-management related technologies for salt tolerance and nitrogen and water use efficiency of the crop to improve nutrient levels and ensure the right bio-physical environment for improved rice production in SSA. Fertilizer 50% - amount by which fertiliser need will be reduced for newest Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 67

74 A man carrying a harvest of tomatoes in Rulindo, Rwanda Photo credit: Tiziano casalta / Alamy Stock Photo 68 Annual Report 2016

75 Soil Management Priority Area 4 Improving rice productivity in Sub- Saharan Africa Rice is a major staple in Africa with increasing yearly demand and consumption. Huge production deficits have resulted in massive huge import bills that are increasingly becoming difficult for African governments to meet. The NEWEST Rice Project seeks to harness Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE), Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and Salt Tolerance (ST) technologies for the production of rice by smallholder farmers in Africa to improve the livelihoods of an estimated 14.3 million people in Africa. Improved nitrogen use efficiency within rice production systems will increase crop yields, lower the continent s fertiliser nitrogen deficit, reduce its soil nutrient depletion, and protect water quality. Benefits from increased salt tolerance by rice would increase yields and allow for the recovery of lands previously abandoned to salt accumulation, reducing demand for Africa s limited supplies of fresh water. With better water use efficiency, the rice will require less water which will offer an appreciable coping mechanism against drought. The rice is expected to increase yields by up to 30% with 50% less nitrogen fertiliser than conventional rice. NEWEST rice aims to reach 4.3 million people. The project is being implemented in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda. Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant Rice Project Making progress in product development Nitrogen is one of the most essential nutrients for plants and a major factor limiting crop productivity. One of the critical steps limiting the efficient use of nitrogen is the ability of plants to acquire it from applied fertiliser, with many crops typically utilising less than half of nitrogen fertiliser applied. The remainder Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 69

76 Improving rice productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa is absorbed through the soil, ending up in water systems, or escapes into the air as a poisonous greenhouse gas. The Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water- Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant Rice (NEWEST) project seeks to develop transgenic rice varieties with improved nitrogen use efficiency, and abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. The benefits would not only be improved use of nitrogen fertilisers and lower production costs, but also significant environmental benefits. Transformation activities successfully concluded By the end of 2016, the project had concluded transformation activities with a total of 33 events comprising 15 Nitrogen Use Efficient (NUE) and 18 Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant (NEWEST) events. These events were distributed to all partners for confined field trials (CFTs) by Arcadia Biosciences. With this development, the project is now concentrating on the CFTs, identification of lead events and preparation for regulatory trials. Kayode Sanni, Rice Project Manager, with scientists at the NEWEST CFT field at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) in Uganda Uganda planted its third CFT in April 2016 at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI). The trial had a total of 10 entries made up of the eight potential NUE events selected from the previous CFTs, Bulk Sibling Null (BSN) and NERICA 4 (from Arcadia). The germination results on the field were very good averaging 95.9% and the required plant population for a successful trial was therefore achieved. Agronomic results showed no significant difference between the transgenic events and NERICA 4 in four traits (plant height, tiller number per plant, number of panicles per plant and number of days to maturity). This observation indicates that these four traits were not altered by transformation pressure. Next season trials and the trials from other locations shall be used to confirm this observation. Nigeria completed establishment of CFT facilities and planting of the first NUE trials. An earlier CFT did not mature to harvesting following an aphid attack. The pest attack resulted in seed shortage, meaning that seeds for the eight potential NUE lead events, the bulk nulls and NERICA4 had to be shipped from NaCRRI in Uganda to National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) in Nigeria for the CFT planting. In Ghana, the project was granted a CFT permit extension at the beginning of the year by the country s regulatory body that will allow it to conduct CFTs until It was also allowed to relocate the CFT site from the remote Nobewam village to a more accessible site on Crops Research Institute (CRI) campus in Kumasi. The construction work on the new site started in April and includes drilling of a bore hole to provide sufficient water for the CFT. Construction of a rainout shelter to prevent rain water from interrupting NEWEST rice trials during water 70 Annual Report 2016

77 Soil Management Priority Area 4 stress period has commenced at NCRI, Badeggi, Nigeria. The installation will be completed by the first quarter of 2017, after which rainout shelter installation in NaCRRI, Namulonge, Uganda and CRI, Kumasi, Ghana will commence. The rainout shelters are critical to the commencement of the trials on the triple stacked NEWEST rice events. Lead events selection progresses The project has analysed data from the 12 trials so far conducted in the project on the eight potential lead NUE events in Colombia, Ghana and Uganda. The results of the analysed data revealed NUE12 as the event with the best yield potential and high stability; NUE9 was ranked second on yield; NUE2 came third. The final selection of the lead events (the best and two back-up events) will be made after the conclusion of the ongoing trial in Nigeria. The next set of regulatory CFTs for agronomic and compositional analysis, involving these few events are anticipated to start immediately after completion of CFTs in Nigeria. Looking forward The most important milestone for the project to move forward was achieved three events clearly demonstrated the proof of concept of NUE events with at least 10% yield increase above NERICA4 (the non-transformed) under low nitrogen input in most locations. The best of these three will be the lead event. The identification of the lead event will pave way for commencement of regulatory trials which is an important path towards deregulation of the event. Kayode Sanni, Project Manager, Rice Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 71

78 Enabling Environment: Young man and daughter carrying farm produce Photo credit: Guenterguni 72 Annual Report 2016

79 Priority Area 5 Efforts to harness technological solutions to spur and uplift growth in agriculture for farmers in Africa cannot succeed without integrating enabling social, regulatory and public acceptance functions that are essential in bringing improved products to the farmer. Traditionally, designers of product development projects have inadvertently tended to downplay the pivotal role played by complimentary functions such as communication and public perceptions, product acceptance, regulatory management and compliance, and impact assessment that are critical to their success. Yet industry experience shows that competencies in such enabling activities are essential for successful product development, testing and deployment. It is against this background that AATF prioritises the following enabling activities as an integral part of its innovative products full value chain. Product profiling and ex-ante social economic impact assessment to guide activities that translate the findings from market needs assessments to specific products while establishing the potential impact of the products. IP management and licensing to ensure products are developed and used in a manner that does not infringe on the contractual, intellectual property (IP) or other proprietary rights of third parties. Technology stewardship to guide the conduct of operations by each partner along the technology and product development processes, including product delivery, use and discontinuation. Policy engagement and regulatory support to promote establishment of functional policy environment to facilitate product research, development and deployment, and to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements of project countries. Product deployment, including seed systems and extension networks to guide and ensure responsible and sustainable delivery of products to farmers in Africa. Project management for efficient and effective partnerships that deliver project goals. AATF has made great strides towards getting technologies to farmers. There is still a great deal of work to be done to improve the environment to ensure technology development is not affected by unpredictable regulatory systems; that products are smoothly stewarded through the entire value chain into the farmers hands; that seed systems are strengthened to ensure quality of products; that market linkages are enhanced to support farmer production efforts; and that the complex public-private partnerships are well managed to deliver desired outcomes. Communication, issue management and public acceptance to create a conducive setting for timely project implementation and product acceptance and adoption. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 73

80 Product profiling and ex ante socio economic impact assessment Developing a specific product profile is a key component in the product development process of projects in view of ensuring the commercial viability of the end-products. Product profiling is done to identify those products that fit in well with the farmers needs in a particular area and at a given time. It helps focus the technology and product development efforts providing clear and tangible vision and focus on what is the product specification, value proposition, and how it fits into the market. The success of products at the farmer and consumer levels will be influenced by, among other factors, an early needs assessment of the product requirements in target communities and participatory evaluation of the new products. Thus a feasibility study is conducted before product development to evaluate the technical, economic, social, environmental and legal viability of the product in a respective market segment. During the feasibility study, a market assessment is done to define factors that are critical for the eventual commercialisation of the product. The market needs provide valuable information in the establishment of the product profile (preferred local, varietal and agronomic reference checks) and additional characteristics that will enhance the probability of success or acceptability by consumers. These market needs derived for farmer preferences are used for product profiling and refining throughout all product development phases. A business plan is also developed to help identify the critical pathway to bring the products to farmers and consumers. It also analyses the effectiveness and efficiency of important and emerging agricultural product value chains and proposes cost-effective, efficient and adapted intervention strategies to enhance competitiveness and market access. 74 Annual Report 2016

81 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 During the product development process, AATF conducts an ex ante impact assessment to assess the expected impact of new crop technologies by quantifying the economic, and social benefits arising from increase in productivity because of technology adoption by farmers. Such productivity increases, either through yield gains or through savings in production costs, cause a downward shift in the crop supply curve, based on which aggregate economic surplus and surplus distribution effects can be derived. These expected socio-economic benefits are used to come up with product performance indicators and livelihood indexes that will be used for measuring the impact of the product when it has been fully commercialised. To ensure that the theory of change is well quantified, a baseline study is done when the product is ready for commercialisation to provide reference data that would set the basis for measuring progress and impact of the product on the livelihoods of the target population. Once these are ascertained, the monitoring and evaluation system is used to track the changes and can be used to assess whether the product is changing the lives of smallholder farmers in Africa or not. This will also guide decision-making on the product performance, and when to modify or replace it. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 75

82 Intellectual property management and licensing The challenge of identifying, understanding and utilising intellectual property (IP) especially in relation to access and transfer of agricultural technologies was one of the key reasons for the formation of AATF in Following various discussions with stakeholders, it emerged that there was need to understand IP management and licensing in order to adequately address the concerns of IP holders and end-users in the quest for royalty free technology for smallholder farmers. The IP function is therefore a strategic function at AATF being central to bringing technological benefits to smallholder farmers through access to innovative agricultural technologies. The AATF approach to IP management forms the backbone on which all negotiations for access to technologies that enhance the productivity of agriculture in Africa are made. The role involves three key stages. Scouting and identification This involves identifying relevant technologies that can benefit smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and that fall within AATF priority areas of work. The technology could be from any part of the world and owners could be private or public organisations. For instance AATF identified the 2-line hybrid rice technology as one of the ways of improving rice productivity in Africa and proceeded to access the technology in order to create a sustainable hybrid rice system and agro-businesses to support rice farming in east, west and southern Africa. The project has also accessed a web-based tool that will assist in determining precise relationships between yield, environment and genetics for better rice production. 76 Annual Report 2016

83 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 Negotiation for access This is the process of concluding the terms of the relevant agreements with technology owners and these agreements govern the licence grant, conditions of use, sharing of responsibilities between owner and users and how and where the technology will be used. This negotiation stage ensures the rights and obligations of the parties prior to the signing of the licence agreements. It is at this stage that AATF is granted the right to issue sublicences to its partners for further research, development and commercialisation. The commercialisation agreements also include seed production and distribution agreements with seed companies. These licences are often issued with conditions allowing AATF access in order to monitor the use and application of the technologies licensed. AATF also conducts freedom to operate (FTO) assessments to determine whether the new and improved products can be developed and commercialised without infringing existing IP rights. IP compliance This is a continuous exercise that covers licensee reporting, IP awareness, and continuous monitoring of the use of the licensed technology including enforcement. As part of awareness, AATF carries out IP trainings and workshops including assisting organisations with their IP policy development. AATF may also seek statutory IP protection including patents, plant breeders rights, copyrights and trademarks for innovations generated or arising from project activities. This statutory protection is aimed at improving the stewardship of the licensed technologies. Monitoring includes physical visits and presentation of periodic reports by licensees on their use of the technologies. Over the years, AATF has managed to access over 17 biotechnologies. AATF has also accessed hundreds of elite germplasm. Some of these technologies are already benefitting farmers under the WEMA, StrigAway and CAMAP projects. AATF has registered several trademarks aimed at aiding product brand promotion and commercialisation efforts. In addition to IP access and trademarks, AATF has built the IP capacities of the NARS through training seminars, and IP policy, research notebook and brochure publications. AATF has also published IP education articles in well-known journals. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 77

84 Regulatory and policy engagement The success of AATF projects depends heavily on successful management of the regulatory environment and compliance with regulations of target countries during transboundary movement, testing and deployment of candidate crop varieties. This requires AATF and its allied partners to have the requisite capacity to navigate through the regulatory requirements applicable in target African countries to deliver products to the public. However, the complex and rapidly changing regulatory environment for innovative technologies in Africa often creates a major challenge especially for transgenic crop projects (NEWEST, PBR Cowpea) or transgenic components projects dealing with various technologies (WEMA s transgenic insect and drought tolerant components). Typically the regulatory approval process for GM crops at AATF is undertaken in three phases. Early preparedness This is undertaken during project conceptualisation to evaluate prospects of successful implementation based on prevailing regulatory systems in target countries. The policy and regulatory environment of target countries is rigorously scanned to identify regulatory bottlenecks likely to hinder testing and deployment of technologies and products. This process involves engagement of government officials to gauge their preparedness and readiness to oversee testing and general approval of innovative technologies. This information is then mainstreamed into the conceptual framework of the project for ease of implementation. 78 Annual Report 2016

85 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 Regulatory support during product testing This is essential during experimental trials in containment and confinement facilities, generally referred to as confined field trials (CFTs). To achieve this, AATF participates in formulation and implementation of country-specific strategies, plans, tactics or schemes for addressing the regulatory needs or conditions in order to secure approvals for product testing. The Foundation also spearheads capacity enhancement efforts including training of project partners to ensure compliance with approval requirements. On need basis, AATF also facilitates training of regulators to enhance their risk assessment capacities for sound and science-based decision making. Regulatory support during product release and deployment This is essential for general release and commercialisation of proven technologies and products. To achieve this, AATF leads project partners in compilation and submission of regulatory dossiers to regulatory authorities for review and grant of permit approvals. This stage of regulatory support is so critical that, often times, an elaborate outreach campaign is also marshalled alongside the dossier submission to optimise the approval of products. In addition, AATF pays special attention to tracking emerging regulatory issues in target countries and engaging policy makers and regulators to help resolve potential hurdles that can adversely impact testing, transfer and delivery of technologies to end users. This effort is contributing to the evolution of a sciencebased regulatory policy environment in Africa for efficient product development and deployment of innovative products including GM crops. During the last 10 years, AATF has secured over 100 regulatory approvals for release of conventional crop varieties, some of which are already adopted for planting by farmers. At the same time, the Foundation sought and secured nearly 60 permit approvals for confined field trials on GM crops, two of which recently advanced to environmental release of GM maize hybrids in South Africa and Kenya. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 79

86 Product stewardship The success of technology development, testing and use is dependent on the seriousness with which its stewardship (responsible and ethical management) is taken. For AATF and its partners, product stewardship is the process through which they identify and minimise failure of the technology at every stage of the full lifecycle of a product. It aims to lengthen the durability of a particularly product and help reduce potential negative impacts on customers, the general public and the environment. Good product stewardship, therefore, contributes to long-term sustainable use of products and demonstrates responsibility on the part of all partners involved in all the aspects of product development and deployment. Stewardship is a key strategic goal for AATF given its commitment to act as the principal and responsible party in stewarding technologies that it licences, ensuring that appropriate regulatory procedures are followed, targeting technologies on identified needs, safeguarding against piracy and protecting confidential material. By embracing the principles of product stewardship, AATF and its partners obligate themselves to deliver products that sustainably add value to agriculture and are safe to consumers and the environment. For all AATF projects, product stewardship is implemented through a stewardship plan whose key elements revolve around quality management systems (QMS), primarily hinged on quality standards; procedural guidelines; and issues management specifically incident or complaint handling processes. Quality standards This take into account appropriate scientific and technical safeguards for all products which are determined by quality attributes whose standards are set by relevant national/international regulatory agencies that include requirements, specifications, guidelines and characteristics needed to achieve high quality products. Quality standards also incorporate advising stakeholders, 80 Annual Report 2016

87 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 including smallholder farmers, on the appropriate deployment or use of technologies and products. What this means is that AATF and project partners routinely train stakeholders on quality standards and how to achieve them including conduct of audits to ensure compliance with these quality standards. Procedural guidelines AATF and partners develop procedural documents such as the Farmer Stewardship Guide (Pamphlet), the Stewardship Provisions for License Agreements and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that provide relevant information on how to use its products appropriately. The Farmer Stewardship Guide, for example, contains information on special attributes of the product which include features, advantages and benefits and agronomic practices that advise on land preparation, planting instructions and crop husbandry, among others. Issues management and incident handling processes This takes into account putting in place an information tracking system; developing a contingency plan that includes outreach to those concerned such as farmers and relevant officials in affected counties; and consideration of other mitigation measures to avoid repeat of issues. Over the years AATF has developed and is now implementing Stewardship and Insect Resistance Management (IRM) Plans to guide on the deployments of its products. Stewardship documents have been produced and training workshops carried out for stakeholders in the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA), Podborer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea and IR Maize (Striga) projects. Cumulatively over 300 individuals have so far been trained on stewardship since Working with partners we have been able to identify and manage quality related incidences before they escalate to unmanageable levels. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 81

88 Communication, issue management and public acceptance The communications function at AATF covers three broad areas corporate communications, projects communications and advocacy. Projects communication s key objective is to create an enabling environment for timely project implementation and product success. This objective carries with it elements that support visibility; awareness and education; reputation management; stakeholder engagement and dialogue; public relations; and government relations. It also includes proactive and reactive communications. AATF recognises that projects communications is a process which is likely to succeed when it is implemented through a coordinated and synergistic set of activities planned to build cumulative effects that translate to improved knowledge, changes in attitude, and supportive actions rather than when it is implemented as a series of activities and events. This therefore calls for strategic approach to communications and a well informed and coordinated network of support by various partners. Three main phases contribute to holistic projects communications at AATF. Development of communication strategies and plans This is undertaken first depending on the type of project (whether transgenic, conventional, mechanical or informationbased) progress made by the project and its specific communication needs. This ensures activities undertaken thereof are designed to help the project achieve its intended purpose. The communication strategies and plans are developed through consultative processes that include country and other partners. For less controversial projects, the strategies may seek to build on awareness and education while for the more sensitive projects, such as those developing and deploying transgenic 82 Annual Report 2016

89 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 products, strategies aim at building strong, science-based understanding and appreciation of the technology attributes (for example the Water Efficient Maize in Africa Project WEMA). In recognition of the need to proactively contribute to building the understanding and appreciation of biotechnology in Africa AATF established the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) in 2006 to facilitate meaningful dialogue among scientists, journalists, policy makers, civil society, farmers and other stakeholders. The strategies and plans provide an outline of how communications on the projects will be implemented. They help channel investments available for communication in a manner that is coordinated and one that is likely to build the necessary cumulative effects that will result in improved knowledge, support and actions among key audience segments and stakeholders. The strategies also serve as frameworks for communication activities at the global project level and also at the country level. Strategies are reviewed when necessary while plans of work are reviewed each year and new ones developed in response to emerging issues, progress and new expectations. Document and message development The second key work area includes developing core project and product messages and project communication materials such as Frequently Asked Questions and brochures. A set of internal documents to support staff and partners in implementation of communications are also developed, for example emergency response guidelines. These documents serve as reference points for all project communications and are updated as and when necessary to accommodate project progress, new knowledge or the need to improve designs. Strategy implementation This third phase is undertaken through various teams in the countries of operation. The activities mostly revolve around building transparency, and stakeholders dialogue; awareness and education around technologies, products and issues of interest; capacity strengthening for various groups including staff and project partners on message use, presentation skills, media engagement; and strengthening the capacity of journalists in science communication. Over the years, community engagements have been carried out by the projects to encourage dialogue on the research and understanding of the technologies. These community meetings enhance mutual understanding and cooperation in addition to contributing feedback to the projects. Decision and policy maker outreach activities by project partners and OFAB have helped gain buy-in by decision makers on the project goals and interests. These engagements took various forms from meetings, to field visits and presentations. Product promotion activities that were undertaken to attract demand for the two maize products DroughtTego from WEMA and StrigAway from the Striga Control in Maize projects enhanced demand for the products and interactions with farmers, agro-dealers and seed companies. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 83

90 Deployment Products from AATF projects are intended to benefit farmers. For this benefit to be realised and to attain the desired sustainable impact, it is critical that the deployment aspect is incorporated right through the project from product discovery to product access and use by farmers. Critical to successful product deployment is ensuring that the products are what farmers prefer. In order to do this effectively, AATF has in-built the necessary structures and expertise into its projects for successful product deployment. There are three key elements of the product deployment function: Commercial release of products coming from the development pipeline The deployment function picks up products from the development pipeline. The deployment process thus begins by selecting and advancing candidate products into the commercial release system in specific countries. This entails matching and testing of products for targeted geographies. The release process usually includes performance trials, distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) tests. Results are then analysed, following which AATF and development partners participate in the national variety release committees for formal approval of products for subsequent commercial production. From the time of entry into the national performance trials, this process could take 2 3 years, depending on country regulations and priorities, rainfall seasons and product types. Product allocation, licensing and production AATF has in place a product allocation strategy that allows selection and engagement of willing and qualified private sector partners. In the case 84 Annual Report 2016

91 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 of seed-based products, the critical partners are private seed companies. A selection criteria is used to differentiate company types and assist decisions on exclusive or non-exclusive product allocation to specific applicants. A key product licencing condition is that the partner companies will ensure that quality products, such as certified seed, are multiplied to sufficient quantities and made available and accessible to the targeted market. Seed production is essential for ensuring that product supply in the market is sustained. Promotion and marketing of new products Deployment efforts target promotion and marketing activities to ensure rapid uptake and adoption of new products by seed companies, agro-dealers and farmers. Promotion, a key marketing strategy, is conducted in partnership with the private sector so that the endusers (farmers) are clear on the products in terms of brand, source, benefits, availability and accessibility. Promotion efforts include product demonstrations on farmers fields, field days and workshops, radio and TV talk shows, road shows, SMS services, and publications including brochures and pamphlets. The Deployment function is also engaged in capacity strengthening of agrodealers to equip them with knowledge on suitable product handling and use. This is essential considering that agrodealers are the first point of extension during product sales. Promotion drives product awareness and actual testing by target users, thus assisting in driving demand for farmer-preferred products. This encourages supply and commercial viability. This cyclical demand-supply relationship is critical for sustainable product use and impact. Over the years, the Deployment function has facilitated release of 110 maize seed varieties to the market 99 through WEMA and 11 through the Striga Control in Maize Project. Over 40 seed companies are actively engaged in production and sale of products from the two projects. Since 2013, more than 4,800 tonnes of certified seed have been produced under WEMA and Striga Control projects with close to 1,960 tonnes sold to farmers sufficient to plant 77,500 hectares of farmland. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 85

92 A man pulls a cart filled with sacks of grain to the market in Antananarivo, Madagascar Photo credit: Dereje Belachew 86 Annual Report 2016

93 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 Positively influencing policy change for an agriculture friendly environment Established by AATF in September 2006, the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) is a partnership project that facilitates regular exchange of credible information on agricultural biotechnology among stakeholders. Its main goals are to enhance understanding and acceptance of agricultural biotechnology and contribute to building an enabling environment for decision making with regards to biotechnology adoption. In the period under review, OFAB project continued to implement advocacy and communication programmes targeting mainly farmers, policy makers, experts and journalists. It continued to place focus on advocacy around policy issues to inform policy changes around the biotechnology environment in order to facilitate R&D, deployment and trade. The year recorded some exciting developments that provide indication of improving biotech environment mainly facilitated through outreach efforts by OFAB and its partners. Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa Some firsts for biotech in Africa There were some exciting developments in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi and Kenya that gave indications of improving biotech environment. Nigeria s National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) awarded its first environmental release approval for Bt cotton in April 2016 and also approved Bt/HT maize for confined field trials (CFTs). This was made possible by the passage of the Biosafety Act in Commercial release of Bt cotton in Nigeria will be a game changer not only for the west Africa region but for the Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 87

94 Positively influencing policy change for an agriculture friendly environment rest of Africa given that Nigeria is one of the economic powerhouses of Africa. A decision by Nigeria to allow commercial trade in GM crops will most likely spur the neighbouring countries to follow suit since their economies are intricately intertwined. Ethiopia approved multilocation confined field trials for Bt cotton in June which was a milestone given that the country previously had strict liability biosafety regulations that prohibited planting of GM crops. The strict liability biosafety regulations and guidelines that were hindering biotech research were reviewed and replaced with more science-based ones, thanks to strong political support for biotech and stakeholder intervention. Tanzania gave green light for CFTs of transgenic Drought Tolerant (DT) maize (MON87460) developed by the Water Efficient Maize in Africa (WEMA) project. This followed review of the strict liability biosafety regulations to make them science-based. To ensure the relevant authorities are aware of the performance of the maize under trials, OFAB organised a series of seeing-isbelieving tours for high-level policy makers and the media to the trial sites. Policy makers who participated in the tours expressed satisfaction with the performance of the DT maize and promised policy change to give farmers access to the varieties. Mozambique, which is one of the countries participating in the WEMA project, endorsed CFTs for WEMA Bt and DT maize. This followed a decree by the minister for science and technology that removed restrictions on GM crops research, development and trade or commercialisation. Indeed the decree made Mozambique one of the biotech best bet countries in Africa. In Malawi, the ministry of agriculture showed significant shift in biotech policy orientation when it applied for permit to conduct CFTs of virus-resistant banana. In another positive move the country s regulatory authority approved Bt cotton for environmental release. The on-going Bt cowpea trials also continued unabated over the review period. Kenya s National Biosafety Authority granted its first approval for environmental release of Bt maize developed by the WEMA project and Bt cotton by Monsanto. This was a key milestone given that the GMO import ban was still in place. Even so, it is unfortunate that the Bt maize variety was not entered into the national performance trials (NPTs) due to delays in issuance of Environmental Impact Assessment Report license by the National Environment Management Authority. Encouraging developments in biotech policy The Kenya Parliament in August removed two clauses from a parliamentary bill that would have complicated the approval process for transgenic materials. The Natural Resources Bill (2015) had a clause that would have made it mandatory for any party intending to conduct CFTs for GM crops to seek ratification from the Kenya Parliament. Likewise, all Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) involving any natural resource (plant, animals, microorganisms) in Kenya would have required Parliamentary approval. Ethiopia demonstrated its resolve to mainstream biotechnology into its economy by establishing two key bodies to oversee application of the technology in the country. Ethiopian Biotechnology Council (EBC), chaired by the Prime Minister, is responsibility for providing national biotechnology policy direction and setting national biotechnology 88 Annual Report 2016

95 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 priority programmes. On the other hand the Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute (EBTi), headed by a Director General, is mandated, among other things, to set national polices and strategy for biotechnology uptake. Sharing information and strengthening capacity The Forum continued to support networks of biotech experts and champions with updated information to enable them respond to emerging issues, especially the emotive controversies around GMOs. International conferences and meetings continued to be key forums for information sharing and networking by OFAB. The forum organised a side event on Taking a GM Crop to the Market in SSA at the 7 th Africa Agriculture Science Week and Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) General Assembly held in June 2016 in Rwanda. The side event made three recommendations: i) that FARA intensifies engagement of African policy makers and regulators to prop functional and facilitative policy and appropriate regulatory systems for the testing and uptake of demand-driven GM crops; and ii) that FARA increases farmer and consumer education for enhanced public understanding and acceptance of biotechnology (including GM technology); and iii) that FARA coordinates collaborative efforts to ensure the full adoption and implementation of the recommendations of the African Union High level Panel on Biotechnology by member states. Grassroots outreach is a key focus for the project building on feedback for enhanced awareness of biotechnology at community levels. In April 2016, over 40 members from the seven OFAB countries and Malawi were trained on grassroots campaigns under a collaborative partnership between OFAB and Cornell Alliance for Science (AfS). Another 10 individuals from partner institutions from Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Malawi and Nigeria underwent a three-month training on biotech advocacy and grassroots campaigns at the Cornell University s Ithaca campus. The project aims to strengthen stakeholders capacity for effective biotech advocacy and communication campaigns aimed at empowering communities and leaders for informed decisions and science and technology matters that are critical for livelihoods and the economy. Looking forward OFAB aims to strengthen conversations with grassroots communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, the media and policy makers around agricultural biotechnology in order to dispel the myths and fears that have kept the beneficial technology away from farmers hands in Africa for far too long. The project will commemorate its 10 th anniversary in 2017 which will be a good time for deep reflection as the project prepares to begin its journey for the next decade. Use of digital/social media as a key stakeholder engagement tool will be prioritised. Daniel Otunge, OFAB Project Manager Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 89

96 Woman carrying fire wood, Tanzania Photo credit: Ariadne Van Zandbergen 90 Annual Report 2016

97 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 Building seed bridges to improve small-holder access to quality seed Availability of quality seed continues to be a challenge to farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Working through local seed enterprises, the Seeds2B Project seeks to contribute solutions by expediting smallholder farmer access to a range of quality seed of better performing crop varieties. By adding novel commercially viable products to the portfolios of local seed enterprises, the Seeds2B Project helps smallholders in the region access better seed and therefore serve existing and new markets with the best of locally grown produce. It is estimated that demand for improved seed will rise from the current US$ 400 million over the next 10 years making it necessary to help seed companies in Africa sustainably diversify their offering to farmers. The project identifies better performing varieties available elsewhere and facilitates access and evaluation by/with seed companies in Africa to enable selection of preferred varieties and commercialisation. Emphasis is on key orphan crops and high value vegetables. The project links breeders who have appropriate seed with competent local seed producers and distributors. Facilitated by the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, Seeds2B aims to contribute towards improvements of smallholder productivity, facilitating returns on investments in crop breeding for technology owners and enhancing business performance of Africa s seed enterprises. Seeds2B Project Better sorghum, millet and tomato cultivars identified AATF successfully facilitated the evaluation of high potential tomato (25), sorghum (16), pearl millet (10) and soybean (6) cultivars in Malawi and Zimbabwe. The evaluated cultivars were developed by 11 breeders through public and private funded conventional plant breeding initiatives. All participating Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 91

98 Building seed bridges to improve small-holder access to quality seed US$ 1.6 billion Expected new seed demand for improved seed in 10 years time $ 400 million Estimated worth of commercial seed market in SSA 60 New high potential improved crop cultivars accessed by the Seeds2B Project from breeders in Africa and globally Tomato trial breeders are based in the Global South and SSA, specifically Nigeria, Mozambique, Brazil, India, China and Australia. The performance, adaptability and market acceptance of accessed cultivars was benchmarked against local checks in small-scale on-station field trials. The trials aimed to identify commercially Soya beans trial 92 Annual Report 2016

99 Enabling Environment Priority Area 5 40% Increase in yield with new sorghum and millet cultivars under Seeds2B 100% - Increase in yield with new tomato seeds under Seeds2B viable products on the basis of positive interactions between genotype, environment and markets. The outcomes of these trials determine suitability to farmer and market preferences as well as commercial potential, which is key for commercialisation by seed companies. The trials inform nomination of products for on-farm and on-station regulatory and marketing trials. Evaluation trials identified 11 sorghum, 5 pearl millet and 8 tomato cultivars with potential to offer benefits to smallholders in Malawi and Zimbabwe. Compared to local checks applied, the promising sorghum and millet cultivars offer yield enhancements ranging from 5 40%; drought-escaping properties; suitability for mixed farming systems; and potential for applications in beer processing. The promising tomato cultivars offer yield enhancements ranging from 10% to over 100%; early fruiting; high fruit counts; and competitive shelf-life. Trials are ongoing for soybean, groundnut and new tomato accessions. Looking forward Identified promising small grains in Zimbabwe and vegetable cultivars will be nominated for regulatory trials. In anticipation of commercial deployment, AATF has initiated the engagement of competent local seed enterprises with capacity and experience to deliver elite products to target smallholder farmers. Alongside this, on-farm demonstration trials will be implemented to catalyse product uptake and adoption. Furthermore, in an effort to maintain a robust, diversified product pipeline, technology scouting and negotiations with public and private breeders aimed at accessing additional appropriate crop cultivars will continue. Edgar Wavomba Project Coordinator, Seeds2B Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 93

100 Improving Breeding Methods: Plant breeding has been a major driver in the evolution of agricultural systems in the world, contributing significantly to improved crop adaptation and enhanced productivity in diverse agro-ecologies and improved food security. While classical breeding has been pivotal in addressing biotic and abiotic stress constraints including enhancement of key economic traits of importance critical to value chain development, huge challenges still exist in handling complex phenomena associated with genetic gain, long breeding cycles, insufficient genetic variation for key traits, effectiveness, costs and efficiencies. The challenges of growing global demand for increased agricultural productivity in the face of an ever-growing population under decreasing resources such as land, water and soil makes it imperative to revolutionise plant breeding processes to enhance capacity for fast delivery of new products to farmers. With the advent of biotechnology, the rapid development of molecular marker systems and genomics have offered new genetic improvement technologies and approaches that are now helping to revolutionise plant breeding to address the key limitations of classical breeding. The new improved breeding methods essentially complement classical breeding. The low food productivity in Africa and the increasing high food imports into the continent (for example rice production at 14.8 million tonnes of milled rice per year, while consumption is nearly double at 26.4 million tonnes of milled rice per year) implies that African farmers have to be availed of the benefits of the See Pg 97 Hybrid Rice RICE RICE 1 tonne yield advantage over competitive varieties 14.8 million tonnes of milled rice per year produced in Africa 94 Annual Report 2016

101 Priority Area 6 best modern plant breeding practices required to boost agricultural productivity of Africa. AATF is thus facilitating access by African scientists and partners to new plant breeding methods and technologies that have the capacity to rapidly facilitate the development of improved varieties (products) with superior genetic potential to address demands of the small-scale farmers in Africa higher-yields, resistance to pests and diseases, tolerance to abiotic stresses, adaptation to edaphic and climatic conditions (climate smart agriculture), better physiological response to resources (nutrient- or wateruse efficiency), more nutritious crops, amenability to more environmentally friendly agricultural practices etc. AATF is currently promoting a suite of improved breeding methods and technologies in maize (WEMA), cowpea (PBR Cowpea) and rice (Hybrid and NEWEST) projects. The breeding methods being advanced through these projects include hybrid breeding (to attain superior yield advantage for key crops such as rice that aims for a yield advantage of at least 1 tonne per hectare over the most competitive inbred varieties); molecular breeding (to fast track breeding and genetic gain in crops and especially complex traits such as yield which are difficult to manipulate through classical breeding); and transgenic technology (to enhance genetic improvement especially for rare traits where genetic variation is highly limited). RICE 26.4 million tonnes of milled rice per year consumed in Africa Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 95

102 A Nigerian man selling in a busy Lagos Market Photo credit: A24 Media Archives 96 Annual Report 2016

103 Improving Breeding Methods Priority Area 6 Developing hybrid rice with yield advantage Rice consumption is increasing at a rate higher than yields per unit area, thereby increasing rice imports. In addition, not much work has been done on the development of rice hybrids for Africa. While there are a number of factors limiting rice production in east Africa, improved genetic potential through hybridity is a big opportunity for impact and, coupled with a rigorous seed quality mechanism, the prospect of creating a viable local hybrid rice agri-business is of tremendous potential and value. AATF is working with partners to develop hybrid rice with significant yield advantage using the 2-line rice hybrid system technology. The project is also working to create sustainable hybrid rice agro-businesses to support rice farming in east, west and southern Africa by determining precise relationships between yield, environment and genetics. Hybrid Rice: Breeding by Design Project Building momentum towards release to farmers The project aims to develop 2-line rice hybrids and parental lines and ensure that, through private companies and public institutions in Africa, the technology reaches farmers and increases their rice yields and income streams. During 2016, the project made great strides towards commercialisation in Kenya with hybrids recording high yields of 7 10 tonnes/ha. The project also made its first contribution to Global Public Good (GPG) when 14 S lines (female lines) that were developed in the project were finalised and made accessible to seed companies and other stakeholders. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 97

104 Developing hybrid rice with yield advantage further development for their use for hybrid rice production. There is considerable interest from commercial seed companies in Kenya and Tanzania to take up these hybrid rice products with two companies taking delivery of their preferred lines during the year. From the 127 S lines, 14 were finalised as Global Public Good (GPG). Four trials, one in Kenya and three in Tanzania, were conducted in 2016 to test the hybrid rice yields, in continuation of tests started in In Tanzania, two of the trials were planted under rainfed conditions and one under irrigation. Electine Wafula, rice breeder, and Kayode Sanni, Hybrid Rice Project Manager, with farmers on their rice farm at Mwea, Kenya Road towards variety release The project entered 15 high performing hybrids into national performance trials (NPT) in five trial sites in Kenya Bondo, Hola, Kisumu, Malindi and Mwea. This is the first step towards release and commercialisation. The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is supervising the NPTs being carried out by Hybrids East Africa Ltd (HEAL) and AATF. The selection of hybrids to place in NPTs was based primarily on yield and yield stability over locations. It also included other aspects such as superiority in irrigated or rainfed conditions or both. Product development progresses Seed companies were invited to take up 127 female parental lines (S lines) that are close to being finalised for them to The Kenyan trial was under rainfed condition. Results showed the best performing hybrid in each location was significantly better than the local commercially grown variety in the location, with results indicating that under optimal conditions and with good agronomic practice, the yield potential of the top performing hybrid could be higher than 10 tonnes per hectare under irrigated conditions and between 5.8 and 8.0 tonnes per hectare under rainfed conditions. During the year, slightly over 2,000 kg of seed was produced to be used by the project s seed company partners for demonstrations and to facilitate farmer field days. Economic advantage of hybrid rice to farmers An analysis done across all the test locations showed that, on average, the extra income a farmer in Kenya could get through the use of hybrid rice seeds (after deducting the cost of seeds) would be US$850 per hectare based on the expected income of US$2,600 per hectare from the hybrid rice compared to the current US$1,750 from other varieties being cultivated. 98 Annual Report 2016

105 Improving Breeding Methods Priority Area 6 IT solutions for seed company challenges In an effort to enhance the use of the weather tool and to develop more IT solutions to help the hybrid rice stakeholder, Hack4Farming was organised in Nairobi to create technical solutions to challenges faced by seed companies in east Africa. About 60 young local technical experts in IT participated in the three-day (29 31 July 2016) competition alongside mentors and seed company representatives. MbeguBora emerged the winner with their proposal to build web-based and mobile apps that connect farmers to agents and seed companies, and at the same time provide seed variety recommendations and plot monitoring reports. The winners got financial rewards from awhere to further advance their idea. These tools will help in the uptake and adoption of the hybrid rice technology by providing solution to some of the perceived bottle necks. Looking forward The economic gain from the use of hybrid rice to all stakeholders including farmers, seed companies and consumers has been clearly demonstrated. The process towards making the seeds Hybrid rice on a farmer s field in Babati, Tanzania of hybrid rice available to farmers is therefore very important, and this has started with the national performance trials (NPT) in Kenya. As soon as the NPTs are concluded successfully, farmers and other stakeholders can begin to reap the benefit of the hybrid rice technology. Kayode Sanni, Project Manager, Rice Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 99

106 Improving Food Safety and Quality: African economies are mainly driven by agriculture and its quest for increased domestic and international trade has given further importance to improved stability, quality and safety of its food supply. However, food quality and safety issues present a serious obstacle to linking small farmers to markets as well as improving nutrition in Africa. Poor food and feed safety results in food contamination or poisoning, in some cases leading to illness and death. There are an estimated 2,000 food safety-related deaths in Africa each day, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Food contamination undermines food exports, livelihoods of food handlers and farmers. Infections caused by contaminated food have a negative impact on the health status of populations. The impact of poor food production and post-harvest practices on food safety and quality in the supply chain is a major concern to governments, the food industry and consumers. The supply of safe and nutritious food for domestic and international markets is critical to building local and international consumer confidence and sustainable economic growth and development of Africa. Food safety relates to practices and activities at production, handling, preparation and storage that prevent the occurrence of food-borne illnesses at any of these stages. Safety encompasses issues around hygiene, pesticide use and natural contaminants, including for example mycotoxins and heavy metals. On the other hand, food Aflatoxins 25% percentage of world food crops affected according to FAO 4.5 billion number of people in developing world affected by aflatoxins CDC 2,000 Estimated number of daily food safety-related deaths in Africa according to the FAO and WHO 100 Annual Report 2016

107 Priority Area 7 quality relates to quality characteristics (for example size, shape, colour, gloss, consistency, texture, flavour, etc.) of food that is acceptable to consumers. The concept of quality thus encompasses both product characteristics and intrinsic attributes that relate to the way the product is produced. Addressing food quality and safety requires adopting preventive approaches through activities that need to be undertaken at planting, harvesting and storage to protect produce from contamination as well as quality control measures based on monitoring and testing to avoid entry of contaminants into the human food chain. The customer and consumer expect that producers should take the necessary steps to ensure that their food is safe. For Sub-Saharan Africa, food grains, especially maize and peanuts, are particularly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, which not only compromises the quality of harvested produce but can also pose lifethreatening risks to consumers. Food quality and safety issues resulting from aflatoxin contamination have presented a significant obstacle to programs designed to improve nutrition and alleviate hunger. The FAO estimates that 25% of world food crops are affected while the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 4.5 billion people in the developing world are exposed to food-borne aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are metabolites produced by some species of fungi in the genus Aspergillus, the most notable being Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. These fungi invade crops during maturation in the field and storage, contaminating them with aflatoxins. Maize is one of the most susceptible cereal crops to pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination particularly during periods of moisture stress and when insect damage is prevalent. Postharvest contamination in maize also occurs when grains are stored in damp environments. Consequently, dietary exposure to aflatoxin contaminated maize-based products has been associated with various human healthrelated conditions including the high incidence of liver cancer, growth retardation in children, reproduction impairment and the suppression of cellmediated immune responses. Aflatoxin sampling and testing in maize and peanuts Given the importance of maize as a staple in Africa, AATF sought to improve food safety and quality of the crop. AATF in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) is working in five countries to build regional consensus regarding registration frameworks for bio-pesticides such as Aflasafe. Aflasafe is a breakthrough biological control technology that utilises the ability of native atoxigenic strains of A. flavus to naturally out-compete their aflatoxin-producing cousins thereby reducing the frequency of aflatoxin production levels in crop commodities. The project aims at strengthening national food control systems that guarantee safe/quality foods. The project goal is implementing holistic strategies which include testing, registration and scaling up biological control interventions as well as supporting public private partnerships, legislative and regulatory actions, and public engagement on the control of aflatoxin. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 101

108 Two African girls carrying brushwood on savanna, Kenya Photo credit: Bartosz Hadyniak 102 Annual Report 2016

109 Financial Report 2016 Financial report 2016 These audited financial statements cover the period from January 2016 through December 2016 and provide comparative data for Funding overview AATF investors for the year 2016 were: n Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation n Howard G. Buffett Foundation n United Kingdom s Department for International Development (DFID) n United States Agency for International Development (USAID) n Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) n Fintrac AATF has continued to use sub-grants received earlier from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) AATF is grateful to all its investors for their continued support that ensures that its commitment towards assisting resource-constrained farmers in accessing affordable agricultural technologies to improve their livelihoods is on course. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 103

110 Financial Report 2016 Statement of financial position as at 31 December 2016 (US$) ASSETS Non-current assets Equipment and motor vehicles 50, Intangible assets 3,120 2,746 Total 53, ,038 Current assets Contributions receivable 4,166,654 5,281,019 Other receivables 974,027 2,066,536 Bank and cash balances 5,993, ,152 Total 11,134,214 7,657,707 Total assets 11,187,564 7,764,745 FUND BALANCES AND LIABILITIES Current liabilities Unexpended grant payable 3,191,576 1,491,186 Deferred income 31,171-49,021 Payables and accruals 2,824, ,645 6,047,113 1,993,810 Fund balances 5,140,451 5,770,935 Total liabilities and fund balances 11,187,564 7,764, Annual Report 2016

111 Financial Report 2016 Statement of comprehensive income (abridged version in US$) for the year ended 31 December INCOME Grant income 20,456,945 20,092,519 Other income 1,434,462 1,181,478 Deferred income (80,192) 53,141 TOTAL INCOME 21,811,215 21,327,138 EXPENDITURE Project related expenses 20,289,215 19,896,108 Management and general expenses 2,152,484 1,905,017 Total expenditure 22,441,699 21,801,125 Deficit for the period -630, ,987 Percentage of management and general expenses to the total operating expenses Percentage of project related expenses to the total operating expenses 9.59% 8.74% 90.41% 91.26% 100% 100% Financial status During the period under review, the funding status was relatively stable as the expected major funding for that period came through. The funding received in 2016 was adequate for the Foundation s needs for the year as all expenditures were fully catered for. The Foundation s finance is healthy both in terms of expenditures/ income and project expenditures/ general operating expenses ratio. The Foundation continues to receive unqualified audit opinion from external auditors. The independent auditors opinion for the year was that the financial statements presented fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position of the Foundation as at 31 December 2016 and its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the requirements of Kenya s Companies Act. The Foundation Trustees and Management are not aware of any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast doubt upon the Foundation s ability to continue as a going concern. Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 105

112 Board of Trustees Ousmane Badiane Chair, Board of Trustees, Director for Africa, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) 2. Idah Sithole-Niang Outgoing Chair, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe 4. Kwame Akuffo-Akoto Deputy Director General, Corporate Services, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) 5. Rory J. Radding Partner, Locke Lord LLP Stanford F. Blade Vice Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta, Canada Annual Report Justin Joseph Rakotoarisaona Secretary General, African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) 7. Larry R. Beach Principal, Sustainable Technology for Agriculture, LLC

113 Johnson Irungu Waithaka Director of Agriculture, Crop Resources, Agribusiness and Market Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Kenya 9. McLean Sibanda Chief Executive Officer, The Innovation Hub 10. Jeremy T. Ouedraogo Director, African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) 11. Dame Anne Glover Vice Principal for External Affairs and Dean for Europe, University of Aberdeen 12. Ingrid Wünning Tschol Senior Vice President, Strategy, Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH 13. Denis Tumwesigye Kyetere Executive Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) 14. Jennifer Ann Thomson Board Chair Emeritus Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 107

114 AATF Staff Executive Director s Office Denis Tumwesigye Kyetere Executive Director Alhaji Tejan-Cole Director of Legal Affairs Nancy Muchiri Senior Manager, Communications and Partnership Daniel Otunge OFAB Project Manager Peter Werehire Publications and Websites Officer Abu Joseph Umaru Projects Communications Officer, Abuja, Nigeria Jacquine Kinyua Executive Assistant to the Executive Director Jane Achando Legal Officer John Makokha Resource Mobilisation Officer Everlyne Situma Projects Communications Officer, WEMA Caroline W. Muchiri Associate Legal Officer Suleiman Okoth Programme Officer, OFAB Nancy Juma Corporate Communications Officer Jotham Maroa Head of Human Resources Frank Chege Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mohammed Duba Corporate Communications Officer Technical Operations Department Emmanuel Okogbenin Director Technical Operations Francis Nang ayo Senior Manager, Regulatory Matters Sylvester Oikeh Project Manager, WEMA Kayode Abiola Sanni Project Manager, Rice Issoufou Kollo Abdourhamane Project Manager, Cowpea Prince Addae Project Manager, Cowpea Caroline Thande Administrative Assistant Francis Onyekachi Nwankwo Programme Officer, West Africa Caleb Obunyali Programme Officer, WEMA David Tarus Programme Assistant Edgar Wavomba Project Coordinator, Seeds2B Oluseun Bolarinwa Programme Officer, Seeds William Omoro Project Assistant, WEMA Regina Nderitu Project Assistant, WEMA Abed Mathagu Programme Officer, Regulatory Affairs Edith Kouko Programme Assistant Peter Okello Odhiambo Project Assistant, WEMA Project Alex Kariuki Information Systems Officer Emily Injete Amondo Project Assistant, WEMA 108 Annual Report 2016

115 Commercialisation Department Donald Mavindidze Director Commercialisation Gospel Omanya Senior Manager, Projects Management George Marechera Business Development Manager James Okeno Product Stewardship Manager Jonga Munyaradzi Seeds Production Manager Peter Musyoka Programme Officer, Seed Systems Grace Muinga Programme Officer, Business Development Bonface Okute Project Assistant Calleb Adede Project Officer, FINTRAC Apollo Tugeineyo Project Officer Samuel Angwenyi Project Assistant, Deployment Jovita Joachim Nsumilinda Project Officer Ayodele Omowumi CAMAP Project Coordinator Finance & Administration Department Moussa Elhadj Adam Director Finance & Administration Nancy A. Okita Senior Administrative Assistant Amos Kimebur Accounting Officer Maurice Ojow Project Accountant Fatuma Wario Administrative Assistant/ Events Coordinator George Njogu Driver Gordon Ogutu Protocal/Liaison Assistant Paul Oni Associate Administrative and Finance Officer Fredah Nyaga Accountant Simeon Eze Driver, Abuja Office Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 109

116 Acronyms AATF OFAB AfDB AFSTA AGRA AGRF ANBAA ARC BioRAPP BMGF BSN CAMAP CDC CFT CIMMYT COMESA COSTECH CRI EIA ESIA FAO FARA FTO GPG HEAL IFAD IFPRI IIAM IITA ILRI IP IPM IRM KALRO KEPHIS MCMV MLND MSU NaCRRI NASECO NBA NBMA NCRI NEMA NEWEST NPT African Agricultural Technology Foundation Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa African Development Bank Africa Seed Trade Association Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa African Green Revolution Forum Association of National Biosafety Agencies in Africa Agricultural Research Council Biotechnology and Biosafety Rapid Assessment and Policy Platform Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Bulk Sibling Null Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-processing Project Centers for Disease Control Confined Field Trial International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Commission for Science and Technology Crops Research Institute Environmental impact assessment Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Food and Agriculture Organization Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa Freedom to operate Global Public Good Hybrids East Africa Ltd International Fund for Agricultural Development International Food Policy Research Institute Institute of Agricultural Research International Institute of Tropical Agriculture International Livestock Research Institute Intellectual property integrated pest management Insect Resistance Management Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease Michigan State University National Crops Resources Research Institute Nalweyo Seed Company National Biosafety Authority National Biosafety Management Agency (Nigeria) National Cereals Research Institute National Environmental Management Agency Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant National Performance Trials 110 Annual Report 2016

117 PBR Pod Borer Resistant PBS Program for Biosafety Systems PDT Product Development Team (WEMA) SCMV Sugarcane Mosaic Virus SOP Standard Operating Procedures TAAT Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation USAID-IEE Development-Initial Environmental Examination USDA-FAS United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service WEMA Water Efficient Maize for Africa WHO World Health Organization Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 111

118 112 Annual Report 2016

119 Towards Adoption: Farmers Assess Livelihood-Transforming Technologies 113

120 African Agricultural Technology Foundation P O Box , Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 (0) aatf@aatf-africa.org Website: Annual Report 2016