Biotechnology application in agriculture: Challenges and opportunities for Africa. Monty P. Jones Executive Secretary, FARA

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1 Biotechnology application in agriculture: Challenges and opportunities for Africa Monty P. Jones Executive Secretary, FARA

2 Agriculture in Africa and its challenges Economic contribution 60% of labour 20% of total merchandise 17% of GDP 96% of farmers operate in small scale Africa is rich in human & natural resources but its agriculture has complex problems Production systems are complex Poor soil fertility AIDS is taking a large toll

3 The African Challenge Stagnant, if not declining food production Cereal Yields (MT/Ha) Developed Countries Asia and Pacific MT/Ha Latin America and Carribean Sub-Saharan Africa

4 Responding to the Challenges African vision endorsed by FARA and adapted by NEPAD in CAADP Regional agricultural production to grow at an annual rate of 6% by Achieved by: Dynamic agricultural markets among nations and between regions Be a net exporter of agricultural products Have food available and affordable, and equitable distribution of wealth Be a strategic player in agricultural S&T development Have a culture of sustainable use of natural resource base

5 NEPAD s Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) Four priorities for agricultural research 1. Integrated natural resource management 2. Adaptive management of germplasm 3. Development of sustainable market chains 4. Policies for sustainable agriculture Scientific capacity building as a crosscutting initiative

6 Biotechnology as a tool to achieve the African vision It is a technique that uses living organisms or substances to make or modify a product to improve plants and animal production

7 Biotechnologies Type Tissue culture Molecular breeding Genetic modification Process Plant tissue or organ cultivated in specially formulated nutrient media Useful traits identified and evaluated from plants and animals Genes moved into another living organisms through DNA techniques Product -Disease-free, high quality planting material -Rapid production of uniform plants -Crops or animals with specific beneficial traits -Removal or undesirable traits -Crops or animals develops useful and desired characteristics

8 Tissue culture The NERICA example

9 The African Rice Oryza glaberrima Domesticated 3,500 years ago Hardy & drought resistant Prone to lodging and shattering Low yield The Asian rice Oryza Sativa High yield Low resistance to African pest & diseases Low weed competitiveness

10 The birth of the New Rice for Africa Crossing African with Asian rice O. sativa as female parent O. glaberrima as male parent BC1F1 population (O.( sativa x O. glaberrima) BC2F3 population (O.( sativa x O. glaberrima)

11 Creating new interspecific progenies the anther culture process Anther culture plants Calli derived from anthers on induction medium vegetative phase Regenerating and tillering Three ploidy levels: Haploid, Diploid & Polyploid Plantlets on rooting medium reproductive phase

12 Molecular breeding enhancing the NERICA success

13 Seggregation and Mapping of RYMV specific marker F 2 resistant Gigante Gigante IR64 IR64 F 2 susceptible Chromosome 4 of an IR64 x Azucena genetic map CDO456 RG218 G1184B RZ262 RG190 UMC68b SB734a RG91 RG449 RG788 RZ565 RZ675 RZ740 RG163 Rymv-1 Xa-2 Pi-?,Xa?,Xa-1 Gm2 EGRAM -1 M1 EGRAM -2 RG214 SB788a RZ590 RG143 RG cm

14 Use of Molecular Markers Identification of resistance genes related to pest & diseases i.e. blast (pyricoluse), Red Yellow Mottle Virus in sativa and glaberrima varieties Segregation and mapping of microsatellite markers in progenies Graphical genotyping of individual progenies F2 resistant Pool Pool R Gigante Gigante IR64 IR64 Pool Pool S F2 susceptible M1 M2 Molecular markers linked to RYMV resistance genes, WARDA, 2001

15 1 GA506 OSM20 GT254 BM70 BM20 CT461 GA273 BM144 GT165 CT550 CAT69 BM173 BM119 2 BAM19 CT482 CT168 OSM74 OSM9 3 TCT114 BM52 GT345 GA53 CT787 CT339 4 CT710 OSM24 GT316 OSM19 M25 CTT50 5 TCT121 OSM78 RM164 OSM53 6 BM134 GA216 OSM21 BM59 7 CT469 CT360 GA122 OSM25 OSM18 CT832 8 GT137 CT227 OSM49 CT794 M26 GA408 GA344 OSM52 9 CT453 CT100 CAT118 OSM8 BM30 OSM5 CT615 GT OSM47 CT611 M8 CT387 CT OSM48 CT25 CT224 CT14 OSM16 ATT59B 12 CT368 CT624 GT126 OSM1 CT462 ATT59A Individual 13 Population QgenePOP AA aa Aa - Graphical Graphical genotyping genotyping of of individual individual WAB450 WAB P31 P31-HB HB CG14 CG14 allele allele WAB WAB allele allele Missing Missing data data

16 Distribution of O. glaberrima alleles across interspecific lines 30 12% Number of genotypes % 4.5% 3% 7.5% 6% 15% 19% 0 Allelic frequency of O. glaberrima (%)

17 The New Rice for Africa Traits From sativa parents Non-shattering grains Secondary branches giving higher yield Responsiveness to mineral fertilizer From glaberrima parents Weed competitiveness Drought tolerance Resistance to African gall midge, rice yellow mottle virus, blast disease Taste and aroma NERICA has higher protein content than its parents

18 NERICA impact projections In 1999, West African countries imported 3 million tonnes of rice (16% of world trade) In 2000, Guinea had 8,000 ha NERICA At 3% adoption rate in Cote d Ivoire Guinea Sierra Leone could save ~ US$8 million/year At 25% adoption (as in Guinea) could raise savings to US$20 million/year

19 Genetic modification or modern biotechnology the Golden Rice It is a strain of rice (Oryza sativa) produced through genetic engineering modified to produce enzymes for the biosynthesis of beta-carotene in the endosperm, developed as a fortified food to be used in areas where there is a shortage of dietary Vitamin A. A The research was largely funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. In 2005, a new strain called "golden rice 2" was announced, with up to 23 times more betacarotene. Neither variety are available for human consumption.

20 Genetic modification or modern biotechnology the Bt cotton example Engineered crops for insect tolerance through the addition of Bt toxin - originally derived from soil bacteria. The Bt toxin causes much less damage to the environment effective against a variety of economically important crop pests but pose no hazard to non-target organisms like mammals and fish. Three Bt crops are now commercially available: corn, cotton, and potato.

21 Biosafety systems, regulating the use of biotechnology products The CARTAGENA protocol Addresses the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs( LMOs) that may have adverse effect on biodiversity, human health Focuses on transboundary movements Allows governments to indicate their willingness to accept imports of agricultural commodities that include LMOs Decisions are communicated through the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH)

22 What can biotechnology offer Africa? Increase crop and animal production Increase yield Combating crop and animal disease Increase labour productivity Uniform harvest time and product quality Conserve natural resources Effective use of fertilizer Facilitate minimum tillage Minimize use of insecticides and pesticides

23 What does biosafety systems offer? Foster growth of domestic biotechnologies Ensure safe access to new products and technologies developed elsewhere Increase public confidence of products placed on the market Enhances investments by governments, development agencies and public and private sector

24 Setbacks towards establishment of biosafety systems Lack of political support Poor communication among various initiatives Absence of key stakeholders groups Lack of information about the potentials or benefits of biotechnology

25 Biosafety systems in Africa At the national level development and implementation of national biosafety frameworks complying to Cartagena protocol UNEP-GEF

26 Biosafety systems in Africa At the sub-regional level Capacity building to develop safe and sustainable biotechnology products e.g. Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSPII) of Cornell University Bilateral assistance from Europe, North America, Japan International development partners; World Bank, The Rockefeller Foundation, CIDA, McKnight Foundation) Policy development, risk assessment and biotechnology and biodiversity interface Regulatory approval and communication systems e.g. Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) of USAID, International Service for the Acquisition of AGri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), AfricaBio, African biotechnolgoy stakeholders Forum (ABSF)

27 The African Biosafety and Biotechnology Initiative (ABBI) by FARA Regional level: value addition African agricultural biotechnology strategy in synergy with leading regional political and economic institutions Capacity building through Centres of excellence Research on endogenous products Access to agricultural products derived from modern biotechnology International policy negotiation on cartagena protocol and related policies/meetings Harmonization of legislation and regulatory systems Sensitization of public on biotechnology and biosafety systems

28 Conclusion Biotechnology is not the complete solution but it compliments the conventional plant and animal breeding, and good farming practices

29 Thank you