Climate Smart Maize Hybrids for Better Agriculture in Africa Gospel Omanya, Ph.D., Dip. (Mgt) African Seed Trade Association Congress Laico Regency, Nairobi, Kenya 3 th March, 2015
Overview AATF - Who We Are Where we work Product Pipeline Addressing Climate Change Opportunities for business
Who we are International non-profit organization based in Kenya with a branch in Abuja, Nigeria Registered as charity in the U.S., England, and Wales; and a nonprofit company in Kenya and Nigeria Identifies & negotiates access & delivery of agriculture technologies for smallholder farmers in SSA Facilitates PPPs to manage the development & deployment of agriculture technologies
Where we work 13 Countries 10 Projects 9 Crops 48 Staff 80 Partners Senegal Burkina Faso Ghana Zambia Zimbabwe South Africa Nigeria Uganda Ethiopia Kenya Tanzania Malawi Mozambique
Projects address a range of priorities Climate Change WEMA Pest Management Striga, Cowpea, Banana Soil Management NEWEST Rice Nutrient Enhancement in Foods Improved Breeding Methods Mechanization & Agroprocessing Hybrid Rice CAMAP Enabling Environment OFAB & Seeds2B & COMPROII
Climate Change 1) Erratic drought 2) Shifts in onset and duration rainfall seasons 3) Temperature rises 4) Pest pressure
Addressing Climate Change 1) NEWEST rise Nitrogen Use, Water Efficient, Salt tolerance 1) WEMA hybrids Water stress and Water use efficiency
WEMA Partnership Structure World leader for breeding maize for African agro-ecological zones Monsanto World leader in gene discovery Donated: 3 transgenes ~700 global germplasm royaltyfree CIMMYT WEMA AATF KALRO; NARO; ARC; COSTECH; & IIAM Expertise in field trials Breeding/Test DT maize Adapted checks Capacity building opportunities NARS African institution mandated to access, develop, & deliver appropriate agricultural technologies to smallholder African farmers royalty-free
WEMA Approach to Commercialization 1) Reach as many smallholder farmers as quickly as possible 2) Benefit seed companies of all sizes and scope, including small and medium size enterprises, to optimize smallholder reach 3) Build and foster a competitive seed industry, while avoiding unnecessary market disruptions 4) Stimulate private sector investments for sustainable seed production, distribution and marketing
WEMA Product Pipeline Conventional (59 Hybrids Released) Seed Company Licensing Ongoing 2015 Conventional (20+ Hybrids entered in NPT2 Trials) Fall 2016 Conventional (40+ hybrids in NPT1) Fall 2017 MON810 Bt MON87460 - DT Breeding WEMA Wide Trials (WWT) Registration Process (1 to 3 years) NPT1 NPT2 DUS BT - Target 2016 DT Target 2017 DroughtTEGO Innovation and protection for a better harvest Biotech Regulatory Approvals Pre-Foundation Seed Production Foundation Licensing Brand Established carried by all licensed seed companies Creates farmer awareness of benefits Stewardship Certified Hybrids & quality control communication tool Effective way to let farmers know what s new & different
Benefiting Farmers - On-Farm TEGO Performance For farmer-preferred hybrids in Bomet Area - grain yield was 54% (WE1101) and 80% (WE2104)
Transgenic Products: Key Achievements First three-way cross and single cross hybrid expected in 2016 South Africa and Kenya To be available for demonstration in South Africa by September 2016 and in March 2016 in Kenya* * Conditional Environmental release approved by NBA of Kenya in February 2016
Yield (t/ha) Leaf damage (0-9) Performance of Bt, non-bt and Commercial Checks 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 c 9.7 b Bt Non-Bt Com Checks a b Bt Non-Bt Com Checks a 6.3 6.0 b 40% yield advantage >60% leaf damage reduction Bt-hybrid Non-Bt isogenic hybrid
Technology - Changing the lives of smallholders Monica Akinyi, Kisumu District, Kenya From harvesting 40 kg from her half acre plot, her yield became 450 kg (about five 90 kg bags) the first season she planted StrigAway seeds, then 900 kg (about 10 bags) the next season. Things are now looking up, all her school-age children are now in school.
Technology Offers Business Opportunity Ngila Kimotho, Manager, Dryland Seeds Company Farmers in this region trust me to sell them seeds that will produce good yield. I believe the DroughtTEGO TM hybrid will maintain their trust in me.
Conventional Products Available 59 conventional DT maize hybrids (DroughtTEGO ) have been released in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania; South Africa by 2015 Currently working with 23 seed companies in the 4 WEMA countries to expedite commercialisation of WEMA products
The TEGOs are fast becoming home brand! 24 conventional hybrids licensed to seed companies 13 transgenic hybrid may enter NPT in March 2016 786 tons of TEGO seed availed for sale in 2015
Transgenic Products Timelines First transgenic maize hybrid (SC and TWC) expected to be available for licensing to enable commercial use (seed increase and demonstration) in 2016/2017 in Kenya, depending on regulatory approvals for environmental release
Facilitating Commercialization 1) Support Foundation seeds 2) Seed company capacity building 3) Stewardship of products 4) Support Promotion of new products 5) Favorable policy environment
Opportunities for Enhancing Business 1) Finished hybrids 2) Inbred lines 3) Strategic support
Opportunities for Business 1) Conventional Drought Tolerant (CDT) Hybrids from 2013 2) CDT + Insect-pest resistant (Bt) Hybrids from 2016/2017 3) CDT+ Transgenic (Bt) + (DT) Stacked Hybrids from 2017
Accessing WEMA products...1 Step 1: Announcement and Information Sharing Announcement to the seed companies and other partners Advertisement in print and electronic channels (AATF websites, STAK forums, AFSTA meetings Step 2: Application for access of hybrids Seed companies willing or interested in WEMA products to apply to AATF using standard commercialization application form. SIMPLIFIED version for consecutive applicants
Accessing WEMA Products 2 Step 3: Assessment of applicants Application review committee to evaluate applicant as guided by the seed company selection criteria and score card Potential Seed Company to be shortlisted Applicants can be through email, using downloaded form from the AATF website
Accessing WEMA Products 3 Step 4: Communication to selected seed companies Step 5: Engagement of seed companies through project agreements by AATF - Selected companies accept offer and sign binding agreement with AATF, and implement license agreement requirements a) Agreements can be Non-exclusive or Exclusive b) Products accessed can be parental lines and/or Hybrids
Asanteni Sana to AFSTA Members and Friends for their support in bringing benefits of improved maize varieties to farmers