africa’s agriculture for ood security and stephen - integrating...africa’s agriculture for ood...
TRANSCRIPT
Integrating Modern Biotechnology into Africa’s Agriculture for Food Security and
Wealth Creation
Stephen MugoPrincipal Scientist and CIMMYT Regional Representative
(CCR) for Africa
Presentation to the “Integrating the Path in Africa’s Agricultural Transformation; High-level Conference on Application of Science, Technology
and Innovation in Harnessing African Agricultural Transformation”, 27 - 29 September, 2017, Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda
Outline
1. CIMMYT2. Global food security challenge3. Main features of Africa’s agriculture4. Modern biotechnology defined (Traditional vs modern
biotechnology)5. Integrating modern biotechnology in crop breeding6. Why Africa needs modern biotechnology7. Contributions of modern biotechnology in Africa8. Example: The Bt Maize in Kenya example8. Concluding remarks9. Acknowledgements
CIMMYT Around the World1200 staff from over 50 countries!
KeyOffice
Field Station
Project
China
Zimbabwe
Kenya
Ethiopia
Mexico, HQ
Guatemala
Colombia
KazakhstanIran
Turkey
Bangladesh
Nepal
IndiaPakistan
Afghanistan
Global Food Security Challenge
Diseases
Climate
change
BreedingAgronomy
Projected demand by 2050 (FAO)
World
-w
ide a
verage y
ield
(tons h
a-1)
Linear extrapolations of current trends
Water, nutrient &
energy scarcity
Potential effect of climate-change-induced heat stress on today’s cultivars (intermediate CO2 emission scenario)
Year
How to enhance annual yield gains of maize from 1.6% to 2.4% on essentially the same land area, and as climate changes and the costs of fertilizer, water, and labor increase?
Main features of Africa’s agriculture
● Agriculture - Predominant sector of the economy, accounting for >25% of GDP
● Small family farms dominates - main source of food, employment, and income.
● Mixed-farming and diverse crops species
● Agriculture - top of the development agenda with increased proportion of national budgets
Major Staples of Africa
Main features of Africa’s agriculture
● Significant private companies investments in agriculture value chains (seeds, fertilizers and markets and information services
● Evidence of faster growth in agricultural productivity, improved nutrition, and greater job expansion
● Challenges:o Food insecurityo Emerging effects of climate
changeo Rampant land degradationo Rapid population growtho Rising urbanization
Production (Tons) Productivity (t/Ha) Area Harvested (Ha)
Country Maize Wheat Maize Wheat Maize Wheat
Ethiopia 7,234,955 4,231,589 3.42 2.54 2,114,876 1,663,845
Kenya 3,513,171 328,637 1.66 2.23 2,116,141 147,210
Burundi 127,829 5,628 1.32 0.58 97,242 9,766
Rwanda 480,000 67,730 1.92 2.19 250,000 30,990
Tanzania 6,737,197 167,000 1.60 0.97 4,200,000 171,380
Uganda 2,763,000 22,000 2.50 1.57 1,105,000 14,000
Maize and wheat production in Eastern Africa (2013)
This situation has to change and its changing partly through use of modern biotechnology
Challenges faced in Maize Production in ECA
• Yield potential• Low soil fertility stress• Drought stress• Foliar and ear diseases (+ emerging)• Stemborers, weevils and grain borers• Non–optimal crop management practices• Less than optimal seed systems to reach
smallholder farmers• Less than optimal nutritional content of
current maize varieties
Maize yieldAfrica average = 2.0 t/haGlobal average = 4.9 t/ha
Biotechnology DefinedDefinitionA wide array of technologies that use living organisms or substances from them to make or modify a biological product or to improve the organisms for specific uses.Scope• Molecular markers
technology• Genetic engineeringo Transgenicso Genome editing
Transgenic: An organism that contains a transgene ( an isolated and genetically modified gene) introduced by technological methods rather than through selective breeding.
Genome editing: A type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted or replaced in the genome of a living organism using engineered nucleases, or "molecular scissors."
Biotechnology
Traditional Biotechnology
Modern Biotechnology
Genetic Engineering
TissueCulture
Brewing/Fermentation
Molecular Genetics
Production Markers for High Value Traits
Discovery
• Heat
• Striga
Validation
• TSC
• GLS
• TLB
• Aflatoxin
• Drought
• NUE
• Soil acidity
Deployment
• Provitamin A
• MSV
• MLN
• Haploid Induction Rate
Production molecular markers for high value traits in maize
Selection Crossing
Hybrids
4000 B.C. 1940 1995
Gene transfer(e.g. insect
resistance => Bt)
Molecularbreeding
Historical Development of Plant Breeding
Modern Biotechnology is a natural fit in the development and evolution of plant breeding science
IMPROVEDGERMPLASM
GENES
LinkageMaps
FunctionalGenomics
Related andUnrelated Species
GeneticEngineering
Marker-assistedSelection
ConventionalSelection
Plant Improvement Options
Modern Biotechnology fits very well as one of the options of plant improvement
Molecular Breeding Benefit
0
50
1970
Ave
rage
Co
rn Y
ield
(in
bu
shel
s p
er a
cre)
100
150
200
250
300
1990 2010 2030
Biotechnology Yield Benefit = Transgenic DT
Historical Yield Projection
30-Year Trend, Based on Historical Yield Projection
Combination of modern biotechnology and breeding can maximize gains
Step-Changes in Yield Potential
Innovations in modern biotechnology throughout the value chain contribute to yield gain
Food security through Additive Progression
Subsistence smallholders
Semi-commercial smallholders
Commercial smallholders
● Agronomy
● Soil/water management
● ‘Robust’ seeds: good varieties (OPVs)
● Manure use
● Basic crop protection (e.g. herbicide)
● Better varieties
● Integrated soil fertility mgmt
● Hybrid seeds
● Biotechnology
● Seed treatment
● More sophisticated crop protection
Stages of progression
Productivity
Advanced farmers
● Multi-trait (+/- GM) hybrid seeds
● Integrated solutions
● Post-harvest storage
• Knowledge (extension)
• Basic inputs • Infrastructure• Markets
Return on Investment is the decision paradigm from enhanced basics to ‘sophistication’
Source: Syngenta Foundation
Xwild type promising line new
variety
Other genes are transferredGene of interest(„construction plan“ for a protein)
Several steps of backcrossing necessary to get rid of undesired genes
Breeding by Crossing
Breeding by crossing transfers more than just the gene of interest and results in linkage drag in the new variety
+
promising line
genetically enhanced
varietysingle gene
gene of interest
identification andisolation
How to Make a GMO
Making a GMO transfers only the gene of interest and results in no linkage drag in the new variety
Creating Genetically Engineered Crops
Genome Editing
Source: FAO, World Bank
2030=8b
2008=6.6b
1950=2b
Why Africa needs modern biotechnology
The increased and more prosperous population will demand nutritional quality of food as well
Desirable traits from GM crops
First Generation
Improved productivity.
Resistance/ tolerance to biotic stresses
Some pests and diseases
Tolerance to abiotic stresses
Drought, heat, acidity
Improved nutritional quality
Nutrient use efficiency
Second generation
● Broad ally of traits – benefits to consumers
○ Disease resistance
○ Quality/nutritional traits (pro-vit A Golden rice, banana and sweet potato; bio-fortified Sorghum)
Contribution of Biotech Crops to Food
Security, Sustainability and Climate Change
Source: Brookes and Barfoot, 2017 Forthcoming
Contribution of Biotech Crops to Food
Security, Sustainability and Climate Change
Source: Brookes and Barfoot, 2017 Forthcoming
Contribution to Food Security, Sustainability
and Climate Change
Source: ISAAA, 2016
Benefits of Genetically Modified Crops
Increased production
1. Increased crop efficiency
2. Protection from diseases, pests & herbicides
3. Improved nutritional quality & marketability
4. Resistance to adverse soil and weather conditions
5. Develop ‘agri-ceuticals’ for improving health & environment
Benefits
1. Economic
2. Environmental
3. Social
Potential risks
1. Efficacy of the technology
2. Health - human and livestock
3. Environment
4. Socio-economic
Benefits for the consumer
Benefits for the farmer
Benefits for the environment
Biotech crop
Pesticide Reduction is Part of a Broad Platform of Benefits
GM Projects in KenyaI. Projects approved for NPT testing
1.Bt. Cotton for insect pest control at KARI Mwea2.Insect resistant maize at KARI Kiboko
II. Projects at the confined field trial stage1.Water-efficient/drought tolerant transgenic maize at KARI Kiboko2.Virus- resistant transgenic Cassava at KARI Alupe3.Vitamin-A-enhanced cassava at KARI Alupe and KARI Mtwapa4.Bio-fortified sorghum at KARI Kiboko
III. Projects at the contained use stage1.Bacterial-wilt-disease-resistant banana2.Insect-resistant pigeon pea3.Stress tolerant cassava4.Nematode-resistant and virus-resistant yam.5.Trypanosome resistance model studies on mice.6.Trypanosome resistance in cow7.Improved vaccines against livestock infections
GM Projects in Uganda
I. Projects at the confined field trial stage
1. Bt. Cotton for insect pest control at NARO Kasese
2. Water-efficient/drought tolerant transgenic maize at NARO Kasese
3. Insect resistant maize at NARO Namulonge
4. Virus- resistant transgenic Cassava at NARO
5. Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) resistant Cassava at NARO
6. NUWEST Rice – Nitrogen Use Efficient / water efficient and tolerant rice at NARO Namulonge
7. Banana – Bacterial wilt resistant Banana
8. Banana – Nutritionally enhanced (Fe and pro-vit A) banana
9. Banana – banana parasitic nematode resistant banana
Why have Bt GM crops been adopted rapidly?
A. Food safetySafety due to the use of genes with known characteristicsSafety due to the intensive safety evaluation prior to commercialisationIts safety has been supported by many credible world health bodies.There has not been any issue of safety for nearly 20 years (1996-2015) it has been consumed by millions of people.It can reduce health risks by reducing pesticide use.It has been shown to reduce cases of aflatoxins in maize.
B. EnvironmentIt has not shown any negative effects on the environment.It will lead to reduction in pesticides use thus reducing risks to the environment.
• Loss of photosynthetic leaf area• Dead hearts• Lodging from damaged stems• Increased ear rots & mycotoxins• Reduced grain yields• Causes loss of about 13% annually,
valued USD 90 million.
The Stem Borer Problem in Kenya
Stem borer Management Options
1. Cultural control
2. Chemical control
3. Biological control
4. Host plant resistance (HPR)
● Conventional
● Biotechnology (MAS / GE)
Host plant resistance is the most economical method to control stem borers, as it is environment-friendly, practical, relatively inexpensive, safe, and easy to adopt and to use by poor farmers
Bt Non-Bt
Bt crystal proteins:
• from Bacillus thuringiensis• easily bio-degradable• specific insecticidal efficacy• not harmful to humans, animals and the environment• Bt-insecticides are registered in organic farming
The gene encoding for some Bt-Proteins can be transferred to crops
The “active ingredient“ in Bt
Maize with Bt genelarvae feeds on Bt
maize
the Bt protein damages the midgut
of the larvae
larvae die within several hours
Bt proteins: Mode of Action
9/28/2017
Leaf damage Exit hole
Stem tunneling Grain yield
Harvesting
Stem borer plant damage parameters
c
ba
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Bt Non-Bt Com Checks
Yie
ld t
ha
a
b b
012345678
Bt Non-Bt Com Checks
Leaf
dam
age
(0
-9)
Bt-hybrid
Non-Bt isohybrid
9.76.3 6.0
40% yield advantage
>60% leaf damage reduction
Performance of Bt, non-Bt and commercial checks
a
b
c
0
1
2
3
4
Bt Non-Bt Com Checks
Ho
les/
pla
nt
a
bc
0123456789
10
Bt Non-Bt Com Checks
%St
em
tu
nn
ele
d
Bt- Bt+
Stem tunnelling
Holes
Exit holes and tunnel length among Bt, Non-Bt and Checks
CIMMYT’s Position Statement on GM Products
GM crops have a role
GM crops are not a "magic bullet“
Other global priorities
Sovereignty and safety first.
Policies and protocols in place
● CIMMYT Biosafety Policy and Procedures on GM Organisms
● CIMMYT Biosafety Committee
● Committee of Occupational Health and Safety.
The private and public sectors' complementary roles.
Concluding Remarks
● Modern biotechnology provides us with tools for trait
improvements in crop germplasm for increased grain
yields in ways compatible to human and environment
welfare.
● Its important that farmers and consumers of crop
products in Africa be given an opportunity to benefit
from increased opportunities, productivity, and efficiency
and perhaps costs of food by having GM crops
commercialized in African countries.
Thank you
for your
interest!
Acknowledgements• WEMA project partner
institutions