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