BT Cotton in Burkina Faso: The impacts and lessons. Was ...aefjn.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Edgar_Present_Conference_Abuja.pdfNational Conference on “Just Governance: The Nigerian

National Conference on “Just Governance: The Nigerian Biosafety Act, GMOs and Implications for Nigerians and Africa”

holding in Abuja from May 24 – 25, 2016

Valentin S. Edgar TRAORE, Ph.D.

Virologist/Plant Breeder

Seed Expert

INERA, Burkina Faso [email protected]

BT Cotton in Burkina Faso:

The impacts and lessons. Was GMOs a

necessary intervention?

• Presentation of Burkina Faso

• History of cotton cultivation in Burkina Faso

• BT Cotton technology & the Burkina Faso Bt cotton

• Key Steps in Bt cotton adoption

• Sustainability of Bt cotton cultivation

• Sharing information

Outline

Presentation of Burkina Faso

Burkina is a landlocked country (274,000 Km²)

in the heart of West Africa,

Economy based on agriculture involving

85% of active population

Cotton is the No1 cash crop in Burkina

contribution with 25% agricultural income

Cotton remain for a while the first export

product 2nd after gold

Cotton is a very sensitive crop

for Burkina Faso

History of cotton cultivation

More than 300,000 smallholder farmers are involved in cotton

cultivation in Burkina, feeding from more than 3 millions people

Cotton contribute to 52% of edible oil in Burkina

It’s also source of proteins for livestock

In Burkina there is evidenced that cotton is a locomotive for cereal

crops such as & Maize Sorghum

History of cotton cultivation/Long duration with pesticides

Cultivated since 1924, long time before independence in 1960

Since that time, Cotton cultivation was closely related

to the use of pesticides particularly insecticides

Many pests affect cotton cultivation: Helicoverpa armigera

Anomis flava Spodoptera litoralis

o Herbivorous insect

o Carpophagous (mainly the

bollworm Helicoverpa armigera

and other related species)

History of cotton cultivation/Resistance to pesticides

During the years 1990 cotton farmers in Burkina faced two serious

problems :

Whiteflies outbreaks &

Resistance of bollworm and related species to insecticides

The cotton sector was badly affected the

development of resistance to insecticides

Farmers decided to increase the number of insecticide sprays from

6 to more than 15 in some cases although this was unsuccessful

Organophosphate

insecticides

Pyrethroid insecticides

History of cotton cultivation /Use of prohibited pesticides

Endofulsan insecticide was also used despite its prohibition

Endofulsan insecticides

It is also important to notice that these same insecticides are often

used by farmers on vegetable crops……….CONSEQUENCES!!!

HARMFUL

History of cotton cultivation/ Search of solutions

o First alternative: Research effort on baculovirus in order to

develop viral bio pesticides

Unsuccessful results

baculovirus Larvae killed by

baculovirus

From research side, two main alternatives were considered for the

management of pests:

o 2nd alternative: Adoption of BT Cotton from GMO technology

BT Cotton from GMO technology

This cotton was already being grown by several countries like

USA, China, India, South Africa, etc.

Moreover

Natural toxins from Bacillus

thuringiensis (BT) are being used

long time ago to control pests in

organic agriculture worldwide.

You get it from any shop as any

normal pesticide in Burkina

Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) Product

(A) Bacillus thuringiensis colony, (B) bacteria; (C) crystal protein

Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) Product

Membrane of intestinal tract

Proteolysis Active toxin

Perforation of the

intestinal membrane

Membrane of intestinal tract

Intestinal tract

1. Destruction of intestinal cells

2. Paralysis of the digestive system

3. Caterpillar stops feeding

4. Death 1-3 days after ingestion

of crystal proteins Protoxine

Specific

Receptor

Specific action of Bt toxins in Lepidoptera

Burkina Faso Bt cotton & Cotton seed system

Bt cotton in Burkina Faso is BollgardII

o Involving 2 genes Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab from MONSANTO

o Cry1Ac & Cry2Ab genes were inserted by backcross into

Burkina cotton varieties

Driving to a co-property between Monsanto and Burkina

o The cotton seed production (BT & Conventional) is entirely

handled by the national seed system of Burkina

Oil mill (R5)

FIELD PRODUCTION

(R3-R4)

360,000 Ha

FIELD PRODUCTION

(R2)14.800 Ha

SEED PRODUCERS

(R1) 680 Ha

SEED FARM

(G3) 20Ha

INERA

Research

STATION

(G0-G2)

Key Steps in Bt cotton adoption

From 2003 to 2006

Confined field trials after permits were granted by the National

Biosafety Agency (ANB)

Confinement layout


From 2007 to 2009

Pre-release trials (experimentation of new varieties in farmer fields)

BT-cotton seed multiplication

Beginning of production of commercial seeds of GM Bollgard II cotton and cultivation in field

Commercial production starting from 2009

Visit of field trials

Researchers / Medias/ Civil society

Policy makers

Technical Ministries (MECV, MAHRH, MESSRS)

Cotton companies (SOFITEX, SOCOMA, FASOCOTON)

International organisations (ACA, ISAAA…)

Partner MONSANTO

MAHRH, 2006, Boni ISAAA, 2006


Burkina has a strong commitment for biotechnology

from high level decision makers

Main results from INERA research stations

Main results from on station research

Bt cotton efficacy test on specific pests: Carpophagous

bollworm Helicoverpa armigera and related species (Earias, etc.)

BT cotton Conventional

cotton-sprayed

Conventional

cotton- Not sprayed

DP50 Not

sprayed

Number of caterpillars

per Ha


Effect of Bt cotton Performance

Yield of cotton with seed

BT cotton Conventional

cotton-sprayed

Conventional

cotton- Not sprayed

DP50 Not

sprayed


Genes Flow

– Less than 0,5% at 15 m without any insecticide treatments ;

– 0,1% à 15 m with insecticide treatments

Non targeted species- toxicity

– Non targeted fauna: Number of families (105);

– Number of individuals variables depending on years

– Non affected by Bt-toxin Hymenoptera

– No major anomaly observed in

behaviour of bee colonies and

development within a Bt cotton

plots (IRSAT 2005)

Main results from farmers fields (rural area)

Production cost (ha)

Insecticides Seed Fertilizer &

Herbicide

Total Cultural

operation


Pests control

Pests incidence

BT-C CONV


Bt cotton contributed to reduce volume of pesticides to be used


Economy on quantity of pesticides


Bt cotton contributed to reduce labor

Reduction of drudgework

Effect of Bt cotton on yield (2009-2012)

Effect of BT Cotton on yield


Comparison of conventional and Bt cotton total production


Evolution of BT Cotton production

It is more than evident that Bt cotton

contributed to push Burkina:

from 11th position in years 1990s

to 1st cotton producer (since 2009)

Small country but No 1 in Africa with about 600,000 T of cotton in 2015

Challenges

Challenges

1. Train cotton farmers

The durability of Bt technology require training of farmers on

technical itinerary and GAP (Right doses of fertilizers, Spray

itinerary, refuge zones …)

Ex: 2009 implementation of the two required insecticide sprays :

o 39% farmers = sprayed twice (as recommended)

o 39% farmers = sprayed only once

o 22% farmers = No spray

2. Insure quality seed management

• Germination + presence of both cry1ac and cry2ab genes

3. Insure quality traits such as fiber length management

• Cotton fibers are getting shorter and shorter : Financial lost for

Cotton companies

Sustainability of Bt cotton cultivation

Transitional measures from cotton companies

− Reduction of Bt cotton cultivation area from 70% to 50%

− Return to conventional pending resolution of the fiber length problem

As consequences:……………

Additional 1,600,000 liters of insecticides will be

pored in Burkina Faso this year 2016

Burkina became a field school for the whole Africa

Managing the problem of fiber length


http://www.biotechburkina.org/aicb-restates-support-to-gm-technology-but-

acknowledges-that-farmers-will-feel-heat-of-temporary-bt-cotton-suspension/

http://www.biotechburkina.org/aicb-restates-support-to-gm-technology-but-acknowledges-that-farmers-will-feel-heat-of-temporary-bt-cotton-suspension/



































Solutions envisaged by research are:

– To advance backcross up to BC6 or BC7 (ONGOING)

– To convert other local varieties with longer fibers to Bt

– To keep improving production itinerary

– To perform research on more strong technology Cotton-BGII-RRF

(roundup ready flex)

– To improvement seed production system by the implementation

stewardship principles

– Possible introduction and evaluation of genetic materiel from other

countries

Managing the problem of fiber length


What people needs?

Right information

on

Agricultural Biotechnologies

particularly on

GM-crops


Agricultural Biotech Research Institute

(Iran),

Agritope Inc. (USA),

BASF,

Bayer CropScience ,

Bayer CropScience and MS Technologies

LLC,

Bayer CropScience and Syngenta,

Beijing University,

Bejo Zaden BV (Netherlands),

Central Institute for Cotton Research and

University of Agricultural Sciences

Dharwad (India),

Centre Bioengineering, Russian Academy

of Sciences

Institute of Microbiology, CAS (China),

J.R. Simplot Co.

Chinese Academy of Agricultural

Sciences,

Cornell University and University of

Hawaii,

Cotton and Sericulture Department

(Myanmar),

DNA Plant Technology Corporation

(USA),

Dow AgroSciences LLC,

Dow AgroSciences LLC and DuPont

(Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc),

DuPont (Pioneer Hi-Bred International

Inc.),

EMBRAPA (Brazil),

Florigene Pty Ltd. (Australia),

Genective S.A., Huazhong

Agricultural University (China),

GMOs is not only about MONSANTO!

OFAB-Burkina Faso Chapter

Prof. KONATE launching OFAB Burkina Dr. Denis KYETERE: AATF Executive Director

• The OFAB Burkina Faso chapter was launched in October 2012

• PC Members (12): involving University of Ouagadougou, ABNE, ANVAR, RECOAB and ANB, INERA


MISSION:

Sharing the right information on agricultural Biotechnology

1. Historic of modern biotechnology and its management in Burkina Faso

2. Modern biotechnology and its management in Burkina Faso

3. Modern biotechnology products in Burkina Faso

4. Marker assisted selection for resistance to rice yellow mottle virus in farmers

'preferred rice varieties in Burkina Faso

5. Genetically modified plants

6. Genetically modified organisms: products of modern’s biotechnology

7. Burkina Faso biosafety framework of Genetically modified plants

8. ISAAA annual report on global status of commercialized biotech/gm crops

Students, farmers, civil society organisations, journalists etc

Target public

Press editors as well as Journalists were trained in INERA Labs

Explanation of Bt Cowpea

CFT and ongoing

research activities

In collaboration with

ANB,


Contribution of medias in sharing right information

Very Good titles in press! Not fear titles.


The meetings were extensively covered by the media including

national and private televisions, newspapers and radios.


Debates on biotech products were animated through radio broadcasts


Radio Solenzo FM Solenzo

Radio Télévision du Burkina Bobo-Diooulasso

Savane FM Radio Ouagadougou

Ouaga FM Radio Ouagadougou

Horizon FM Radio Ouagadougou

Radio Omega Radio Ouagadougou

Radio Salankoloto Radio Ouagadougou

Radio Télévision du Burkina/ Radio Ouagadougou

Impact TV Ouagadougou

Horizon FM Dédougou

Radio Salaki Dédougou

Radio Tamba Fada N’Gourma

Radios and TV which are shared OFAB events in 2014/2015


Traditional Chief of Boussou (farming village around Gourcy) wearing a red cap

”Farmers as well as politicians should be conscious of the importance agriculture

challenges in this context of climate change. Erratic rainfall combined with agricultural

constraints such as pests and diseases need to be addressed by any innovative

biotechnology developed by research scientists. GMOs are also part of such innovative

and new technologies which are very interesting alternatives to face important

constraints to our agriculture. For instance Bt cotton has hugely contributed to increase

yield with very lower use of pesticides. This will surely limit environmental pollution

especially our underground water table” has said Naaba Patrick Ouédraogo Chief of

Boussou also secondary school teacher in Life & Earth Science at Gourcy secondary

school.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR

KIND ATTENTION

MERCI POUR VOTRE

AIMABLE ATTENTION

Documents

BT Cotton in Burkina Faso: The impacts and lessons. Was ...aefjn.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Edgar_Present_Conference_Abuja.pdfNational Conference on “Just Governance: The Nigerian