STATUS, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA

Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Walter S. Alhassan, PhD FARA Secretariat, Accra, Ghana.

Biotechnology ConferenceAddis Ababa University, Ethiopia

May 13-15, 2011

STATUS, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY IN SUB-SAHARA

AFRICA.


INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION• A generic definition of biotechnology is that

provided by the CBD. This defines biotechnology as “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use”.

• This covers a wide range of technologies ranging in complexity from micro-propagation or tissue culture to transformation or genetic engineering.


INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONThe following biotechnologies are increasingly used in developing countries:

• tissue-culture• mutagenesis, • interspecific or intergeneric hybridization • genetic modification,• marker-assisted selection (MAS), • disease diagnostics• bioremediation, and • biofertilization.


Growth of Modern Biotech in AgricGrowth of Modern Biotech in Agric

• Phenomenal growth over the years.• The total hectarage under genetically modified

(GM) crops has risen from 1.7 m ha. in 1996 to 148 m ha. in 2010 ( ISAAA, 2010). http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/42/executivesummary/default.asp

http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/42/executivesummary/default.asp

http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/42/executivesummary/default.asp


2010 Adoption Highlights2010 Adoption Highlights

A record 15.4 million farmers, in 29 countries, planted 148 million hectares (365 million acres) in 2010, a sustained increase of 10% or 14 million hectares (35 million acres) over 2009.

Source: Clive James, 2010.

GLOBAL AREA OF BIOTECH CROPSMillion Hectares (1996 to 2010)

29 Biotech Crop CountriesTotal HectaresIndustrialDeveloping

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010


Progress in Africa in 2009Progress in Africa in 2009

• Bt cotton rose to 250,000 from 115,000 ha • Egypt biotech maize rose from 1,000 to

2,000 ha• South Africa: maize, cotton, soybean

Source: James, 2010


INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

• The use of GM crops has been perceived to have negative impacts on the environment, human and animal health.

• For this reason legislative frameworks have been introduced to promote safe application.


INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONAfrica faces growing challenges:• Population pressure• Climate change phenomena, • Devastating pests and diseases • Declining soil fertility.

The dearth of modern technologies in agriculture in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) has encouraged the extensification of its agriculture.


Sources of growth in agricultural output Sources of growth in agricultural output (1961-2007)(1961-2007)


INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION• Efforts to build the capacity to deploy

biotechnology in agriculture are on-going albeit, slowly.

• The status of biotechnology engagement in crop production, its challenges and the way forward to realizing its immense potential for Africa’s agriculture are hereby presented.


BIOTECH STATUS BIOTECH STATUS :Regional Overview of :Regional Overview of biotechnology capacitybiotechnology capacity

There is greater application of those biotechnology tools that do not entail genetic engineering than those that do.


BIOTECH STATUS: BIOTECH STATUS: Ranking of the Ranking of the SSA regionsSSA regions

• Ranking according to advancement in the research, development and application of modern biotechnology tools:

-Eastern Africa – relatively the most dvanced

-West Africa-Southern Africa (exclusive of the Republic

of South Africa) -Central Africa – least advanced.


BIOTECH STATUS: BIOTECH STATUS: West and West and Central AfricaCentral Africa

In a 2002 Survey Report (Alhassan, 2003) the following situation prevailed:• Strong tissue culture capacity in West Africa and

Cameroon.• Increased potential for use of molecular

markers.• Good laboratory infrastructure in Cote d’Ivoire,

Senegal and Nigeria.• Strong manpower base in Ghana.



• Most countries in West and Central Africa (Cameroon) had ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) and would put in place Biosafety regulatory frameworks.

• Adequate information and public awareness on GM technology was low.

• 2002 survey identified need for capacity strengthening in Biosafety legal framework development and development of enabling regulations to implement laws.



• Seven years down the line, only modest progress has been recorded.

• Some progress has been made in the development of enabling legislation in a few countries, namely, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.



• In the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) region efforts are on-going to harmonize Biosafety legislation. Purpose: -to promote sub-regional trade and -to reduce the transaction costs of processing applications for the use of GM crops in-country.

Currently, country consultations on the guidelines for harmonization are on-going.


BIOTECH STATUS: BIOTECH STATUS: Eastern and Eastern and Southern AfricaSouthern Africa

• In general countries within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have shown more activity in the area of biotechnology than other SSA regions. The recent report by Karembu and Wafula (2008) captures most of these.



The following COMESA countries have laws promulgated:

• Kenya (2009)• Egypt decree (1993)• Malawi (2007)• Mauritius (2003)• Zimbabwe (2000)• South Africa (1997)• All other COMESA countries have draft bills or

sectoral laws with reference to biotechnology.



Many, like Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mauritius have restrictive laws that are inimical to the rapid advancement in the use of the technology. Tanzania is addressing the situation.

As advised by the High Level African Panel on Modern Biotechnology in its 2007 report, “ Freedom to Innovate: Biotechnology in Africa’s Development, a co-evolutionary approach must be adopted in which both biotech and Biosafety act together to advance the cause of modern agriculture.



• Nearly all COMESA countries endorse the need for regional harmonization and collaboration in biotech.

• The Regional Approach to Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy in Eastern and Southern Africa (RABESA) is the COMESA Project launched in 2001 to address the harmonization and collaboration issues.

• Currently, a RABESA II is drafting the guidelines.


AFRICA WIDE CAPACITY BUILDING AFRICA WIDE CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

An impressive number of GM crops commercialized or undergoing research at various stages is presented. Most of these are food crops being developed by African scientists and include maize, banana, cassava, cowpea, and sorghum.Bt cotton is the most prominent commercial crop receiving attention.


Status of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops in Africa Status of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops in Africa Source: Olembo, N. et al. 2010. Source: Olembo, N. et al. 2010.

Stage No. of Countries Country NamesCommercial Production 3

Burkina Faso, Egypt, South Africa

Confined Field Trials

At least 14

Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Egypt; Ghana; Kenya; Mali; Mauritius; Namibia; Nigeria; South Africa; Tanzania; Tunisia; Uganda; Zimbabwe; Malawi


Status of Genetically Modified (GM) crops in Status of Genetically Modified (GM) crops in AfricaAfrica (Source: Olembo et al. 2010) (Source: Olembo et al. 2010)

Stage No. of Countries Country Names

Developing capacity for research and development

At least 27

South Africa; Burkina Faso; Egypt; Kenya; Morocco; Senegal; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Benin; Cameroon; Ghana; Malawi; Mali; Mauritius; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Tunisia; Algeria; Botswana; Ethiopia; Madagascar; Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan

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Entrance to a confined field trial site-Mwea, Kenya.


Biotech Lab Types SSABiotech Lab Types SSA((Source: FARA. 2011)Source: FARA. 2011)

Tissue culture 32%Molecular Biology 42%Fermentation 13%GE 13%

__________100


Staff in Biotech ResearchStaff in Biotech Research(Source: FARA, 2011)(Source: FARA, 2011)


Staff in Biotech ResearchStaff in Biotech Research• An increased Biosafety activity in situations of

increased biotechnology research will signify increasing trend in the handling of GM crops

• The bulk of the biotech activities in Ghana as at 2010, relate to tissue culture and molecular characterization of plants.

• Contrast Kenya with a high number of staff engaged in both biotechnology and biosafety activity.


A NOVEL TRAINING INITIATIVEA NOVEL TRAINING INITIATIVEAgric. Biotechnology StewardshipAgric. Biotechnology Stewardship

• This is a 2009-2011 initiative in FARA with financial and technical support from the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA).

• It is a major component of the project on “Strengthening capacity for safe biotechnology management in sub-Sahara Africa (SABIMA).

SABIMA objectives are:• biotech information gathering and dissemination, • capacity building, largely in biotechnology

stewardship and advocacy/awareness creation.



• SABIMA covers 6 project countries as follows:– Burkina Faso)– Ghana ) West Africa– Nigeria )– Kenya ) East Africa– Uganda )– Malawi Southern Africa

Biotech stewardship teaches responsible management of biotechnology. It ensures qualitative and safe product development that meets both regulatory requirements and guarantees product integrity for the market.



• It addresses issues of quality assurance throughout the entire product cycle from gene discovery through plant product development, seed development, marketing and product discontinuation.

• It is a modification of the HACCP used in the food industry.

• In stewardship use is made of the Containment Analysis Critical Control Point (CACCP) at all stages of the product cycle from gene discovery through plant development, product deployment and its discontinuation.



• 103 trainees from across the 6 countries have benefited from training. Most are applying the knowledge learnt to biotech product development activities.

• 12 of the above are certified train-the-trainers.• The First Pan African conference on

biotechnology stewardship in agriculture is planned for November 28-30 in Accra, Ghana.

• Training beneficiaries will present case studies of areas of application of biotech stewardship in their countries.

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Heavy infestation of Lady Bird Beetles in a Bt cotton field. Proper communication to farmer on spraying is crucial in Bt cotton.

o


PROSPECTSPROSPECTS• The growing challenges of rising populations,

extensification of agriculture and its disastrous effects on the ecology, the climate change phenomena all present opportunities for the engagement of modern biotechnology practices in Africa’s agriculture.

• Biotechnology engagement must be holistic its approach. It is a tool to add value to traditional agriculture and the modernization of agronomic practices.

• It is effective in a general enabling policy regime that promotes trade and agro-input supply.


CHALLENGESCHALLENGES The enabling environment in support of

biotechnology and agriculture in general must be created. Crucial areas for biotechnology include:

• Accelerating the pace of non-restrictive legislative frameworks. Biosafety legislation must not be designed to stop useful biotech work.

• Human resource development• Infrastructure• Introducing and managing Centres of Excellence• Operational funds.


WAY FORWARDWAY FORWARD• Evidence-based decision making criteria.• Enabling legislation with a secure business

environment.• Harmonizing regulatory procedures.• Establishing and managing Centres of

Excellence in biotechnology.• Training and application in biotechnology and

biosafety to ensure safe and qualitative product development and dissemination.

• Constant, unrelenting awareness creation on biotechnology and biosafety issues.


CONCLUDING QUOTECONCLUDING QUOTE

Responsible biotechnology is not the enemy – starvation is the enemy.

Prof. Norman Borlaug1970 Peace Prize Nobel Laureate


Thank you!!Thank you!!

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STATUS, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA