BIOTECH IN THE NEWS

Confined field trials for cassava brown stricken disease, sweet potato weevil, and water efficient maize for Africa (WEMA) have been approved by the Ugandan National Biosafety Committee. The application was filed by the Ugandan National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) to allow the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) to undertake research on the above crops.

Cassava breeds that are resistant to two major viruses could soon be available to farmers in Africa.
Cassava mosaic disease and brown streak disease stunt the growth and rot the roots of crops, respectively.
Mosaic disease alone destroys an estimated 35 million tonnes of African cassava a year - the difference between needing to import food into Africa and achieving food independence, according to researchers at the US-based Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

In Malawi, farmers who have in the past few years witnessed crop failure due to poor rains are switching to two new drought tolerant maize varieties, and seed companies are changing their business models to keep up.
 

United multinational efforts to develop and deploy rust resistant wheat varieties are making the world’s wheat crops more secure. The red, blister-like postules on leaves and stems give it away: the field is infected by Ug99, a type of wind-borne pathogen known as stem rust that attacks wheat plants. Since its discovery more than a decade ago, Ug99 has held the agricultural world in suspense as governments and scientists rush to protect wheat crops. In 2008, several countries began producing seed of new, rust resistant wheat varieties for distribution to farmers. Agricultural experts hope these high-yielding varieties will be planted in farmers’ fields by 2011, providing a buffer against Ug99.
Stem rust rises again… and again
 

A new study shows that the development, deployment, and cultivation of drought tolerant maize varieties can significantly profit sub-Saharan Africa's maize farmers and consumers, reducing their vulnerability.
Drought tolerant maize can bring sub-Saharan Africa's farmers cumulative economic benefits of nearly USD 0.9 billion during 2007-16. "This is assuming likely rates of adoption of drought tolerant varieties," says CIMMYT impacts specialist Roberto La Rovere, lead author of a new study on the potential impacts of drought tolerant maize in Africa, "and that those varieties provide a yield advantage of 10 to 34% over normal improved varieties, depending on the site and seasonal conditions."