BIOTECH IN THE NEWS

Scientists researching on drought tolerance maize could not hide their glee last week after the National Boisafety Committee approved the Water Efficient Maize for Africa confined field trial, a crucial step for the research. Dr Yona Baguma, Senior Research Scientist at Namulonge Crops Resources Research Institute (Nacrri) said the National Boisafety Committee (NBC) offered a permit to Water Efficient Maize for Africa (Wema) to conduct a confined field trial (CFT) at Mobuku irrigation scheme in Kasese District.
"The decision was made and the permit was issued to the project on July 7," Dr Baguma, who heads the Regulatory team, told the regulatory stakeholders meeting in Kampala on July 30. "We are now going to use the permit to pursue for a research permit from the office of the president and then later chase for a seed importation permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries," he said as he went through the status of the progress of CFT application. He added that planting of the first trial is anticipated to be in November since the process of acquiring the two remaining permits is likely to take three months.
 

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