Annex 1 List of Participants - OFAB

And
Report of the Fifth
Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB 5)
Held at the Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi
Friday March 23, 2007
DRAFT
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Acknowledgements
The AATF and ISAAA AfriCenter team that organised the Fifth Open Forum on
Biotechnology is grateful to the guest speaker, Dr. T.J Higgins, who is the lead
researcher in the project “Partnerships for Delivery of Insect Resistant Cowpea to
Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa”. His presentation on the status of green
house controlled trials of Bt cowpea was timely and quite informative. The team
appreciates inputs on the discussions made by the Executive Director of AATF Dr.
Mpoko Bokanga. The OFAB meeting would not have been successful without the
involvement, support and active participation of the participants. We value their
comments and words of encouragement. Special thanks go to Dr Margaret Karembu,
Director, ISAAA AfriCenter, who ably moderated the discussions. Special
recognition also goes to the efficient conference services provided by the Jacaranda
Hotel.
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BACKGROUND
The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) is a platform that
brings together stakeholders in biotechnology and enables interactions between
scientists, journalists, the civil society, industrialists, lawmakers and policy makers.
It is a monthly lunch meeting that provides an opportunity for key stakeholders to
know one another, share knowledge and experiences, make new contacts and
explore new avenues of bringing the benefits of biotechnology to the African
agricultural sector.
It also provides an opportunity to make formal presentations and informal
discussions focusing on the relationships among science, technology, innovation,
environment, policy, trade, benefits-sharing and their impact on economic
development.
The forum was launched on 14 September 2006, at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi,
Kenya. Nairobi is ideal for OFAB as it has many universities and research
institutions conducting research in the life sciences, development organisations, UN
agencies, agricultural industries, farmer associations and civil society organisations.
Stakeholders are encouraged to be actively involved by participating in the
discussions, proposing new topics and possible speakers.
Objectives of OFAB
OFAB has been designed to accord stakeholders a unique and dynamic opportunity
to discuss all aspects of biotechnology with a view to making recommendations on
how best to harness its benefits in a responsible way.
The aim is to provide a platform for knowledge-sharing and awareness creation on
and understanding of biotechnology. Through the forum, scientists get the much
needed chance to impact policy makers on the need to mainstream science and
technology on Africa’s development agenda and on the need to financially support
R&D.
Above all, the forum should open avenues for networking and concretizing linkages.
Structure, Frequency and Venue
The monthly meetings of the forum will be held at the Jacaranda Hotel in
Westlands, Nairobi, every last Thursday of the month, from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm,
unless otherwise stated. Lunch will be served between 12.00am and 1.00pm,
followed by a 20-minute presentation by an invited speaker and 30 minutes of
discussions and wrap-up.
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Role of AATF
The AATF will facilitate the meetings by providing venue and lunch for all the
invited participants, facilitate operations of the Programming Committee, resource
persons and production of the reports.
Role of ISAAA
ISAAA will coordinate the activities of all the OFAB Programming Committee
which includes: selection of topics for each event, identification and invitation of
speakers, expanding participation and packaging of the presentations into
information briefs.
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Overview
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is rich in quality protein and digestible
carbohydrate, has energy content almost equivalent to that of cereals grains and an
ideal complement to the protein deficient diets of the poor.
It is considered the most important food grain legume in the dry savannas of tropical
Africa, where it is grown on more than 12.5 million hectares of land. Nearly 200
million people in Africa consume the crop; it provides cash income, is a cheap
protein supplement in human diets and a source of quality fodder for livestock.
However, many biotic and abiotic factors greatly reduce cowpea productivity in the
traditional African farming systems.
Efforts are underway to develop improved lines of cowpea that withstand biotic and
abiotic stresses, possess greater genetic vigour and contain higher nutritional value.
As part of this effort, AATF is coordinating a public/private sector collaborative
partnership project to promote technological interventions that will result in the
improvement of cowpea productivity and utilisation in sub-Saharan Africa.
To shed light on the progress that has been made so far, OFAB on Friday 23, 2007
invited the lead researcher, Dr. T.J Higgins, to give a presentation on status of the
project titled “Partnership for Delivery of Insect Resistant Cowpea to Smallholder Farmers
in the sub-Saharan Africa” to the scientific community and other stakeholders in
Kenya.
Opening remarks
Dr. Margaret Karembu, Director, ISAAA AfriCenter and chair,
OFAB Programming Committee, opened the meeting by welcoming
all the participants to the second meeting in the year 2007. She gave
highlights on the program, aims of OFAB meeting and requested
participants to introduce themselves.
Dr. Mpoko Bokanga, Executive director, AATF, thanked the participants for having
spared time from their busy schedules to attend the meeting.
He gave background information, objectives, structure, frequency
and venue for OFAB meetings. He said Nairobi had over 39
research institutions thus offering an ideal venue for the meetings.
He thanked Dr. Karembu, for accepting the chair the OFAB as part
of the collaboration between AATF and ISAAA.
Dr Bokonga said AATF would source for funds to facilitate the
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meetings, while ISAAA with its vast experience in biotechnology knowledge-sharing
and partnerships’ management will coordinate OFAB activities.
He introduced the OFAB Programming Committee members who include;
1. Dr Margaret Karembu - ISAAA - Chair
2. Mrs. Nancy Muchiri - AATF
3. Dr. Fred Kanampiu - CIMMYT
4. Dr Eucharia Kenya - Kenyatta University
5. Dr Simon Gichuki - KARI Biotech
6. Dr. Dan Kiambi - ICRISAT
7. Dr Wilson Songa - MOA
Dr. Bokanga also introduced the guest speaker to the participants. He said “T.J.
Higgins is the Deputy Chief of CSIRO’s (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organization) Division of Plant Industry based in Canberra, Australia.
Dr Higgins has a scientific background in agriculture (from Dublin, Ireland) and
Plant Physiology (from University of California, Davis). His current operations are
in biotechnology where he focuses on legumes such as cowpea, peas, lupine and
chickpeas. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences.”
He said the project goal was to facilitate the development, distribution and adoption
of appropriate technologies that would substantially increase cowpea productivity
and utilisation in sub-Saharan Africa.
He informed the participants that AATF’s role was to negotiate access to the Cry1 ab
gene, which confers resistance to the Maruca pod borer, provide liability protection
to the technology provider, ensure high quality seed production and availability,
license improved seed and technology distribution in Africa and help to develop
cowpea markets.
The project partners include Network for the Genetic Improvement of Cowpea for
Africa (NGICA), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Monsanto
Company, The Kirkhouse Trust, National Agricultural Research systems (NARS) in
West Africa, and CSIRO-Plant Industry, Australia.
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Summary of presentation
Genetic transformation of cowpea for insect resistant germplasm: Opportunities
and Challenges
By Dr. T.J Higgins, lead researcher in the Cowpea transformation project in Africa.
Dr. T.J Higgins, the lead researcher in the Cowpea transformation
project in Africa, started his presentation by informing the
participants now happy he was back in Kenya as he had been in
the country before as a tourist.
He thanked AATF for giving him the opportunity to share with
various stakeholders, the findings of the cow pea transformation
project in Africa.
Dr. T.J Higgins gave an insight on modern biotechnology explaining aspects of
cloning, gene technology (genetic modification, GM), molecular markers and
cloning of GM animals. He emphasized the importance of the gene technology since
it laid the foundation for the success of Bt cotton in Australia.
He gave highlights on biotechnology traits in Australian cotton in the short to
medium term and gave details of the source of the gene, chronology of additional
insects and herbicides from 1996.
He said that “in the next 10 years many crops will come up due to conventional
breeding programs in many research institutions. A farmer would make USD 350
per hectare which may not appear highly profitable but he would have cut on pest
management practices.”
Dr. Higgins gave an overview of regulatory control of GM crops in Australia. He
said that during research and development, environmental and human safety checks
are put in place through Institutional Biosafety Committee, Office of the Gene
Technology Regulator and other relevant bodies before commercial release.
He said that in Australia, the release of GM crops is faced with public awareness and
acceptance issues. Regular subjects of controversy include; information about the
technology, human safety, environmental safety, sustainability, informative labeling,
control of food chain by multi-nationals and market access.
He said the economic impact of GM crops from 1996-2004 was USD 27 billion. In
2005, it was USD 5.25 and in 2006 it was estimated at 5.5. He reiterated that the
environmental impact of GM crops between 1996 and 2004 showed a reduction of
172,500 tones of active pesticide ingredients that translates to a 14% reduction in
environmental impact.
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Dr. Higgins said the project aims to develop a transformation system for cowpea, by
introducing insect protection genes and complementing traditional cowpea breeding
programmes in Africa.
He explained the four main steps followed during the gene transfer to cowpeas
namely: invitro culture system, genetic transformation-transient, genetic
transformation-stable and transfer of useful transgenes.
He said that from the tests cowpea weevils do not emerge from the transgenic lines
that were fully protected. The challenge now is to determine the safety of the
transformed cowpea.
Dr. Higgins further said that the genes used were sourced from Monsanto and
transferred to different events where it emerged that the Bt cowpea was highly toxic
to Helicoverpa armigera (the target used) due to unavailability of Maruca Vitrata in
Australian labs.
He said cowpea transformation system was now available and reproducible. Genes
for protection against stored grain and field pests were active in cowpeas indicating
a proof of the concept of insect protection in lab studies.
He said that the challenges for coming up with a Bt cowpea were to access the
second Bt gene, ramp-up production of Bt transgene, permission to operate,
Biosafety and regulation, gene introgression and seed dissemination.
He thanked the Rockefeller foundation, AATF and USAID for funding the project.
Open discussions
Mr. Kevin Smith, Agriculture Attaché, US
Embassy, Kenya, sought to know how the
researcher was able to ensure that pests do
not develop resistance to the Bt genes.
A: Dr. Higgins said that developing multiple
resistance genes was a way of avoiding
resistance.
Dr. Bokanga said that insect resistance
management is a long term process and that measures are normally put in place to
reduce the build up of resistance during the post release process.
Q: Dr. Karembu, Director ISAAA AfriCenter, Kenya, enquired the time frame for
the second gene to be released and demonstrated to farmers.
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A: Dr. Higgins said that it would take 5-8 years in testing the different ecological
zones in Africa for the demonstration to reach farmers.
Q: Dr. Dorrington Ogoyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, University
of Nairobi, wondered why the main cowpea pest in Africa Maruca Vitrata was not
initially the target in the development of Bt cowpea. He also wanted to know if the
Bt gene Cry 1AB being used was effective against Maruca.
A: Dr. Higgins said that the target Helicoverpa armigera was available in the lab and
that is why it was used instead of Maruca which is not in Australia. Dr. Bokanga
added that it is possible to do the tests in Africa and that discussions are on going.
However, lack of regulatory structures and hindering regulations has been the main
stumbling block.
Q: Ms. Rachael Shibalira from the Attorney General’s Chambers, sought to know
why public acceptance is a problem in Australia yet they had accepted Bt cotton.
A: Dr. Higgins explained that public acceptance is the biggest challenge of all. He
urged stakeholders in Africa not to underrate it. Canola was approved by regulators
but the public had mixed reactions where 50% still had concerns about GM food
crops. He underscored the importance of involving consumers and farmer
organizations in decision making about GM crops.
Q: Mr. Edward Kateiya of Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers
(KENFAP) was concerned about the farmers facing high cost of production, research
taking too long, risk of resistance management and low acceptability by the public.
He wondered why the researcher should use a lot of resources to do something that
could be rejected.
A: Dr. Higgins said that researchers should not take positions on the biotechnology
debate but work diligently to make the world a better place. He said scientists must
take risks to succeed in doing their work. Referring to the book titled “Feeding the 10
billion people” the presenter was categorical that there is need for R&D in order to
cope with the growing demand for food, feed and fibre.
Dr. Karembu also emphasized the importance of taking risks in research to improve
quality of seeds in order to boost food production.
Q: Dr. Santie de Villiers of ICRISAT, wanted to know if the observed resistance had
been confirmed in the green houses and field trials since all the testing had been
done in the lab.
A: Dr. Higgins said that tests had only been done in the green house and that no
field tests had been done. However, he was optimistic that they will do well in the
fields since there was plenty of information about biotechnology.
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Q: Dr. Dan Masiga of ICIPE, enquired about the cause of variability in effectiveness
of different transgenic lines. He also wanted to know what the differences in
mortality referred to.
A: Dr. Higgins responded that the variability is caused by the measure of the
amount of Bt in the level of protein corresponding to the level of mortality of the
target insect. He further explained that the differences in mortality refer to level of
deaths when larvae are put on the leaves.
Q: Another participant sought to know whether eliminating one predator would not
lead to other predators having more food with no difference observed by farmers.
A: Dr. Higgins said that the research was specific to Maruca Vitrata, a Lepidoptera
that greatly reduce the productivity of cowpea. He also pointed out that it was
important to go for the technology other than use an insecticide that would kill all
insects including those that do not affect cowpeas. The technology would also lower
the management costs.
Dr. Bokanga added that most crops have natural resistance in their germplasm. The
crops with strong resistance can be selected by breeders to reduce the frequency of
spraying from eight to once or twice. Therefore it would be important to select plants
with strong resistance since use of pesticides poses a major health problem.
Closing remarks
Dr. Margaret Karembu
The ISAAA AfriCenter Director thanked all the participants for the productive
discussion and debate, saying that the meeting’s objectives had been met. She said
the presentation and the report would be made available to all participants.
Vote of Thanks
Dr. Dan Kiambi thanked Dr. Higgins for taking his time to come and share with the
participants about the research on Cowpea. He noted that the presentation triggered
a lot of interest and discussion from the participants indicating that it is possible for
science to provide practical solutions to agriculture.
He thanked AATF and ISAAA for making the forum a success through effective and
timely coordination of the program.
Dr. Kiambi also thanked the participants for coming and encouraged them to attend
the next meeting to be held on the last Thursday of April 2007, from 12.00 pm to 2.00
pm, at the Jacaranda Hotel, Westlands.
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Annex 1
List of Participants
No. Name of Participant
Designation Organization Address/Tel Email Address
1. Margaret Aleke Kenya Bureau of
Standards
alekem@kebs.org
2. Abed Kagundu KEPHIS akagundu@kephis.org
3. Jane Otadoh MOA
4. Harrison Macharia
National Council for
Science & Technology
(NCST)
harrison@ncstnbo.or.ke
5. Remy Pasquet ICIPE
8 David Priest FAO/ABNETA
9. Duncan Mboya BIOSAFETY NEWS
10 Edward Kateiya KENFAP
6. Silas Obukosia USAID silasobukosia@usaid.gov
7. Dan Masiga ICIPE danmasiga@icipe.org
8. Kudakwashe Kupara ICIPE
9. Wandera Ojanji Standard Newspaper wanderao@eastandard.net
10. Charles Waturu KARI Thika karithika@africaonline.co.ke
11. Carol Kamau USDA
12. Dorrington Ogoyi UoN
13. Dan Kiambi ICRISAT d.kiambi@cgiar.org
14. Julia N Skilton Bioversity Kenya j.n-skilton@cgiar.org
15. Kassim Were ISAAA k.were@cgiar.org
16. Kennedy Oyugi ABSF
17. Joseph Orende ABSF
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18. Oirere Moragua ABSF
19. Alex Nabiswa ABSF
20. Paul Chege KIPI
21. Catherine Kilelu IDRC
22. Edward Nguu UoN
23. Mikkel Grum Bioversity –
International
m.grum@cgiar.org
24. Mpoko Bokanga Executive Director AATF m.bokanga@cgiar.org
25. T J Higgins CSIRO
26. Kevin Smith FAI
27. Margaret Karembu Director ISAAA AfriCenter Box 25171, 00603,
Nairobi.
Tel: 254-020m.karembu@cgiar.org
4223615/8
28. Richard Musebe CABI Africa r.musebe@cabi.org
29. Zainab Ali AATF
30. Santie de Villiers ICRISAT s.devilliers@cgiar.org
31. Mary Nderitu AATF
32. W Mburu AATF
33. Moussa Elhadj Adam AATF
34. Enyonam Norzbey ILRI/BECA
35. Reuben K Soi KARI soikipngeno@yahoo.co.uk
36. Winnie Oirere ABSF
37. Winnie Apidi UoN Winnie.apidi@gmail.com
38. Anthony Kioko Cereal Growers
Association
akioko@cga.co.ke
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