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A summary Report of
Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops Held at Joaquim
Chissano International Conference Center, Maputo, Mozambique, 26–29 March
2007
Prepared by
Africancrops.net Team
The conference was
hosted by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Instituto de Investigação
Agrária de Moçambique (IIAM). It was the third conference following those
held in Entebbe Uganda (2002) and Nairobi, Kenya (2005). Over 400
scientists, seed producers and distributors, extensionists, policymakers,
representatives from non-governmental organizations, farmers and students
converged in Maputo, Mozambique for four days to deliberate on the
improvement of African crops, seeds systems and research capacities in
national research centres. Special focus was given to plant breeding,
applied biotechnology and seed delivery.
A total of 217
abstracts comprising 127 oral presentations and 90 posters were presented
and discussed at the meeting. These presentations focused on African food
crops of interest including rice, maize, cowpea, sorghum, millet, beans,
potatoes and cassava. A total of eight thematic areas in crop improvement
and seed systems were covered namely: getting seed to farmers, breeding
finished products, breeding source materials, biotechnology, developing
input markets, developing finished products, training the next generation
and developing source materials. A complete summary of outputs from
each theme will be presented in the next issue of the newsletter. The full
abstracts and more information about the conference is available in the
website,
www.africancrops.net/rockefeller/icv3.
The conference
highlighted achievements being made in the development, deployment and
performance of new and improved crop varieties that are tolerant to
drought and water stress, resistant to disease and pests, with higher
nutrient content and those easily adaptable to local ecosystems across the
continent. These outcomes are being realized with application of various
research methods including conventional and participatory plant breeding,
testing and selection of hybrids and open pollinated varieties, use of
biotechnology and molecular markers, with activities conducted both at
on-farm and on-station. Participants also discussed incidences of crop
constraints in different ecological zones, farmers’ perceptions of new
crop varieties and their attributes, partnerships between breeders and
private seed producers, agri-business development for inputs markets and
input delivery (especially germ plasm and seed delivery), post-harvest
constraints, regional training of breeders and agricultural scientists,
and the role of research networks and partnerships.
The meeting featured
three panel and roundtable discussions, and two workshops. The panel
discussions were held on transfer
of crop varieties from public research institutions to private seed
companies and improving access to inputs.
A workshop on biotechnology and another on foundation seed were conducted
to exchange views and advances being made is application of new methods in
crop improvement and access to seed by researchers, seed companies,
community groups and farmers. Various programs supporting seed development
activities moderated the discussions. The conference was also an
opportunity for the seed producers to interact with breeders and identify
areas for future collaboration in seed development and testing.
The event heralded a
new era for agricultural development in Africa with The Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation together with The Rockefeller Foundation presenting the
recently created ‘Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa’ (AGRA) to the
African crops research community. AGRA is an alliance of the two
Foundations working with African governments, other donors, NGOs, the
private sector and African farmers to bring a sustainable and equitable
Green Revolution to Africa. It was revealed that many of the training,
breeding and seed delivery activities supported by The Rockefeller
Foundation will become part of the Program for Africa’s Seed Systems
(PASS), a USD 150 million, 5-year effort by AGRA aimed at delivering
improved seed and crop varieties to farmers in several African countries.
Comments on this
article can be sent to
africacrops@wananchi.com or to Jane Ininda of PASS, email:
jininda@progra.org.
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