Status of Development of Biotechnology Crops in Kenya

1. Status of Development of Biotechnology Crops in Kenya Simon T. Gichuki Head, KARI Biotechnology Centre, E-mail: simon.gichuki@kari.org http://www.kari.org Presented at OFAB, 27thFebruary 2014

2. Development of GM crops in Kenya Maize Cassava SorghumSweetpotatoCotton

3. Maize for Food Security • Maize is food for the majority of Kenyans • Very low yield achieved by Kenyan farmers • Yield in the industrialized countries 8.3 t/ha • Average Yield in Kenya 1.5 t/ha • Average yield in Africa 1.9t/ha (1.3 t/ha in sub-Saharan Africa, 1.5 t/ha in Kenya) Cause- Biotic and AbioticStresses

4. Development of Drought Tolerant, Insect Resistant Maize WEMA–Water Efficient Maize for Africa

5. Water Efficient Maize for Africa(WEMA) Expected Outputs • Under moderate drought, WEMA DT-maize with insect protection expected to increase yields by 20–35% • Translates into additional 2 million MT maize during drought years to feed about 14 to 21 million people in the long-term.

6. WEMA Methods of Product Development 1. Conventional breeding (2013) • Classical pedigree breeding • Use of doubled haploid technology • Molecular marker assisted breeding (MAB) 3. Transgenic technology • Transgenic drought tolerance • Transgenic insect resistance (Bt maize)

7. Progress in Development of WEMA Maize • Drought Tolerant Maize -Five field trials Kiboko– Good results • Insect resistant maize (Bt)- Two seasons of trials are about to be completed at Kiboko with supportive greenhouse and lab insect tests– Excellent results • Preparations for commercial release of Bt maize have been initiated

8. Development of Nitrogen-Use Efficient maize IMAS-Improved Maize for African Soils

9. IMAS Vision of Success • Develophybrids and OPVswith 50% higheryieldunderseverely N-depletedconditionswhenlow N-stress ismainconstraint, 25% whereotherconstraints are important • 20% of maizeareaplantedto IMAS products, resulting in 25% yieldincrease, 1 milliontons of additionalgrain • ½ gainsfromconventionalbreeding, ½ fromtransgenes (breeding, nativetraitmarkerdevelopment, transgenes)

10. Progress on CFTs • CFT sites selected in Kitale and Kiboko • Preparation of Kiboko site complete. 1st inspection by regulators completed. • CFT site in Kitale nearing completion. • Both sites undergoing N depletion • Both CFT sites be commissioned soon • CFTs to be planted in 2015

11. The future – Deployment of Transgenic maize to Kenyan farmers -

12. Development of Virus Resistant Cassava VIRCA– Virus Resistant Cassava for for African

13. Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) Virulent CMD and CBSD may cause a yield loss of up to 100% 13

14. Progress in Development of Transgenic Cassava • VIRCA Product – High yielding disease resistant cassava with consumer preferred characteristics • Progress • Cassava Mosaic Disease – One round of field trials completed at atAlupe, Busia • Casava Brown Streak Disease – Proof of concerpt trials completed at Alupe • Trait Selection Trials planted in Alupe and Mtwapa , Kilifi– December, 2013

15. Development of BiofortifiedCassava and Sorghum (BC+) BioCassava Plus ABSAfrican Biofortified Sorghum Biofortification for iron, zinc, protein,vitamin A and vitamin E. Progress • Cassava – One round of field trials completed at Alupe, Busia for Vit A biofortification • Sorghum - Backcrossing to popular local varieties ongoing at KARI Kiboko

16. Preparations for Deployment of Bt cotton • Application for environmental release completed • Stakeholder training on stewardship of Bt cotton completed • A commercialisation task force established • Major Challenge • Current policy and regulatory enviroment in Kenya 16

17. Major Factors that might affect development of Biotechnology Crops in 2014 • Decision on the GM Ban currently in Force • Proposed merger between regulatory agencies • Implementation of KALRO • Establishment of – NACOSTI University Chair on Biotechnology

18. Thank you for listening !