Sustainable access of quality seeds of genetically engineered crops in Eastern Africa - Case study of Bt Cotton

Abstract

The genetically engineered bollworm-resistant Bt cotton hybrid varieties offer opportunities for reducing crop losses and enhancing productivity. In Eastern Africa region, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya have approved and released Bt cotton in 2012, in 2018, and in 2019, respectively. The region has potential to grow cotton in over 5 million hectares. For commercial plantings in Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya, hybrid Bt cotton seeds have been imported from India. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions, high shipment costs, bureaucratic procedures for importing seeds, and foreign exchange shortages, farmers have not been able to access Bt cotton seeds. Stakeholders are seeking local production of seeds to provide sustainable access by farmers at affordable cost. Country case studies reveal the importance of enhancing capacity for local seed production and extension advisory services. Revival of the cotton sector needs enhanced public-private partnerships to pave the way for sustainable seeds access in the region.

The Adoption of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: the Public’s Current Perception, the Regulatory Obstacles, and Ethical Challenges

“…For example, open communication about the advantages of the crop allowed for the successful cultivation of Bt G. hirsutum L. in Kenya. 8 , 22 , 91 Farmers, stakeholders, and the general public were engaged to debunk myths and foster confidence in the technology. Furthermore, Ethiopia included a range of stakeholders in the decision-making process concerning the adoption of GMOs.…”

“…Furthermore, another major obstacle for implementation of GM crops in most African countries is the absence of well-established seed systems and infrastructure for the production and distribution of GM crops. 68 , 91 This is due to the fact that the development and propagation of GM seeds necessitate specific expertise and resources, both of which may be lacking in many developing African nations. For instance, the Bt.…”

Sonlu Cisimler Üzerinde Golay ve Hammıng Kodları

“…Genetic engineering plays a crucial role in this field by introducing desirable traits into plants and animals. For example, genetically modified crops like Bt cotton have been developed to resist insect pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides (Kedisso et al, 2023). Biotechnology also enables the development of crops with improved nutritional content, such as biofortified crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals.…”

Genetically Modified Plants Based on Bacillus Genes and Commercial Bacillus-Based Biopesticides for Sustainable Agriculture

“…This was the first commercially available product of its kind, manufactured in 1995 by an affiliate of Monsanto (NatureMark) [57]. After this, other transgenic Bt crops were commercialized, including maize and cotton [58,59]. Some crops like potato, tomato, tobacco, rice, maize, and broccoli have been genetically modified to express cry genes to kill the pests causing damage to the plant.…”