Potential of Transgenic Cotton Production in Africa Dr. Waturu C. N. Centre Director KARI-Thika Presented at the Origin Africa 2012 –Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 24 th - 27 th April 2012

Presentation Outline Agriculture In Africa Cotton Production in Africa Transgenic Cotton Transgenic Cotton Global Status Transgenic Cotton Africa Status Bt-Cotton Kenya Status Bt-Cotton Approval Status Impact and Way forward

Agriculture in Africa

Agriculture In Africa Agriculture is Africa’s largest economic sector It represents 15% of the continent’s total GDP Africa’s agro-ecological potential is massively larger than its current output More than one-quarter of the world’s arable land lies in this continent However, it generates only 10% of global agricultural output There is huge potential for growth in the sector which is expanding at a rate of 2-5% per year Source: McKinsey & Company, 2010

Challenges Affecting Agricultural Output in Africa Fragmentation: 85% of Africa’s farms occupy less than two hectares hence production is highly fragmented Interdependence and complexity: Africa has diverse agro-ecological conditions, hence the need to adopt many different farming models to create an African green revolution Underinvestment: African agriculture lacks business models that can significantly increase the level of investment from the private and public sectors, as well as donors Enabling conditions: Many African countries lag behind in infrastructure, stable business, economic conditions and scientific talent. Source: McKinsey & Company, 2010

Cotton Production in Africa

Importance of cotton Cotton is an essential commodity with a high demand and for which there is no perfect substitute Suitable for marginal Areas Provides livelihood to millions of small scale farmers Potential to poverty reduction & wealth creation Employment Creation Food Security Bt-Cotton Project

Global Market Share Source: Selected Cotton Producers, share in world market (%),

Production Characteristics in SSA Climatic conditions in Africa conducive to cotton production Cotton mostly grown by small scale farmers Cotton production in very tiny farm sizes that does not make economic sense (Average cotton farm size in Brazil= 3,000 ha in 2010/11) Low input cotton production Bt-Cotton Project

Production Characteristics in SSA Low production per hectare Mostly lack organized certified seed production systems Countries with high production have organized systems for seed production (RSA and Brazil) Countries with high production has Local and multinational companies involved in seed production and sales (RSA and Brazil)

Key Production Issues Inadequate Quality Seed Use of Recycled Seeds High Cost of Inputs Poor Crop Agronomic Practices Pests, Diseases and Weeds Unavailability of Credit Inadequate Extension Services High Risk Rain-fed Cotton Production Competition from other Enterprises Bt-Cotton Project

Common Cotton Pests ☪ Cotton Jassid -Empoasca spp. ☪ Tobacco whitefly -Bemisia tabaci ☪ Cotton aphid -Aphis gossypii ☪ Cotton lygus -Lygus vosseleri ☪ Cotton stainer -Dysdercus spp. ☪ Mealybug -Planococcus spp. ☪ Pink bollworm- Pectinophora gossypiella ☪ False codling moth -Cryptophlebia leucotreta ☪ African bollworm -Helicoverpa armigera ☪ Spiny bollworm -Earias spp. Bt-Cotton Project Cotton aphid Red spider mite African bollworm Cotton stainer (

Production Interventions Formation of Apex bodies to promote, coordinate, regulate and direct the cotton industry Variety development through breeding of high yielding, good quality and pest resistant varieties Improved seed cotton marketing systems Production of certified quality planting seeds Enhancing irrigation infrastructure for irrigated cotton Bt-Cotton Project

Production Interventions Formation of Value Chain Actors Associations (oil processors, ginners, farmer groups, spinners, textiles e.t.c) Promotion of modern agriculture (transgenic cotton, conservation agriculture, organic farming e.t.c.) Setting up contract farming between ginners and farmers to enable access to inputs Improving Research and Extension services Availing credit to farmers Injection of Government funding to support production Bt-Cotton Project

Transgenic Cotton

Insect Resistance Bt-cotton is genetically engineered by inserting cry1Ac gene either singly or in combination with cry2Ab2 gene Bt-Cotton produces protein toxins that are harmful to caterpillar pests Herbicide Tolerance Roundup Ready Flex (RRF) developed by inserting a gene CP4 EPSPS-encodes for Glyphosate- Resistant EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3- phosphate) Synthase Enzyme EPSPS enzyme makes both vegetative and reproductive parts tolerant to Glyphosate Transgenic Bt-Cotton Bt-Cotton Project

Transgenic Cotton Global Status

Source: Clive James, 2012 Global Area of Biotech Crops, 1996 to 2011: By Crop (Million Hectares, Million Acres)

M Acres Global Adoption Rates (%) for Principal Biotech Crops (Million Hectares, Million Acres), 2010 Source: Clive James, % Soybean 64% Cotton 29% Maize 23% Canola Conventional Biotech

Area Planted with Biotech Cotton in million ha planted with biotech cotton in 2011, 3.7million ha increase from 2010 Highest percent increase for any biotech crop and second largest increase

Countries Growing Biotech Cotton in countries grew biotech cotton in 2011 India rose to 10.6 million hectares from 9.4 in 2010 USA did 4.9 million ha China 3.9 million ha Pakistan 2.6 million ha Others were Argentina, Brazil, Myanmar, Burkina Faso, Mexico, Colombia, South Africa and Costa Rica

Year M Ha Progressive Adoption of Bt - Cotton in India Bt-Cotton Project Source: Clive James, 2011

Bt- Cotton in India - A Decade, 2002/11 of Transformation for the Country 7 million small scale farmers planted 10.6 million ha of Bt cotton or 88% of total of 12.1 million hectares of cotton planted in 2011 Typically a small scale farmer increases yield by 31%, decreases insecticides by 39 %, increases profit by 88%, and income by up to $250 per hectare Average cotton yield & production increased substantially – from 13.6 million bales in 2002 to 35.5 million bales in 2011 Bt cotton contributed US$ $9.4 billion to farm economy from 2002 to 2010 and $2.5 billion in 2010 alone. Source: Clive James, 2010

Transgenic Cotton Africa Status

I S A A A Status of Biotech Crops in Africa 2011 (3 countries) South Africa, Burkina Faso and Egypt 2015 (up to 10 countries) South Africa, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Mali, Togo, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Malawi EGYPT BURKINA FASO SOUTH AFRICA KENYA UGANDA NIGERIA Ongoing Biotech Crop Field Testing GHANA Source: Compiled by Clive James, 2012

Year Million Ha YearHa (M) Adoption Trend of Bt -Cotton in Burkina Faso Bt-Cotton Project Source: Clive James, 2011

Bt-Cotton Kenya Status

Kenya Research Results Bt-cotton technology effective on the African Bolworm (Helicoverpa armigera) Bt-cotton technology had indirect effect on non-target pests like the Red Spider Mites and aphids Bt-cotton technology had no effect on key natural enemies Higher gross margins from Bt-cotton compared to HART 89M Bt-Cotton Project

Kenya Research Results Geneflow established between HART 89M and Bt-Cotton because both are Gossypium hirsutum Work on geneflow between Bt-Cotton and wild cotton on going BUT not expected to take place because they are different species Bt-cotton is expected to reduce insecticide sprays from 12 to about 3 sprays per season

Efficacy on Bollworms Bt-Cotton Project Unsprayed Bt-cotton Unsprayed HART89M

Efficacy on Bollworms Square damage

Indirect Effect on Mites Indirect Effect on Mites BG II Sprayed 6 times Isoline sprayed 6 times BG II unsprayed Isoline unsprayed

Bt -Cotton Approval Status

The Legal Framework (Kenya) The National Policy on Biotechnology - passed by the Cabinet in 2006 The Biosafety Act, 2009 The Biosafety Regulations gazetted in August 2011 Contained Use Environmental Release Export, Import and Transit Bt-Cotton Project

Commercialization Way Forward- Kenya Application for environmental release-in progress Clearance for open release Transformation of target varieties into Bt-Cotton NPTs and DUS tests on the transformed varieties Variety registration Technology launch and commercialization Bt-Cotton Project

Tentative Commercialization Timelines TimelineActivity April /October 2012Transformation of target varieties into Bt-cotton April /October 2013Conduct NPTs and DUS tests April/October 2014Product launch and Commercialization Bt-Cotton Project

Impact and Way forward

Impact of Transgenic Cotton Adoption Increased cotton output, cotton quality and increased export revenues Lower pesticide costs hence higher profits Farmers have time to focus on other productive activities Improved rural incomes, poverty reduction and food security Minimizes human and animal exposure to toxic insecticides hence reducing cases of insecticide poisoning Minimizes environmental pollution by insecticides More cotton available for the cotton value chain; spinners, textile mills, apparel manufacturers etc

Way Forward Need for proactive policy, political support and political will for Biotech research, training and coordination Need for Governments to play a leading role in Biotech development and uptake Need for increased public funding for Biotech research and training Need for pragmatic laws and effective institutions Need to encourage private/public partnerships in transgenic Cotton development and production Need for proactive intensive public education on transgenic Cotton for improved production

Thank you