Biotech Updates

Howard G. Buffett Foundation Funds Research on Sweet Potato for Africa

June 1, 2007

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation recently granted $3 million to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to fund research to enhance resistance to virus infection and to increase the nutritional content of sweet potato for Africa. The Danforth Center has engaged in the project the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima, Peru, and the National Agricultural Research Organisation of Uganda (NARO), to create a multi-institutional collaboration.

Sweet potato production is decimated by dual infections of sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) and sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV). Danforth Center scientists will work to increase resistance to these two viruses, while undertaking research that will increase the amount of vitamins, folate, zinc and iron.

The news article can be read at http://www.danforthcenter.org/newsmedia/NewsDetail.asp?nid=128.