Ghana Releases GM Cowpea for Commercial Cultivation
July 31, 2024| |
After over a decade of research, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) launches pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea for commercial cultivation in Ghana. PBR cowpea is the first genetically modified (GM) crop to be developed in the country.
Cowpea is a vital crop rich in protein used for human and livestock consumption. However, the pod borer pests challenged the productivity of cowpeas, causing up to 80% yield losses. Thus, PBR cowpea was developed to eradicate the harmful effects of pests and provide higher yields to farmers.
Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, said that the release of this variety shows the government's commitment to advancing agriculture and improving the lives of the Ghanaian people. “By adopting the PBR cowpea, farmers can look forward to improved productivity, increased incomes, and enhanced food security,” Professor Aggrey Ambali, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the African Agriculture Technology Trust Foundation (AATF) said.
For more information, read the article from Ghana News Agency.
| |
You might also like:
- Ghana Approves Bt Cowpea for Environmental and Market Release
- Stakeholders Support Commercial Cultivation of GM Cowpea in Ghana
- Nigeria Commercializes Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea, its First GM Food Crop
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
Plant
- Murdoch University-Led Research Opens Door to New Crop Varieties
- Nitrogen-Fixing Rahnella Bacteria Promotes the Growth of Wheat
- Review Shows the Role of Polyamine in Crop Growth and Development
- Ghana Releases GM Cowpea for Commercial Cultivation
- Indian Researchers Develop a Miniature Plant Genome Editing Tool
-
Food
- Scientists Discover Molecular Mechanism Behind Pineapple Peel Coloration
-
Environment
- Biotechnology Executive Order Advances Regulation and Acceptance of GE Microbes in the US
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (December 11, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (December 11, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet