International collaboration aims to develop high-yielding pest-and disease-resistant cassava, maize and potatoes

An international collaboration has announced a public-private partnership to develop high-yielding pest-and disease-resistant cassava, maize and potatoes to benefit more than 500,000 farm households in Rwanda. The partnership, known as the Rwanda Agricultural Biotechnology Programme, aims to improve the productivity and resilience of the three staple crops that are critical to the food security and livelihood of farming families.

The initiative will be coordinated by AATF and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and include the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the International Potato Center (CIP), Michigan State University (MSU), Bayer Company, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT). 

Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye, RAB Director General, said a partnership approach is key to the project’s success as it will ensure key stakeholders cooperate effectively to address food insecurity in a sustainable way. ″By integrating research and extension services, we can equip farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge to boost productivity and resilience,″ he said. ″A clear road map, coupled with robust monitoring and evaluation, is essential to track progress and ensure that the project stays on course.″ 

Dr. Canasius Kanangire, executive director of AATF, noted that the improved crops developed through the project will provide Rwandan farmers with the opportunity to access and plant new varieties that are resistant to devastating insect pests and diseases. ″The destructive nature of diseases like cassava brown streak and potato late blight, along with insect pests such as stem borers and fall armyworm, are denying Rwanda’s farmers the full benefit of these widely grown staple food crops,″ he said. 

The Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA) project, has been working in Rwanda with RAB since 2019 to develop and deploy cassava with resistance to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD). VIRCA is led by Dr. Nigel Taylor, member and Dorothy J. King Distinguished Investigator at the Danforth Center. ″Support from the Rwanda Agricultural Biotechnology Programme brings important new opportunities to produce disease resistant cassava specifically developed to meet Rwandan farmer needs. Importantly, we also now have the resources needed to deliver these products to hundreds of thousands of farming households in Rwanda,″ said Taylor.  ″It is an exciting time to be working with our partners at RAB and others within the cassava seed systems in Rwanda.″

Potato production in Rwanda is limited by late blight disease, which is estimated to reduce yields by 13 to 60 percent, depending on the season. ″CIP and partners have identified at least two potato varieties ready for deployment in Rwanda following adaptation trials,″ said Dr. Dinah Borus, senior scientist, in charge of CIP operations in Rwanda. ″The biotech potato varieties will be tested in Rwanda to ensure complete resistance to late blight disease and will be released after review and approval by Rwandan regulatory authorities.″ 

Rwanda’s national maize average yield of 1.6 tons per hectare is well below the crop's potential, leading the country to spend over $23 million annually to import 100,000 tons of maize grain. Yields can be increased with the improved maize varieties that are drought tolerant and resistant to insect pests. ″A pool of insect resistant and drought tolerant maize varieties has already been tested for different growing zones in Rwanda,″ said Dr. Sylvester Oikeh, who leads biotech maize development at AATF. ″They will be available to farmers, pending adaptation trials and approval by regulators.″ 

The Rwanda Agricultural Biotechnology Programme is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gates Philanthropic Partners for five years, beginning October 2024.