Cultivating seeds of change in Sierra Leone’s eastern province

Celebration fills the halls of the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, as researchers announce groundbreaking results from their two-year study on genetically modified (GM) potato varieties. Spearheaded by a plant breeder at NRCRI and lead scientist of the Global Biotechnology Potato Partnership (GBPP) in Nigeria, Dr. Charles Amadi the research unveils the exceptional performance of these GM potatoes. Amadi expressed excitement as he revealed that the biotech potatoes exhibited an astounding 300 per cent increase in yield compared to the best-performing conventional variety when no fungicide was applied. This breakthrough brings hope to Nigerian potato farmers who have long grappled with threats like late blight infestation, driving some to the brink of despair. Under the umbrella of the GBPP, a project funded by USAID and coordinated by Michigan State University (MSU), researchers collaborated with various partners, including the African Agricultural ...