Nigeria makes history with GMO cowpea rollout

By Nkechi Isaac History was made today as Nigeria officially released genetically modified (GM) cowpea, which offers protection from the pod borer pest. It’s the first genetically modified (GM) food crop adopted in Africa outside of South Africa. The pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea — popularly known as beans in Nigeria — is resistant to the insect pest Maruca vitrata, which is responsible for up to 80 percent yield losses. PBR cowpea, which was first released in Nigeria in December 2019 as the SAMPEA 20-T variety, is the product of an international partnership under the coordination of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) that included scientists from the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Dr. Denis Kyetere, the outgoing executive director of AATF, described the launch in Kano as a landmark event that would help Nigeria to achieve food security and also increase farmers’ incomes. In his speech on the occasion, he said ...