Ethiopia approves GMO Maize for commercial production

By Muluken Yewondwossen

In a historic move, Ethiopia has approved the commercial release of insect protected maize, following several years of rigorous efforts. Alongside transgenic maize, the government has also authorized the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties.

The decision, made by the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC), represents a significant advancement for the country’s agricultural sector.

Granted early last week, the approval includes the highly anticipated TELA maize varieties, which have been genetically modified for insect resistance and drought tolerance. Additionally, the NVRC approved the release of Bt-GT cotton, a variety designed to withstand bollworms, a major pest in cotton cultivation.

Developed through the public private partnership, TELA Maize project, the TELA maize varieties were developed with main aim to protect the maize crop against stem borers and fall armyworms (FAW), pests that have long plagued Ethiopian farmers.

These new TELA varieties offer a yield advantage of up to 60% compared to conventional maize varieties. Experts emphasize that the transgenic maize not only enhances grain quality but also reduces the need for chemical insecticides, lowering production costs while minimizing environmental and health risks.

Tesfaye Disasa (PhD), the TELA Maize project country coordinator at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), described the approval as a major milestone for Ethiopian agriculture. The TELA maize seed will be made available to Ethiopian smallholder farmers royalty-free through local seed companies.

He noted that the process took seven years, including five years for biosafety approval process and an additional two years for variety release approval. The biosafety regulation mainly focused on assessment of risks associated with transgenic maize hybrids on human and animal health as well as on environment. TELA maize is proved to be safe for human and animal consumption and has no environmental impact. Besides, the grain of insect protected maize is free from mycotoxins and safer than FAW infected conventional maize.

″This is a great success for Ethiopian agriculture, particularly for small-scale farmers who dominate the sector,″ Tesfaye told Capital.

The current development is in line with the government policy to ensure food and nutritional security through the applications of Bio and Emerging technologies.

He also mentioned that similar transgenic maize varieties have already been successfully commercialized in other African countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

The TELA maize has been extensively tested in Ethiopia’s rift valley region, where it proved resilient to drought and pests.

Tesfaye emphasized that these new varieties will significantly reduce farmers’ reliance on costly pesticides, thereby lowering labor costs and providing environmental and health benefits.

In addition to maize, the NVRC approved the release of Bt-GT cotton, which is resistant to bollworms and can significantly reduce cotton yields if not managed properly. The committee approved one of the two BtGt cotton varieties submitted for approval, with a total of four varieties, including the two in question, undergoing trials.

Dereje Girma (PhD), Director of EIAR’s Agri-biotechnology Directorate and Bt-GT Coordinator, recently told Capital that the new cotton variety was rigorously tested for its effectiveness against glyphosate herbicides and bollworms, as well as its adaptability, yield potential, and fiber quality.

Ethiopia currently produces approximately 50,000 metric tons of cotton annually, but demand from the textile sector is projected to reach 200,000 metric tons within the next two years.

The introduction of Bt-GT cotton is expected to be pivotal in meeting this demand. Confined field trials indicate that this genetically modified cotton yields between 48 to 57 quintals per hectare, which is significantly higher than the 32 quintals produced by local varieties.

The approval of GMO crops aligns with Ethiopia’s 15-year National Cotton Development Strategy, which aims to produce 1.1 million metric tons of cotton from one million hectares of land. This strategy also sets a goal for annual cotton exports of 50,000 metric tons, with the potential to generate up to USD 125 million in revenue.

Ethiopia’s move toward adopting GMOs is part of its effort to position itself as a leader in Africa’s textile and apparel industry. This decision also addresses the prevalent issue of illegally imported GMO seeds, highlighting the need for regulated and scientifically validated crop varieties.

According to experts, the commercial release of TELA maize and Bt-GT cotton signifies a transformative moment for Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.

By embracing genetically modified crops, the country aims to enhance food security, increase farmers’ incomes, and minimize environmental impacts.

As Ethiopia progresses with these innovations, the focus will be on ensuring sustainable production and maximizing benefits for small-scale farmers, who are the backbone of the nation’s agriculture.

At the time of reporting, efforts to obtain further comments from NVRC Chairperson Prof. Ferew Mekbib and Dereje were unsuccessful.

The name ″TELA″ is derived from the Latin word ″tutela,″ meaning ″protection,″ highlighting the crop’s resilience against pests and drought.