Biotechnology for Seed Sector Development

A number of biotechnology applications and approaches are being employed to enhance agricultural production in many African countries. For example, biotechnology-based tools are used for mass propagation of disease-free plantlets. Other promising biotechnological methods are used to enhance the efficiency of traditional breeding, such as marker-assisted selection, which allows a faster and more targeted development of improved genotypes. Such markers provide new research tools which can assist in the conservation and characterization of biodiversity. Modern biotechnologies applications dramatically increase the potential and efficiency of using genetic resources. For example, genomics enhances the precision in crop improvement.

The development and deployment of modern biotechnologies also includes genetically modified organisms (GMOs) obtained through genetic engineering, which should be managed safely. National capacities in practical crop improvement can be strengthened in African countries through effective and efficient integration of biotechnology into the conventional breeding work.

Recent and emerging biotechnology applications as well as future applications tools and approaches emerging from biotechnology research are likely to have great potential to assist African countries to enhance agricultural production, including providing assistance to small scale resource-poor farmers. For this to be achieved, the application of new technologies and approaches should be part of an integrated and comprehensive agricultural research programme, which gives priority to the need and problems of small-scale resource-poor farmers.