Ghanaian scientists make progress with GM rice trials

The first two trials of genetically modified rice in Ghana have been successful, according to researchers at the Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The first-ever GM crop to be planted in Ghana took off early 2013 on confined fields at Nobewam in the Ashanti region.

The research seeks to develop genetically improved African rice varieties by combining genes for three traits – nitrogen use efficiency, water use efficiency and salt tolerance in rice production, dubbed 'NEWEST Rice'.

“What we do in the trial is that we take agronomic data; so we look for yield, plant performance, then we compare with those that do not have the gene,” stated Charles Afriyie-Debrah, a research scientist and biosafety officer at the CRI.

The germplasm transformed is the NERICA-4 developed by AfricaRice.

Compounded by climate change, drought is so widespread it cannot be mitigated solely by irrigation, he observed.

“The next stage, according to our plan, is the second gene which will make the plant survive in times of little rain, so in years where we have drought problems the plant can still survive,” said the researcher.

At the end of the different trials, the triple stack genes will be put together into one plant. “That means I will have a plant that can survive when I don't apply fertilizer, when there is less water and when the soil is acidic,” Mr. Afriyie-Debrah stated.

A ban on inland rice importa¬tion in Ghana is contributing significantly to the demand for local rice. However, the demand for local rice currently outstrips supply.

The objective of the NEWEST Rice trials is to explore how farmers can maximize yields per bag of applied fertilizer to enhance Ghana's food production.

But commercialization is not expected any time soon. According to Mr. Afriyie-Debrah, the trial will include a 'food and feed analysis' which will take more years to ensure the product is safe for consumption “so that when we say that we are commercializing it, somebody wouldn't eat and say I'm having allergies or anything”.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh