Agricultural Biotechnology Research in Ethiopia: Status, opportunities and challenges
Belayneh Admassu, Adefris Teklewold, Solomon Assefa
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
Agriculture in Ethiopia
- Mainstay of Ethiopian economy
— Accounting for 60% of the national income
— Employing 80% of the work force
— Earning 60% of the total export income
- Characterized by low production & productivity
— Only 15% of the arable land is currently utilized
— Low productivity of agricultural produce
eg. wheat = 2 tons/ha vs. 8 tons/ha
- Under permanent shortage of food and raw materials
- An increasing population pressure
— Natural resource degradation, desertification
— Total collapse of the ecosystem
- Limited overall economic development
Therefore, it is essential to integrate modern technologies in agriculture R&D shift from resource-based to knowledge-based production.
Govt Policies & Strategy Favouring Agriculture & Biotechnology
- The Agric. Dev’t Led Industrialization (ADLI)
- GTP
- Policy document on use and application of biotechnology
- Patent law for intellectual property
- National biosafety regulations law & guidelines
- National policy on biodiversity conservation
- Draft science and technology policy
History of Agricultural Biotechnology Research in Ethiopia
1980s:
- Plant tissue culture – micropropagation
- Indigenous forest and crop spp. (endod, tef)
- Application of bovine embryo transfer in Ethiopian Zebu cattle (ILCA, Debre Zeit)
Since 1999 - Draft biotechnology research strategy at EIAR
Since 2000 - Concerted efforts by EIAR
- Protocol optimization for mass propagation
- Disease cleaning and in vitro conservation
Since 2001 – Biotechnology organized at programme level in EIAR
- Plant Biotechnology
- Animal Biotechnology
- Microbial Biotechnology
Agricultural Biotech Research Strategy of EIAR
The focus of the EARS had been to improve production, productivity and quality of plants and animals
- EIAR has designed a new strategy
- Reorganized the NARS in a new form
Biotechnology
- to improve research efficiency, production, productivity, and product quality in agriculture.
- to create new high quality products in agriculture
Ø Short term strategy
- Capacity Building (human and facilities)
- Establish centers of excellence
- Set organizational structure
- Assist establishment of policy frame work (Bio-safety, IPR, MTA)
- Establishment of networking and linkage systems
- In-vitro propagation & plant improvement
- Estrus control, super ovulation, semen production and conservation
- Production of inocula
Ø Medium term strategy
- Employ recombinant DNA technology to improve crops, animals and microorganisms
- Utilize transformation techniques to improve high-value crops.
Vision and Goals of Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Development in NARS
Vision
- To see improved livelihood of all Ethiopians engaged in agriculture through market competitive agricultural technologies.
- To change this vision into reality: Technology transfer, adoption and capacity building.
Goals
- Enhancement of agricultural research efficiency through application of biotechnology tools.
- Improve production, productivity and quality of plant, animal and microbial and their products.
- Support agricultural development led industrialization (ADLI) of the country.
Milestones & Achievements
1. Capacity Building
ARTP & RCBP- 6 million USD
 |
| Laboratories |
Central Biotech Lab Built at Holetta
• Molecular Biology lab
• Plant Biotech Lab
• Livestock Biotech Lab
• Microbial Biotech Lab
Central Biotech Lab Built at Holetta
• Molecular Biology lab
• Plant Biotech Lab
 |
| Guest houses |
• Microbial Biotech Lab
 | |
| Office |
- Generator
- Water pupmps
- Satellite labs at Jimma ARC,
- Melkassa ARC & Debre Zeit ARC
Lab Facilities
Plant Biotech and Molecular Labs Equiped with:
 |
Acclimatization tunnels (USAID – MASHAV Project |
 |
Fully automated greenhouse (temp, RH, light, water regulation) |
- Genetic Analyzer
- Flow cytometry
- PCR machines
- Hoods
- Gel electrophoresis apparatus
-
Human Power Development (biotechnology)
Milestones & AchievementsCenterPlantLivestockMicrobialPhDMScBScPhDMSc/MVSCBScPhDMScBScHoletta261010120Debre Zeit-10031000Melkassa-21000000Jimma121000000Total3114041120
 |
Over 50,000 pineapple seedlingshave been multiplied and distributed to users |
2. Technology: In-vitro micropropagation
 | ||||
| Banana tissue culture |
 |
| Enset tissue culture |
Conventional technique produce sucker in 2-3 years
(30-50 plantlets per sucker) Tissue Culture technique produce sucker in 1–2 months
(40 plantlets per sucker)
Virus Cleaning by TC: Sweet potato
- FMV highly distructive
- Distribution of potato cuttings halted
- Virus cleaning protocol developed
 |
| In-vitro regenerated cardamon, sugarcane, vanilla and endod |
Molecular Biology research
• Molecular marker assisted breeding
• Virus indexing using molecular markers
• Supporting Biotechnology training in HLI
Bio-fertilizers
Ethiopia imports 800,000 tons of inorganic fertilizers
Bio-fertilizers research aims at reducing importation by half
Support organic farming
 |
TAL-378: imported strain from the USA |
Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer
 |
The first Bovine embryo transfer calf grown to bull |
 |
| Over 10 calves were born at Adami Tullu and Holetta Future Directions Adoption, generation and promotion of demand driven agric. technologies in an efficient way and shorter time period. Create a consortium among private institutions, Univ. and RCs to advance biotechnological research and development. Create a center of excellence that can lead the future science based agricultural development. Challenges •Limited experience in cutting edge biotechnological research •Difficulty to attract and maintain skilled manpower •Capacity to install, fix and maintain scientific equipment •Problems associated with foreign procurement of supplies (chemical, enzymes, hormones, etc.) •Building better alliances, partnerships and linkage among sectors (agric., medicine, industry) |
