Ghana Commercialises GM Cowpea

JULY 30, 2024

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) has released the pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea, representing the first genetically modified (GM) crop to be developed in Ghana for commercial cultivation. The variety is an early maturing cowpea developed for resistance to diseases and pests, especially the pod borer. The project was funded by several public institutions, including the United States Agency for International Development, and the African Agriculture Technology Trust Foundation (AATF), and took more than ten years of research to develop the variety and secure the necessary regulatory approvals for its commercialisation. Cowpea, a significant crop in smallholder production in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, has been impacted in recent years by the prevalence of the pod borer pest. It is hoped that the development and introduction of pod borer resistant cowpea varieties will enhance productivity.