Agricultural research in Uganda started with involvement of communities and farmers with the colonial British introducing cotton for farmers to grow s cash crop

This was after the establishment of Botanical Gardens in 1898 for the evolution of crops that could be grown for export and food security

Background

Research in agriculture in Uganda quadrupled between1995 and 2008 after the establishment of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro) in 2005.

Research institutes such as the National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NaRL) and the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) were already in existence. Agricultural scientists were recruited to work in these institutes and with donor funds, research work was boosted.

Now there is a new approach where scientists both in the health and Agricultural sector are using technologies such as gene therapy, biotechnology and gene editing among others to advance crop breeding and health issues.

This was revealed during the 10^th anniversary celebration of Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium (UBBC), a science body formed by a group of stakeholders in 2012.

 Why UBBC was formed

The chairperson of UBBC Dr Peter Wasswa noted that the organisation was formed to enhance scientific conversation in application of advanced science technologies.

To date UBBC has grown with membership including science students in Universities pursuing health science and agricultural science including stakeholders involved in scientific innovations and scientists.

Dr Wasswa explained that there are several scientific challenges now including environmental issues arising from climate change, human health where issues of trading in body organs was rampant and the there is a law in place to regulate it

Other challenges are pest and diseases ravaging crops in the agricultural sector therefore the need to apply technologies such as gene editing and advanced biotechnology to breed crops to resists these diseases including developing animal vaccines against tick borne diseases.

The Coordinator of UBBC Arthur Makara explained that it is important to have celebrated the 10 years achievement of the organisation because it has brought on board various stakeholders including Veterinary Doctors, Medical Doctors, Students, Journalists Agricultural scientists and stakeholders dealing agricultural value chain.  

This he said has helped build the understanding of various science players and sensitize communities to understand the science of biology in developing consumable products.

Progress in agricultural scientific research

Dr Andrew Kiggundu senior research scientists at Naro gave a key note address about the topic “The role of research and technological innovations in fostering agricultural transformation and development in Uganda”

He noted that a new approach is now being used by scientists involving communities and farmers to address challenges in agriculture food system.

He contends that scientists at Naro have bred crops such Vitamin A cooking banana, banana resistant to banana bacterial wilt, black sigatoka and pests such as nematodes, Cassava resistant to Cassava Brown Streak Virus and Cassava Mosaic Virus, Maize resistant to Maize Stalk Borer, Rice that can grow in infertile soils, Orange fleshed Sweet potato, beans rich in Iron and Zinc, soybean resistant against soy bean rust including tick vaccine among others using advanced technologies.

Some of the technology include developing tissue culture banana cuttings and hybrid agricultural products as food security tool.

Gene therapy and gene functions

He explained that health scientists are now applying gene therapy to allow gene functioning to improve health condition especially in Sickle Cell and HIV/Aids patients

“Genetic codes exist in all living things therefore scientists can make proteins using DNA which can be transferred in these living organs in case of any challenge. That is why scientists transfer genes from one organism to another to addresses challenges of pests and diseases in plants and humans to address health challenges as well as animals,” Dr Kiggundu notes.

Gene Editing

He notes that gene editing has been used by agricultural scientists to shorten breeding periods using CRISPR-Cas9.

This technology was discovered by two scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna.

Gene editing tools are helping breeders modifying target genes to the desired sequence for improving crop yield and quality and increase biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and herbicide resistance in crops.

The scientists use CRISPR-Cas9 system that uses site directed nucleases to target and modify DNA with great accuracy.

This technology is also helpful in animal breeding where the ovaries can be edited against diseases and put in Surrogates cows that will produce healthy calves

Scientists breeding pigs in USA for organ donations to humans are also using gene editing technology where they ensure the organ is similar to that of human beings including the eyes.

The technology has been used by scientists in genetic bio controls such as Mosquitos bred by scientists in Senegal and Uganda to help solve the challenge of malaria spread.

Regulations

Dr Kiggundu contends that it is the reason scientists have teamed up with legislators to ensure all countries must have laws to regulate use of these technologies otherwise anti science advocates will end up inventing things beyond the science.

In some countries, they had laws that govern use of advanced biotechnology only but they are now amending them to include gene editing and gene therapy regulations.

However plants developed conventionally do require laws for their release.

In Uganda there is the Genetic Engineering Regulations Act (GERA) which scientists and legislators are currently modifying to encompass regulations of all advanced technology including gene therapy, gene editing and use pf gene drive.

Scientists give their view

The Chairperson of National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises Ltd (NUCAFE) Dr Gerald Sendawula noted that there was once the challenge of coffee wilt disease which ravaged coffee in farmer fields across the country causing yield loss in the 1990’s

However when scientists bred and released coffee varieties resistant to coffee wilt, the production increased

Uganda has seen a steady rise in coffee export volumes which had stagnated at 3.5m bags. Coffee exports for 12 months in the month of June 2021-May 2022 totalled 6.35 million bags worth US dollars 837.14 million compared to 5.88 million bags worth US dollars 540.54 million the previous year June 2020-May 2021.

He also commended the scientists who are engaged in tissue culture application for East African Highland (Matoke) banana because it is food crop consumed across the country.

The former Minister for Agriculture Victoria Sekitoleko noted that these are days of technology advancement in science especially in addressing issues of food security.

She contends that scientists are using these technologies world over with good intentions to save humanity from hunger as well as address health challenges due to upcoming diseases.

Ends