Genetically Modified Cotton Confined Field Trials in Uganda
Confined Field Trials (CFTs) with Genetically Modified (GM) cotton have been conducted twice in Uganda by National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) in collaboration with Monsanto, USA during the cotton seasons 2009/2010 and 2010/2011). During each of these seasons, the trials have been planted at National Semi Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) in Serere district and Mobuku Prison Farm in Kasese district where the confinement facilities were constructed. NaSARRI scientists are responsible for these studies.
During each of the seasons, two traits (bollworm resistance and herbicide tolerance) which are expected to benefit Uganda’s cotton farmers were studied under the following trials:
- Bacilus thruthiensis (Bt) cotton for management of bollworms in cotton. Bollworms cause losses of up to 100 % in cotton if uncontrolled. Control using pesticides is not only expensive, but exposes the farmers and the environment to hazards from pesticides. Varieties of cotton which were tested under confinement had in them foreign genes introduced from a bacterium Bt, and this enable the cotton to produce proteins which are toxic to bollworms, hence controlling them. Results were promising.
2. Roundup-Ready Cotton for management of weeds in cotton. Crops into which foreign genes for tolerance to the herbicide Roundup have been engineered are called Roudup-Ready crops. When such crops are sprayed with Roundup, all weeds die, but the crop remains. In this trial such varieties of cotton were tested. The results were overwhelming because all weeds in cotton under Kasese and Serere conditions were controlled and the yields from cotton were good.
Monsanto USA developed these technologies and also funded the two trials which were supposed to have run for three seasons, before a final decision could be made but the third season was not possible because funds were not availed to NARO scientists. The plan is that the genes responsible for the two traits would then be introgressed into Uganda’s cotton varieties, making them both Bt and Roundup-Ready before eventual on-farm testing and commercialization.
Contact Director of Research NaSARRI for more information on email: director@nasarri.go.ug
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