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Brief History of Bt cowpea project. Initially conceived by a group** at Purdue in 1987, in collaboration with scientists from IITA ** N etwork for the G enetic Improvement of C owpea for A frica Early funding by Rockefeller Foundation Current funding: USAID grant to AATF
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Brief History of Bt cowpea project Initially conceived by a group** at Purdue in 1987, in collaboration with scientists from IITA **Network for the Genetic Improvement of Cowpea for Africa Early funding by Rockefeller Foundation Current funding: USAID grant to AATF -AATF coordinates efforts with partners, including CSIRO, NGICA, PBS, etc
Transgenic potato plants with resistance to potato beetle, using B. t. protein; Produced and field tested by ABI, Sofia, Bulgaria. Pre-2005 Alternative: multiple applications of insecticides b
Necessary In-House capabilities to develop and deploy transgenic plants Product development planning/coordination Communications • Core Functions • Product development and delivery • Collaboration Regulatory Affairs – Biosafety Approvals I.P. and Licensing Field testing With emphasis on good stewardship
Regulatory Hurdles for Transgenic Disease and Insect Resistance Include: Confirming efficacy Confirming safety of transgenic event for: Agricultural environment Consumer Confirming low/no risk of weediness in crop or outcrossing species (similar requirements are not made for non-transgenic resistance)
In 1987Dr. Roger Beachy, foreground at right, joins scientists to test the first genetically modified plants in a field trial in Jerseyville, Il. First Field Trial of a Food Crop in 1987, TMV-Resistant Tomatoes Coat Protein Mediated Resistance first described in December, 1986. To date fewer that six public sector transgenic crop have reached market. Why not more success? What steps can be taken to enhance contributions of public sector scientists to food production (and economy) in the future?