Songotra T Cowpea: Ghana’s First Biotech Crop to Boost Food Security and Cut Costs, Says OFAB

The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Ghana Chapter, has endorsed the newly genetically modified Songotra T Cowpea in Ghana as natural and safe for humans, livestock and the environment.

The platform, disclosed this at a Scientific Community Sensitization Engagement organized in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) aimed to bring clarity on GM technology activities in Ghana and the status of work done on a GM product (PBR Cowpea) within CSIR.

Dr. Daniel Osei Ofosu, Senior Research Scientist at the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission explained that the controversy surrounding the safety of GMOs was a false narrative propagated by anti-GMOs who don’t wish Ghana or Africa to be food-sufficient.

According to the Senior Research Scientist Songotra T’s introduction would reshape the cowpea farming landscape, offering benefits that extend from the field to the consumer.

The new GM cowpea is resistant to the Maruca pod borer, an insect responsible for up to 80 percent of cowpea crop losses in severely affected farms. Traditionally, cowpea farmers have relied on extensive pesticide spraying, applying chemicals as often as eight times over the plant’s short eight-week growth period to prevent infestation.

He mentioned that despite these efforts, many still face severe crop loss, which has driven cowpea prices to unprecedented levels of over GH₵3,000 for a 50kg/bag.

Nigeria has already introduced a new variety of cowpeas that resists pests to boost their market share in the region, as buyers prefer high-quality produce. Ghana is now the second African country to make this pest-resistant cowpea variety available, indicating a significant step in local cowpea production.

The Songotra T cowpea, according to SARI - CSIR, is set to deliver substantial economic benefits to both farmers and consumers, with the potential to reduce the cost of beans in Ghana. CSIR and its partners hope that the successful introduction of Songotra T will encourage greater acceptance and adoption of biotechnology solutions within Ghana.

On Thursday, July 25, 2024, the Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea (PBR Cowpea), Songotra T – the first-ever biotech crop in the country was released. According to Dr. Ofosu, farmers can start planting in the next planting season.

Professor Charles Tortoe, Director, CSIR – Food Research Institute (FRI), said food was a critical priority for the country, such that it was essential to explore and adopt a range of technologies that enhanced food production, including biotechnology. 

He said these innovations complemented existing methods and contributed to advancing agricultural practices. 

The Director of the Food Research Institute said these innovations were expanding and enhancing food production technologies, enabling them to better address the challenges of food insecurity in

Ghana and Africa.

He said the Center had implemented mechanisms to expand the food basket while ensuring that the food available in our markets is safe and of high quality. 

“At CSIR, all our research activities are aligned with ensuring the safety and availability of food, where today’s workshop is part of this effort, focusing on how we can expand our technological capabilities” Biotechnology, including GMOs, represents a key area of innovation that we must embrace to stay at the forefront of agricultural advancement,” he added.  

Dr. Doris Yaa Osei, Ag. Deputy Director, Animal Research Institute (ARI) mentioned that contrary to anti-GMOs opinions she has heard and read, the Sensitization Engagement organized in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has given her clarity on GM technology activities in Ghana and the status of work done on a GM product (PBR Cowpea) at Savana Agricultural Research Institute (SARI).

“Our scientist has the ability to change and modify to our own advantage, and that is what we are doing with GMOs as biological scientists. Don’t let us be deceived by what anti-GMOs are telling us. GMO is natural. There is nothing wrong with GMOs’’ she said.

Principal Regulatory Officer at Food and Drugs Authority, Nana Akua Yeboah assured the public that the Songotra T cowpea variety has passed thorough guidelines for the labeling aiming to enhance consumer transparency and safety.

According to the Principal Regulatory Officer, the initiative, developed in collaboration with the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) and other stakeholders, underscores the FDA’s commitment to ensuring that the food available to Ghanaians is both safe and clearly labeled.

“Today’s Sensitization Engagement is supposed to bring transparency. We are not hiding anything from anybody. We want the public to be informed, which is why we are having this program” she said.

Story by:

Nana Yaw Reuben