RTB Book Chapters

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/80994

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Forward breeding for efficient selection. In Sustainability Sciences in Asia and Africa
(Book Chapter, 2024-01-24) Bohar, R.; Dreisigacker, S.; Lindqvist-Kreuze, H.; Kante, M.; Pandey, M.K.; Sharma, V.; Chaudhari, S.; Varshney, Rajeev K.
Global food security is the numero uno priority in the current global situation, threatened by a number of challenges catalyzed by accelerated climate change and population growth. Crop improvement coupled with the modern plant breeding approaches, such as genomic-assisted breeding, is a proven solution to meet the food security. One of the key mandates in the modern plant breeding program is to combine the power of genomic selection into the breeding pipeline employing a low-cost genotyping solution. Several SNP marker-based platforms are now available depending on the objectives and field of application; despite the availability of different platforms, the public sectors face challenges in terms of funding and accessibility to the latest technology when compared to private sectors. Shared genotyping platform coupled with open breeding informatics involving different stakeholders with active support from donors will address several constraints faced by the public breeding program. Here, we summarize the available forward breeding genomic resources in the space of low-mid-density genotyping platform with special emphasis on shared services for four crop groups: 1. Wheat (cereal) 2. Potato (roots, tubers, and bananas (RTB crops)) 3. Groundnut (grain legumes) 4. Vigna species (legumes)
Diseases of Sweetpotato
(Book Chapter, 2023) Ogero, K.; Vlugt, R. van der.
Sweetpotato is the sixth most important food crop globally. Whereas in developed countries like Canada, Europe, and the United States, it is considered a vegetable, it is a major staple food crop in sub-Saharan Africa. Cropping systems and varietal preferences vary between temperate and tropical countries. This influences the type of diseases encountered in temperate and tropical countries. Some diseases occur globally, but severity may differ between different regions. Viruses pose the greatest challenge to sweetpotato production globally. Sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) caused by synergistic interaction between sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) and sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) can cause between 56% and 98% yield losses. The crop is also affected by bacterial diseases such as bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and Streptomyces soil rot caused by Streptomyces ipomoeae among others. Over 32 fungal diseases have been reported in sweetpotato, infecting the crop both in the field and in storage. Field fungal diseases include leaf spot and leaf petiole and stem blight caused by several species of Alternaria. Economically important storage fungal diseases include black rot, java black rot, and Rhizopus soft rot. The crop is also affected by various nematodes. The importance of sweetpotato diseases varies geographically. For instance, whereas SPVD and other viruses are economically important in sub-Saharan Africa, nematodes do not cause significant loss and do not warrant control. This chapter discusses the geographic distribution of the different diseases, their importance, and management practices.
Toolbox for Working with Root, Tuber, and Banana Seed Systems
(Book Chapter, 2022) Andrade-Piedra, J.L.; Garrett, K.A.; Delaquis, Erik; Almekinders, Conny J.M.; Kilwinger, Fleur B.M.; Navarrete, I.; McEwan, M.; Mayanja, S.; Rajendran, S.; Mulugo, L.; Omondi, Bonaventure Aman Oduor; Kumar, P. Lava
Root, tuber, and banana (RT&B) crops are critical for global food security. They are vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs) sharing common features: low reproductive rates, bulky planting materials, and vulnerability to accumulating and spreading pathogens and pests through seed. These crops are difficult to breed, so new varieties may be released slowly relative to new emerging threats. VPC seed systems are complex and face several challenges: poor-quality seed of existing varieties, low adoption rates of improved varieties, and slow varietal turnover, limiting yield increases and farmers’ ability to adapt to new threats and opportunities. Addressing these challenges requires first identifying key knowledge gaps on seed systems to guide research for development in a holistic and coherent way. Working together across 10 crops and 26 countries in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, the CGIAR seed systems research community has developed a “Toolbox for Working with Root, Tuber, and Banana Seed Systems,” which introduces 11 tools and a glossary to address four major gaps: (1) capturing the demand characteristics of different types of farmers; (2) identifying effective seed delivery pathways; (3) ensuring seed health and stopping the spread of disease; and (4) designing effective policies and regulations. We describe the toolbox and its creation and validation across 76 crop-and-country use cases, and illustrate how the tools, applied individually or in combination, are addressing the key knowledge gaps in RT&B seed systems. The tool developers are actively working to scale the toolbox, including identifying new partners and models for collaboration, developing new tools, and supporting new applications in VPCs, as well as for fruit, vegetable, grain, and pulse seed systems.
Los andes y los alimentos del futuro. 50 andean future foods. Bibliografía. Bibliography.
(Book Chapter, 2021-12) International Potato Center
Examining choice to advance gender equality in breeding research
(Book Chapter, 2021-11) Polar, Vivian; Mohan, Rohini Ram; McDougall, Cynthia; Teeken, Béla; Mulema, Annet A.; Marimo, Pricilla; Yila, Jummai Othniel
Breeding is a technical pillar of CGIAR research: the animal/fish breeds, and plant varieties developed are international public goods that contribute to agricultural development for low-income contexts worldwide. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are critical social dimensions underpinning agricultural development in these contexts. Progressing toward gender equality in agriculture requires that women, as well as men, have equal capabilities to make decisions about agricultural innovation, and specifically technology choice. Current evidence, however, suggests the situation here is not yet equal. Nevertheless, despite ongoing inequalities, there is a dearth of literature on the connection between gender and breeding in agricultural research. This chapter critically examines what has been done to address gender dynamics in (current) breeding structures and processes, and what more can be done so that breeding programs contribute to advancing gender equality. We are specifically concerned with technology choices in relation to the plant variety or animal/fish breed by resource-poor smallholders in low-income countries. The chapter explores how CGIAR and public breeding programs generate options based on user needs, preferences, and constraints, and the institutional requirements needed to develop them in such a way that they contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Cryopreservation of Potato Shoot Tips for Long-Term Storage
(Book Chapter, 2021) Vollmer, R.; Espirilla, J.; Villagaray, R.; Cárdenas, J.C.; Castro, M.; Sánchez, J.C.; Manrique, N.; Ellis, David
Cryopreservation is currently the only method which allows long-term conservation of living clonal plant material in the vapor or liquid phase of nitrogen (at −140 to −196 °C) allowing tissue to be viable for decades or perhaps centuries. Specifically, for species with recalcitrant seeds or requiring constant vegetative propagation, it is the method of choice for the long-term conservation of its genetic resources. The protocol described here is a modification of a previously developed plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2)—droplet vitrification method of potato shoot tips, adapted from Musa species. Utilizing this protocol, the International Potato Center (CIP) has successfully stored in the cryobank more than 3000 cultivated potato accessions, belonging to seven species and nine different taxa [16], originating principally from ten countries in South and Central America. As part of CIP’s quality management system, all vegetative material placed in cryo is routinely subsampled, thawed, and assessed to confirm that whole plantlets can be produced after storage in liquid nitrogen. Complete plant recovery rates of thawed shoot tips range from 20% to 100% (average rate: 60%). This chapter describes the complete set of steps from the routine procedure of cryopreserving potato shoot tips for long-term conservation.
Digital Technologies, Big Data, and Agricultural Innovation
(Book Chapter, 2021) Sonka, S.T.
Innovation in agricultural practices and food system performance is urgently needed to effectively respond to societal challenges of today and tomorrow. Expanding population, a changing climate, environmental distress, and the need for more nutritious and safe food supplies are only a few of those challenges. In response, new tools employing digital technology and big data are being developed and applied within agricultural production systems. This chapter explores the potential for the effective implementation of such tools and their prospective impact. While these tools provide the means to measure agricultural production activities as they happen, it is important to stress that adoption hinges on both technological and economic factors. The tools of digital technologies and big data are intriguing because their implementation is a key form of innovation and because the use of these technologies can foster additional innovation by making existing innovation systems even more effective.
Innovation and the Quest to Feed the World
(Book Chapter, 2021) Donnan, D.
While global levels of hunger and malnutrition have dropped significantly in the last few decades, there are concerns that agricultural advancements and R&D spending are not enough to unlock the true agricultural innovation needed to feed the burgeoning 10 billion people. Government spending on agricultural R&D has decreased in the last decade and many of the large-scale NGO activities are now focusing on environmental and sustainability issues. With the evolution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, coupled with the growth of agricultural startups and venture funds, the role of agriculture and hunger relief has dramatically changed in the last several decades. A new focus on sustainable growth, capabilities development, and innovative approaches for smallholder farmers has created an environment of continuous innovation that has replaced many of the donation-based hunger relief initiatives of the past. Large corporations are working with local NGOs and support groups to tackle global hunger on a local basis. In the next decade, we should see more socially minded entrepreneurs that will work with NGOs and private businesses to solve the issues of smallholder farming and provide the opportunity to introduce both digital and agricultural innovations at the local level to further the quest to feed the world.
Open Innovation and Value Creation in Crop Genetics
(Book Chapter, 2021) Müller, M.L.; Campos, Hugo
The development of cultivars exhibiting improved climate resilience and containing effective input and agronomic traits and their adoption by growers and acceptance by supply chains, consumers, and society remain essential drivers of a successful agricultural strategy directed to feed the world and overcome the challenges brought by nature, an increasingly stringent regulatory environment, and an ever-growing population. In order to deliver on the daunting challenge of providing affordable, nutritious food to humankind, while reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint, new innovation models are needed.Open innovation is being adopted by seed companies in order to tap into the vast pool of human talent available beyond their boundaries and increase their ability to generate, adopt, develop, and bring to market novel technologies while building upon the increasing global community of innovators and harnessing the resources of venture capitalists. In addition, open innovation can help streamline product development processes, as well as lead to the exploration of novel markets which would otherwise go unexploited. At the same time, open innovation provides the means for other firms and entrepreneurs to gain access to technologies which would be beyond the scope of their development abilities but which can be leveraged to create significant value for their own customers and markets.This chapter provides an updated perspective on the most salient aspects of open innovation. Though its main focus is crop genetics and the development of improved cultivars, the general principles discussed also apply to other activities associated with the value chains linking agriculture and customers.
Innovating at Marketing and Distributing Nutritious Foods at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP): Insights from 2SCALE, the Largest Incubator for Inclusive Agribusiness in Africa
(Book Chapter, 2021) Dijk, N. van; Velde, N. van der; Macharia, J.; Pipim, K.N.; Shimeles, H.
Toward Sustainable Clusters in Agribusiness through Learning in Entrepreneurship (2SCALE) is the largest incubator for inclusive agribusiness in Africa. Part of this program supports agribusinesses in developing nutritious products that specifically target base of the pyramid (BoP) consumers in local markets. This product development process is complemented with marketing and distribution strategies to ensure these products reach BoP consumers. In an effort to build sustainable and scalable business cases, all strategies are first tested and implemented in short-term pilots. The lessons learned during the implementation of these pilots are presented in this chapter.The goal of this chapter is to showcase the approach, results, and lessons learned while implementing pilots. Under the 2SCALE program, more than 20 agribusinesses have developed new nutritious products and have run marketing and distribution pilots. The lessons derived from this experience can be useful for both agribusinesses themselves and incubating programs.The first section of this chapter highlights the opportunity at the BoP and the rationale behind implementing pilots, including the importance of BoP-specific marketing and distribution strategies. The second one runs through the approach and stages of developing and implementing pilots. This section is followed by an overview of tools and strategies being used in pilot development, whereas the final two sections explain lessons learned and the next steps.
Development of Sustainable Business Models for Innovation in the Swedish Agri-sector: Resource-Effective Producer or Stewardship-Based Entrepreneur?
(Book Chapter, 2021) Ulvenblad, P.O.
This chapter focuses on the development of sustainable business models for innovation in the Swedish agri-sector. This is important for several reasons. Many of society’s challenges are linked to social, environmental and economic aspects of agriculture, and numerous agri-companies have been reduced to subcontractors with little influence, and are struggling with low profitability.Previous research regarding agri-companies have mainly focused on production and cost-efficiency aspects. Research regarding sustainable innovation and sustainable business models in the agri-sector is limited to date. To fill in this gap, the aim of this chapter is to illustrate and analyse how Swedish agri-companies develop sustainable business models. An integrated theoretical framework combining research regarding sustainability-oriented innovation and sustainable business model archetypes has been developed in order to collect and analyse the eight agri-companies in the study.Swedish agri-companies focus not only on optimization but also on their organizational transformation and systems building when developing sustainable innovation. They have developed diversified business models. A common, important factor is to adopt stewardship roles. Further, the value intention of agri-entrepreneurs is a relevant factor when developing sustainable business models.
Rethinking Adoption and Diffusion as a Collective Social Process: Towards an Interactional Perspective
(Book Chapter, 2021) Leeuwis, Cees; Aarts, N.
Agricultural development is looked at as a process in which the adoption of innovations plays an important role. In this context, there has been considerable interest in understanding how adoption processes work. This chapter starts from the observation that adoption has been conceptualised in most research and development efforts as a process at the level of individuals and/or individual households, resulting in the dominance of social-psychological modes of thinking. Drawing on case experiences and recent theories of innovation, this paper points towards the critical role that several types of interdependencies play in adoption processes, which leads to the conclusion that in many instances, adoption must be regarded as a collective rather than an individual process. It is therefore important to complement and re-orient our thinking about adoption and resort to more sociological and interactional concepts and explanations. After a discussion of relevant concepts, the chapter concludes with some reflection on how this perspective may inspire a different way of approaching two topical issues in the realm of agricultural innovation: scaling and ICT4Ag.
Productivity in Agriculture for a Sustainable Future
(Book Chapter, 2021) Steensland, A.; Zeigler, M.
The Malthusian predictions of the future have not come to pass due largely to innovative agricultural technologies and practices that stimulated significant gains in agricultural productivity. This chapter examines the linkages between innovation, productivity, and sustainability. The definition of agricultural productivity, measured as total factor productivity (TFP), will be explained, as well as the contribution of innovation to global TFP growth and the contribution of TFP to sustainable food and agriculture systems. To illustrate these connections, this chapter highlights innovative technologies and practices used by crop and livestock producers in the United States, Colombia, India, Kenya, and Vietnam. These cases demonstrate how advanced seed technologies, improvements in soil health and nutrient management, mechanization, and an emphasis on animal health drive productivity growth around the world. Many of these cases feature partnerships between the public sector, private sector, and producers where innovations and new practices are used to increase productivity, incomes, food security, and nutrition. Creating an enabling policy environment is essential for agricultural innovation, productivity, and sustainability; the chapter gives examples of public policies that stimulate such productivity: investing in public sector research and development (R&D), embracing science-based technologies, and establishing smart regulatory environments. The chapter includes a discussion of innovation, productivity, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Quest for Innovation: Addressing User Needs and Value Creation
(Book Chapter, 2021) Campos, Hugo
In agricultural and agrifood systems, like in many other economic sectors, the main innovation drivers have traditionally been (1) technological advances and (2) research and development. When innovation fails to address the actual needs of clients and end-users, however, satisfaction gaps are created. The result is that investors receive insufficient returns and end-users receive less than expected value. The consequences of failure can be deeper than just financial, however. Successful innovation in agriculture and agrifood systems is critical to secure affordable, nutritious, and safe food for all people. Rapid innovation is needed to address the serious challenge of climate change and to reduce agriculture’s global environmental footprint. The overarching goal of agricultural innovation should be to deliver high value to end-users and improve their quality of life and well-being. To achieve this goal, organizations must first understand the jobs to be done concept for their end-users. They must take into account user satisfaction gaps and frustrations. Understanding user needs is as important as producing technology to finding innovative solutions. This is true around the globe; in industry and public sectors, and in both developed and developing countries. This chapter explains why investing in innovation is very different from succeeding at it. Ultimately, the examples, ideas, and guidelines in this chapter can be brought to bear on agricultural innovation efforts (and any other economic sector), to make them more productive and worthwhile for end-users and investors/funders. The information herein is meant to increase the likelihood of successful innovation efforts at both profit-seeking firms and nonprofit organizations.
Cassava mosaic viruses (Geminiviridae)
(Book Chapter, 2021) Legg, James P.; Winter, S.
Plant resistance to Geminiviruses
(Book Chapter, 2021) Patil, B.L.; Chakraborty, S.; Czosnek, H.; Fiallo-Olive, E.; Gilbertson, R.L.; Legg, James P.; Mansoor, S.; Navas-Castillo, J.; Naqvi, R.Z.; Rahman, S.; Zerbini, F.M.
Geminiviruses cause major damage to crop plants and evolve through mutations, recombination and pseudo-recombination, expanding their host range and becoming pandemic due to international trade and invasive vector species. Management of geminiviruses consists of breeding resistant crops by employing natural resistance genes from different cultivated or related wild plant species. Compared to other plant viruses, such as potyviruses, the information on resistance genes/loci identified for geminiviruses is scarce. Other strategies have been developed based on the virus genome; however, these have not yet reached the commercial field. Here we catalog and describe the resistance genes/loci identified against the most important geminiviruses, in the most economically important crops they infect: cassava, tomato, bean, maize and cotton.
CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing of banana
(Book Chapter, 2020) Tripathi, L.; Ntui, V.O.; Tripathi, J.N.
Genome editing is an emerging powerful new breeding tool, which can be applied for genetic improvement of banana for important agronomic traits such as resistance to biotic stresses, adaptation to climate change, and high yielding. Banana is an important staple food and cash crop, feeding millions of people in tropical and subtropical countries. Recently, CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing system has been established for banana in a few laboratories. Here, we describe the procedures for generation of genome-edited events of banana, detection of targeted and potential off-target mutations, and phenotyping for important traits such as disease resistance. This chapter will provide readers strategy for applying CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing for improvement of banana.
Gender norms and their implications for banana production and recovery in west Africa
(Book Chapter, 2019-11-22) Nkengla-Asi, L.; Olaosebikan, O.D.; Che, V.S.; Ngatat, S.; Zandjanakou-Tachin, Martine; Hanna, R.; Kumar, P. Lava
This study uses the social relations framework to explore gender norms and relations surrounding banana production and banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) containment in six pilot communities in Cameroon and Nigeria. The objective of the study is to understand how gender norms and relations shape and influence access to information and benefit-sharing of productive resources among men and women banana farmers and implications for banana production recovery in the BBTD-affected regions and disease management. Twelve, sex-disaggregated focus group discussions with 120 farmers (78 women and 42 men banana farmers) and 24 key informants were conducted. Data on banana production, access to and decision-making rights over productive resources and social and gender norms influencing adoption were collected. Data were analyzed using a systematic content analysis approach. Results show inequalities stemming from inherent gender and social norms related to access to and decision making over productive resources limiting especially women farmers’ ability to effectively engage in training programs that could lead to adoption of recommendations and technologies. Opportunities to effectively participate in training activities were influenced by gender norms related to household decision making, gender-based labor division and multiple household tasks. Interventions and strategies to contain the spread of BBTD should consider gender-based constraints and opportunities embedded in the communities for optimal results. Social and gender differentiations that impede women should be addressed for inclusive participation. Failure to address harmful norms and gender differentiation in the underlying social structures will benefit one group of people in the community over another.
Maria Isabel Andrade: Sweetpotato breeder, technology transfer, specialist and advocate
(Book Chapter, 2019-11-05) Low, Jan W.; Carey, E.E.
Dr. Maria Isabel Andrade has not followed the more typical path of being a breeder in an academic institution or a private company. She developed a passion for a crop long neglected by the world, sweetpotato, in large part because it is a crop of the poor, predominantly cultivated by women in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Hence, to be able to breed, she had to become on advocate for the crop, demonstrating its practical potential to not only address food insecurity but that the orange types, largely unknown in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), could also effectively tackle vitamin A deficiency. Most of her career has been spent in Mozambique, where her tireless efforts to develop and deliver improved drought‐tolerant orange‐fleshed sweetpotato varieties have been a model for others to emulate. Her ability to recognize the importance of collaborating with nutritionists and agricultural economists to develop innovative mechanisms to ensure that the improved orange‐fleshed varieties could make a difference to human health and wealth has resulted in growing awareness and recognition of the concept of biofortification, that is breeding for enhance micronutrient quality in staple crops. As a collaborative member of the breeding team at the International Potato Center, she has demonstrated that an innovative accelerated breeding scheme could effectively deliver quality varieties. Over the years, she has mentored hundreds of staff members and students, helping to build a community of practice that recognizes that for scientists to make a difference in SSA, they must stretch their mandate and engage in delivery and often advocacy. This chapter describes the evolution of this unique career of a most amazing woman driven by her faith in god and the power of agriculture to improve nutrition among those most in need.
Cryopreservation of wild and cultivated germplasm of Musa
(Book Chapter, 2019-12-31) Agrawal, A.; Singh, S.; Meena, D.P.S.; Singh, H.; Panis, Bartholomeus

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