Scientists in East Africa are embarking on a 5-year project to conserve indigenous plant genetic resources for improved food security across the region.

The East African reports that through an $8.5 million project, the scientists will collect, store and share information on available plant genetic resources. They will characterize and evaluate them for various agronomic and nutritional qualities, yield potential and drought tolerance.

The seeds and other planting materials have the potential to be used in developing new crop varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases as well as tolerant to climate change.

“The wild relatives of these [domesticated] crops probably hold the key to food security and increased agricultural productivity in the region as sources of genes for adaptive traits in the wake of climate change,” said Dr Abebe Demissie Tefera, managing director of Ethiopia-based Climate and Natural Resources Management Consulting.

To date, 140,000 accessions have been collected and conserved in a range of national genebanks in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Sudan.

The project is funded by the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency. It complements work being done by the African Planting Breeding Academy (hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre) to genetically map 100 ‘orphan’ species for the benefit of smallholder farmers throughout Africa.

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