CRISPR: A Breakthrough for Food Security in Africa
Africa faces persistent food insecurity due to climate change, recurrent droughts, and plant diseases. To address these challenges, researchers are turning to innovative solutions like CRISPR, a gene-editing technology that enhances crop resilience.
At University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Professor Valentine Otang Ntui is advancing CRISPR research to develop disease-resistant crops, particularly bananas and plantains—two staple foods in Africa. His work, conducted in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has successfully used CRISPR to eliminate harmful genes in bananas, making them resistant to Banana Xanthomonas Wilt, a bacterial disease that can destroy entire plantations.
Similarly, CRISPR has been used to neutralize a dormant virus in plantains, ensuring that the crop remains healthy even under stressful conditions such as drought and extreme heat. These breakthroughs could help millions of African farmers improve food production and reduce losses.
Beyond disease resistance, CRISPR also offers solutions to hidden hunger—a form of malnutrition where people consume enough calories but lack essential nutrients. By enhancing the nutritional content of staple crops like rice, wheat, and yams, CRISPR can help combat deficiencies in vitamin A, iron, and zinc, improving public health across the continent.
As North African countries, including Morocco, explore the potential of genome editing, UM6P aims to position itself at the forefront of CRISPR research. Ongoing projects at the university focus on developing virus-resistant tomatoes, with hopes of expanding to other critical crops.
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