Summary of the workshop |
Third Strategic Meeting of The Global Cassava Partnership for the 21st Century - Dar Es Salam, Tanzania, June 4-6, 2013
Collection, Documentation, Evaluation and Preservation of Cassava Landraces in South, East and Central Africa
Organization Committee:
Morag Ferguson, IITA Nairobi
Claude Fauquet, GCP21
Yona Baguma, NaCRRI, Uganda
Geoffrey Mkamilo, ARI, Tanzania
Paula Bramel, Global Crop
Diversity Trust, Germany
Purpose of Convening: It is proposed to host a ‘convening’ to discuss, on a regional basis, the implications of the lack of a cassava germplasm repository, exchange and knowledge Centre, and how the region would like to address this constraint to cassava improvement. The purpose of the convening is to discuss how the center will be set up, funded and managed, as well as, to decide on how to establish a better more farmer centric approach to germplasm collection. An output of the convening would be a roadmap for the collection, conservation, exchange and compilation of knowledge relating to cassava germplasm in the region and a standardized protocol to collect, evaluate and preserve these valuable landraces.
Introduction: Cassava
has existed in South, Eastern and Central (SEC) Africa since
it was introduced from Brazil, its’ center of origin and
domestication, in the late 18th to early 19th centuries.
Its’ cultivation was encouraged by early administrators in
the region, and it spread rapidly. Over the past 200 years
it has adapted to environmental conditions in the region and
has been selected by farmers according to their local
preferences. In addition some farmer cultivars (also called
cassava landraces) have evolved alongside prevalent pests
and diseases, such as cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and
cassava brown streak disease (CBSD). Some of these local
landraces harbor valuable sources of pest and disease
resistance as well as ‘adaptive gene complexes’ to both
environmental conditions and farmer preferences.
Unfortunately to date only a very small number of farmer
landraces from SEC Africa are conserved in a germplasm
repository. Less than 2% of accessions from IITA genebank
are from SEC Africa. There is no substantial germplasm
repository in SEC Africa, and IITA Tanzania did not have the
physical capacity for a germplasm bank although this is now
changing with the construction a brand new facility that
could host such collection (see below). The current
situation of lack of a repository means that (1) local
landraces are not readily available to breeders (2) some
farmer landraces contain genetic variation and are not
‘clonal’ as researchers and breeders assume, and no ‘type
specimen’ exists so breeders are often not sure of what they
are breeding with, (3) disease-free farmer landraces are not
available, preventing the movement and sharing of germplasm,
(4) farmer varieties and the adaptive gene complexes they
harbor are vulnerable to genetic erosion from the spread of
improved cultivars with increased breeding activities in the
region and in the face of devastating diseases such as CBSD
which may cause the total loss of susceptible landraces, and
(5) there is no germplasm database concerning the various
attributes of particular clones, geographical location and
farmer perceptions for use as a decision-making tool. This
lack of ‘farmer-centric’ information means that breeders may
not fully understand the subtleties of farmer preferences
with implications for varietal adoption of improved
germplasm.
Topics for Discussion at the Convening:
Objectives that may be funded by IITA and other donors:
Objectives which may form the basis of a future grant from BMGF, that support potential and on-going objectives described above:
Thandie Lupupa | SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre | Zambia | |
Dr. Able Chalwe | Cassava Breeder | Mutanda Research Station | Zambia |
Godfrey Mwila | Chief Agricultural Research Officer | Crop Improvement &
Agronomy, Agriculture Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock |
Zambia |
Robert Kawuki | Cassava Breeder | NARO | Uganda |
Yona Baguma | Cassava Molecular Breeder | NARO | Uganda |
Christopher Abu Omongo | EAAPP coordinator | NARO - EAAPP | Uganda |
Grace Nakabonge | NARO | Uganda | |
Geoffrey Mkamilo | Cassava Breeder | ARI, Naliendele | Tanzania |
Heneriko Kulembeka | Cassava Breeder | ARI, Ukiriguru | Tanzania |
Vincent Weyengo | Cassava Breeder | KARI | Kenya |
Zacchary Muthamia | Cassava Genetic Resources | KARI, Genetic Reources Unit | Kenya |
Pheneas Ntawuruhunga | Cassava Breeder | IITA | Malawi |
Lawrent L.M Pungulani | Chief Agricultural Research Scientist (Curator) | Malawi Plant Genetic Resources Centre | Malawi |
Ms Danièle Ramiaramanana | Cassava Breeder | FOFIFA | Madagascar |
Miss Rojo Aina Ravalisoa | Cassava Genetic Resources | FOFIFA | Madagascar |
Anabela Zacarias | Cassava Breeder | Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique | Mozambique |
Ivone Muocha Chimene | Cassava Genetic Resources Lecturer | Eduardo Mondlane University | Mozambique |
Simon Bigirimana | Cassava Breeder Head | Cassava Research Program | Burundi |
Mahungu Nzola-Meso | Cassava Breeder | IITA | Kinshasa DRC |
Ms. Mamie Binzunga Makumbu | Cassava Genetic Resources Cassava breeding | INERA, Mvuazi Research Station | Bas-Congo DRC |
Edward Kanju | Cassava Breeder | IITA | Tanzania |
James Legg | Epidemiologist | IITA | Tanzania |
Victor Manyong | East Africa Hub Director | IITA | Tanzania |
Lava Kumar | Virologist | IITA | Ibadan Nigeria |
Morag Ferguson | Molecular Geneticist | IITA | Nairobi Kenya |
Gueye Badara | Genebank Manager | IITA | Ibadan Nigeria |
Michael Abberton | Head of Genebank | IITA | Ibadan Nigeria |
Clair Hershey | Cassava program leader | CIAT | Colombia |
Claude Fauquet | Director | GCP21 | USA |
Loretta Byrnes | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation | USA | |
Adriana Alercia | Representative | Bioversity International | Italy |
Raphael Laizer | Representative | FAO | Tanzania |
Tuesday 4th June | ||
08:30 - 09:00 | Transfer to IITA | |
Introduction | ||
09:00 - 09:10 | Official welcome Victor Manyong |
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09:10 - 09:20 | Official welcome Claude Fauquet | |
09:20 - 09:30 | Introduction of participants | |
09:30 - 09:45 | Background, goals and format of the meeting Morag Ferguson | |
Cassava
landraces in SEC Africa: value, diversity and conservation
status Chairperson: Gervais Gashaka, Rapporteur: Grace Nakabonge |
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09:45 - 10:05 | The value of farmer varieties and indigenous knowldege in cassava breeding in Uganda Robert Kawuki | |
10:05 - 10:30 | The value of farmer varieties and indigenous knowledge in cassava breeding in Mozambique Anabela Zacharias | |
10:30 - 11:00 | Tea/Coffee Break/Group photo | |
11:00 - 11:20 | The value of farmer varieties and indigenous knowldege in cassava breeding in DR Congo Nzola Mahungu | |
11:20 - 11:40 | Discussion: Sharing of experiences on farmer varieties and value of indigenous knowledge Gervais Gashaka | |
11:40 - 12:10 | Diversity of cassava in SEC Africa Morag Ferguson | |
On-going cassava conservation
activities in Africa Chairperson: Geoffrey Mkamilo, Rapporteur: Clara Samukoya |
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12:10 - 12:40 | Cassava viruses in Africa and their impact on germplasm conservation and use James Legg | |
12:40 - 13:00 | Conservation activities as part of the EAAPP/NEXTGEN projects Grace Nakabonge | |
13:00 -14:00 | Lunch | |
14:00 - 14:20 | The SADC Genebank Thandie Lupupa | |
14:20 - 14:40 | Cassava conservation at IITA Michael Abberton | |
Introduction to a roadmap for cassava
conservation and exchange in SEC Africa Chairperson: Morag Ferguson, Rapporteur: Heneriko Kulembeka |
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14:40 - 15:30 |
Factors to consider and process in developing a roadmap for conservation and exchange of cassava and its indigenous knowledge in SEC Africa Paula Bramel (Godfrey Mwila) | |
15:30 - 16:00 | Tea/Coffee | |
The genetic
resources global policy environment Chairperson: Zachary Muthamia, Rapporteur: Gueye Badara |
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16:00 - 16:45 | The Genetic Resources Global Policy Environment Godfrey Mwila | |
16:45 - 17:15 | Questions and answers Godfrey Mwila | |
17:15 - 17:30 | Outcomes of recent meeting in Bellagio Claude Fauquet | |
17:30 | Transport to Kebby's Hotel | |
Wednesday 5th June | ||
08:30 - 09:00 | Transfer to IITA | |
Components of Genetic
Resource Conservation and Dissemination Chairperson: Thandie Lupupa |
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09:00 - 09:20 | Germplasm collection methodologies Adriana Alercia | |
09:20 - 09:30 | Brainstorming: issues to consider for roadmap in working group D | |
09:30 - 09:50 | Genebank documentation systems Michael Abberton | |
09:50 - 10:00 | Brainstorming: issues to consider for roadmap in working group J | |
10:00 - 10:20 | Collection and documentation of farmer knowledge Adriana Alercia | |
10:20 - 10:30 | Brainstorming: issues to consider for roadmap in working group E | |
10:30 - 11:00 | Tea/Coffee Break | |
Chairperson: Able Chalwe | ||
11:00 - 11:20 | In vitro conservation Gueye Badara | |
11:20 - 11:30 | Brainstorming: issues to consider for roadmap in working group F | |
11:30 - 12:05 | In -situ conservation in relation to cassava Adriana Alercia | |
12:05 - 12:15 | Brainstorming: issues to consider for roadmap in working group F | |
12:15 - 13:00 | Tour of the proposed rooms for IITA in vitro and diagnostics facilities Gueye Badara | |
13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch | |
Chairperson: Robert Kawuki | ||
14:00 - 14:15 | Genetic fingerprinting Morag Ferguson | |
14:15 - 14:25 | Brainstorming: issues to consider for roadmap in working group G | |
14:25 - 14:50 | Germplasm characterisation
and evaluation and the importance of field genebanks Clair Hershey |
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14:50 - 15:00 | Brainstorming: issues to consider for roadmap in working group G | |
15:00 - 15:20 | Diagnostics, phytosanitation, phytosanitary regulations and germplasm transfer Lava Kumar | |
15:20 - 15:30 | Brainstorming: issues to consider for roadmap in working group H | |
15:30 - 16:00 | Tea/Coffee | |
Managing
diversity in cassava varieties Chairperson: Claude Fauquet |
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16:00 - 16:20 | Managing within varietal variation in the context of collection of a clonally propagated crop Clair Hershey | |
16:20 - 16:40 | Managing within varietal variation in context of a genebank: the options Michael Abberton | |
16:40 - 17:30 | Open discussion Clair Hershey | |
17:30 | Transport to Kebby's Hotel | |
Thursday 6th June | ||
08:30 - 09:00 | Transfer to IITA | |
09:00 - 09:15 | Summary from yesterday's deliberations and agenda for the day Morag Ferguson | |
Working groups:
Development of a Regional Strategy Each person to go to each working group for 20 min (except coordinators who can contribute in general discussion) |
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Working group A - What should be the geographical coverage of a regional strategy for cassava conservation and germplasm exchange? Synergies between the various genebanks? Chris Omongo | ||
Working group B - How do we ensure the sustainability of conservation and dissemination activities in SEC Africa? Clair Hershey | ||
Working group C - IP issues and germplasm exchange: how to address on a country/regional basis? Godfrey Mwila | ||
10:30 - 11:00 | Tea/Coffee Break | |
11:00 - 11:30 | Feedback from different working groups and open discussion Morag Ferguson | |
Working groups: Components of a Roadmap - what are the issues that need addressing? | ||
11:30 - 12:30 | ||
Working group D - A roadmap for germplasm collection: Who? What ? How? Edward Kanju | ||
Working group E - A roadmap for collection and documentation of farmer knowledge: Who? What ? How? Adriana Alercia | ||
Working group F - A roadmap for conservation strategies: in vitro, field genebanks, in situ and safety duplication Gueye Badara | ||
12:30 - 13:00 | Feedback from different working groups and open discussion Claude Fauquet | |
13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch | |
Working group G - A roadmap for germplasm evaluation and characterisation, including fingerprinting? Clair Hershey | ||
Working group H - A roadmap for safe conservation and germplasm exchange? Lava Kumar | ||
Working group J - A roadmap for documentation Michael Abberton | ||
15:00 - 15:30 | Feedback from different working groups and open discussion Morag Ferguson | |
15:30 - 16:00 | Tea/Coffee Break | |
Consolidating meeting outputs | ||
16:00 - 17:15 | Open discussion, outline of strategy and roadmap and outline of whitepaper Morag Ferguson and Claude Fauquet | |
17:15 - 17:30 | Next steps and closing Morag Ferguson and Claude Fauquet | |
17:30 | Transport to Kebby's Hotel | |