When the Bacillus subtilis bacteria is injected into an ordinary maize seed, an interesting event occurs; the leaves of the fully grown maize plant curl up in dry conditions thus losing less water to evaporation and making this mutant staple crop virtually resistant to the crippling droughts that have plagued Africa for centuries.

A consortium of genetic engineers, biotech companies, philanthropists and policy makers are working to make this technology widely available and affordable to small-scale African farmers. Meanwhile, opponents of genetically modified food are questioning the safety of the product and the motives of the companies involved.

Researchers with the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (Wema) project are currently testing drought-resistant genetically modified maize seeds in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique and South Africa.

Click here to download pdf –  The National website