TELA Maize Project
Protecting maize against drought and insect damage
Maize is the most widely grown food crop in Africa with more than 300 million people depending on it as their main food source. Its production is however severely affected by drought and insect-pests, which negatively impact yields leading to crop failure, hunger and poverty. Identifying ways to mitigate drought risk, stabilize yields, and encourage small-scale farmers to adopt best management practices is fundamental to realizing food security and improved livelihoods for the continent.
Through support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development, AATF is leading the TELA Maize Project, a public-private partnership that is addressing the problem of drought in maize and destructive insects specifically stemborers and fall armyworm. Stemborers reduce maize production in several countries in Africa; and in Kenya alone, this loss averages 13% or 400,000 tonnes per year equivalent to USD 90 million . Similarly, projections estimate that the Fall Armyworm could destroy up to 20 million metric tons of maize in Africa each year, enough to feed 100 million people. The TELA Project is working towards commercialisation of transgenic drought-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties to enhance food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The word ‘TELA’ is derived from the Latin word TUTELA which means ‘Protection’.The TELA Maize Project builds on progress made from a decade of excellent breeding work under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project.
- The TELA Maize Project is currently implemented in 7 countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
investors
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supports the TELA, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa, QBS, the Hybrid Rice: Breeding by Design projects and has contributed to integrating IT into CAMAP. The Foundation previously supported the WEMA project and also provided core funding for organizational operational support.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), one of the original funders of AATF, supports the Nitrogen-Use Efficient, Water-Use Efficient, Salt-Tolerant Rice Project; Pod-Borer Resistant Cowpea Project; and the Water Efficient Maize for Africa project. USAID supports the MLN Diagnostics and Management Project through CIMMYT. USAID also supported the Striga Control in Maize project as part of the US government’s Feed the Future initiative.
Vision of Success/ Goal
Avail to smallholder farmers compelling transgenic maize that combines drought tolerance, insect resistance, and other important yield and disease-resistance traits.
Establish transgenic seed systems to serve as useful models for Africa
Objective
To commercialise transgenic drought-tolerant and insect-protected (TELA) maize varieties to enhance food security in Sub-Saharan Africa
Key Numbers
5
Number of TELA varieties released to date
48
+
permits approvals secured to facilitate testing and environmental release of transgenic products
50
%
yield advantage of TELA varieties during trials relative to non-transgenic varieties due to insect protection
11300
+
Number of households to benefit from 113 tons of TELA maize in South Africa
Related Posts
How Agricultural biotech can contribute to food security
Published: 26th April 2020
Partners
Information and Resources
TELA Maize Project: General FAQs
The TELA Maize Project is a public-private partnership that is working towards initiating commercialization of transgenic drough-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties to enahnce food security in sub-saharan Africa. The word “TELA” is derived from Latin word TUTELA which means “Protection”. The TELA Maize Project builds on prgress made from a decade of excellent breeding work under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project
TELA Maize Technology: FAQs for seed companies
TELA Maize is the brand name for genetically modified (GM) maize hybrids developed by the TELA Maize Project. The hybrids have Bt genes that provide protection against stem borer and helps the maize plant tolerate moderate drought. The two genes have been integrated to new maize hybrids which have been bred conventionally for drought tolerance and improved yield.
TELA Product Launch Collaboration Agreement (PLCA) Summary.
The Product Launch COllaboration Agreement (PLCA) was made on February 15, 2019 between AATF, Centro Internacional de Mejorameinto de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT) and Monsanto Company
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