Interview
WATER Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA)
project, through African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the
project's lead institution, has secured a technology of developing
drought-tolerant and insect-pest protected maize varieties, royalty
free, from American Monsanto. Staff Writer FINNIGAN wa SIMBEYE had an
interview with AATF Corporate Communications Officer Grace Wachoro...
Q: Is it true that Water Efficient Maize for Africa has secured rights for African farmers to use genetically modified drought and disease resistant maize without paying loyalty to Monsanto and other patent right owners?
A: The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project is developing drought-tolerant and insect-pest protected maize varieties for use by smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The project is currently being implemented in five African countries--Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa. The Project is using droughttolerant and insect-protected genes that Monsanto has donated royaltyfree.
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the lead WEMA institution, will through the project develop and sub-licence the drought-tolerant and insect-pest protected maize varieties to local seed companies, royalty-free. This means that there will be no payments going back to Monsanto for the use of technologies that have been donated to the project.
AATF will also not charge local seed producers any special fees to produce or multiply WEMA drought-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties. Consequently, local seed producers will therefore not charge any extra technology fees to their customers, the farmers.
The first WEMA conventional hybrid (non-GM) has been sub-licenced to seven local seed producers in Kenya under the trade name of DroughtTEGO and will be sold to farmers in the short rains season of 2013.
Q: How long will the agreement last and which species are involved? A: There is no time limit associated with the agreement and farmers will not be required to pay royalty for the maize varieties even after the project ends.
The Project is using the cold shock protein B (CspB) gene to improve drought-tolerance in maize. The gene is from a common soil miroorganism Bacillus subtilis, which is used in the preparation of Japanese soy food, natto.
Q: Is it true that Water Efficient Maize for Africa has secured rights for African farmers to use genetically modified drought and disease resistant maize without paying loyalty to Monsanto and other patent right owners?
A: The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project is developing drought-tolerant and insect-pest protected maize varieties for use by smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The project is currently being implemented in five African countries--Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa. The Project is using droughttolerant and insect-protected genes that Monsanto has donated royaltyfree.
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the lead WEMA institution, will through the project develop and sub-licence the drought-tolerant and insect-pest protected maize varieties to local seed companies, royalty-free. This means that there will be no payments going back to Monsanto for the use of technologies that have been donated to the project.
AATF will also not charge local seed producers any special fees to produce or multiply WEMA drought-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties. Consequently, local seed producers will therefore not charge any extra technology fees to their customers, the farmers.
The first WEMA conventional hybrid (non-GM) has been sub-licenced to seven local seed producers in Kenya under the trade name of DroughtTEGO and will be sold to farmers in the short rains season of 2013.
Q: How long will the agreement last and which species are involved? A: There is no time limit associated with the agreement and farmers will not be required to pay royalty for the maize varieties even after the project ends.
The Project is using the cold shock protein B (CspB) gene to improve drought-tolerance in maize. The gene is from a common soil miroorganism Bacillus subtilis, which is used in the preparation of Japanese soy food, natto.
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