Gene Editing to Boost Yam Production in Africa

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Pairwise, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are working on the Yam Optimized Architecture through Gene Editing (YOAGE) project, an innovative collaborative project aimed at delivering novel genetic variation to yam. The project aims to reduce labor and environmental impact associated with traditional plant staking while enabling mechanized farming in Nigeria, where yam is an important staple food crop.

The four-year YOAGE project aims to develop bushy-type yam varieties and identify the genes controlling plant growth, optimizing gene editing using the Fulcrum Platform technology by Pairwise. The project will collaborate with local farmers, agricultural experts, and policymakers. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), yam is the second most important root and tuber crop in sub-Saharan Africa after cassava, with a production of about 75 million metric tons. In West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, yam is not only a staple crop but also plays a central role as a traditional flagship crop deeply intertwined with societal norms, fulfilling various social and religious functions.

Despite its importance, cultivating yam faces several challenges, such as high costs of planting materials and labor, declining soil fertility, low-yielding varieties, and increased pest and disease pressures. While conventional breeding has improved yam varieties for pest resistance, adaptability, and quality, it has made limited progress in optimizing plant architecture for mechanized farming. The YOAGE project will use advanced gene editing tools to overcome these challenges and support global food security, particularly in the face of climate change, resource limitations, and shifting consumer demands.

For more details, read the article in IITA News.