Natural Products to Combat Problems in the Developing World
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
This workshop has been developed from two different proposals outlined by HVCfP and BIOCATNET: our common focus is an overarching theme of exploring the interface of IB and agriculture. Since these are two major research priorities for BBSRC it is important to fully understand the interplay between these areas and examine the impact of research in this area on the developing world.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Ian Graham (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | The workshop aimed to explore how industrial biotechnology (IB) could be integrated with agriculture research to drive economic development and how new and existing research could impact on the developing world, in particular, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Discussions were focussed on the potential for IB interventions to improve industrial applications for existing crops or to develop new, non-food crops for sub-Saharan Africa. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were considered a useful context for framing research aims that comply with ODA requirements. During the workshop, Africa was described as a continent for opportunity: the current population of SSA is 1.23 billion (16% of total world population) with a high growth rate and with about 60% of population under the age of 25 years. There has been a period of relative peace and stability, which is encouraging for development. However, with the population growth comes an increasing demand for food and energy. The perceived tensions between food versus fuel were considered to be too simplistic - whilst the tension exists, both issues are important and cannot be resolved independently. Furthermore, if industrial biotechnologies could be applied to Africa, this represents an opportunity to create circular economies for some products, with waste diminished and resources used to their full capacity. Technology uptake is essential for successful implementation of research outputs. However, technologies with clear benefits for the end-user are usually adopted, for example, mobile phones have been widely adopted by farmers in SSA. This demonstrates that, if farmers believe a product or technology will add value to their business, there will be fewer barriers to transfer. Therefore, research projects must be founded on a genuine, local, need for the technology. Socio-economic studies and extension work are key to ensuring technology uptake. The workshop focussed on three main themes, and following discussions. Recommendations emerged which could be implemented with a funding call. Multi-purpose crops: - molecular breeding programmes aimed at SSA crops - developing biorefinery concepts: to use non-food, waste products Medicinal plants: - screening/ analysis to validate of anecdotal evidence - production systems to protect biodiversity e.g. heterologous expression Other industrial biotechnology interventions: - agricultural biologicals: seed treatments, soil/ rhizosphere studies - utilising waste streams: anaerobic digestion or mining waste for high value chemicals. Furthermore, the potential for capacity building in SSA through industrial biotechnology in three key areas was explored: 1. Discovery - mostly through sequencing/bioinformatics and metabolomics; but also screening for bioactives. 2. Development - involving plant breeding, extraction and processing technologies. 3. Delivery - production of IB based products. Developing industrial biotechnology capacity in SSA presents a considerable challenge. The focus on individual crops or products would have minimal impact alone - building the SSA science base is essential. There are arguments for more industry-ready plant breeders, targeting increased rates of genetic gain by using molecular breeding technologies. Whilst there are excellent training programmes, the throughput is not enough to meet the demands of SSA. This was strongly endorsed by the African delegates at the workshop, who spoke strongly for training as a foundation for SSA biotechnology. Africa needs a new generation of first-class scientists, trained in Africa with contributions from the West. The UK has lagged behind in supporting African science; so capacity building as a cross cutting theme is welcome and important. The fact that SSA will soon benefit from a demographic dividend - a dramatic increase in its working age population - means that training interventions are timely. SSA offers great potential from the untapped biological biodiversity: capacity building to utilise this could draw on the experiences of China, where they have invested in technology to characterise and curate collections of their medicinal plants. Furthermore, the biodiversity extends to soils where there was considered opportunity for development in this area. IB-based products offer opportunities that could be developed through the growing number of entrepreneurial individuals and small companies in SSA, and the involvement of African industry is essential to ensure the value chain remains within African countries. Finally, the consensus of the workshop was that there was great value in real collaborative work between Africa and the UK - the workshop offered the opportunity to initiate ideas for collaboration, and a future funding call to enable joint research would be very beneficial. |
| Exploitation Route | The consensus of the workshop was that there was great value in real collaborative work between Africa and the UK. The workshop had offered the opportunity to initiate ideas for collaboration, and a future funding call to enable joint research would be very beneficial. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
| Description | The workshop raised awareness among participants of the socio-economic impact requirements of any potential GCRF research programmes. The following examples of impact were identified and it was agreed that one or more of these would be included in any follow up collaborative initiatives that would involve GCRF funding: - The entire value chain should be considered and the impact of any new technologies should be considered in terms of prospect to improve or replace existing structures. Market pull is essential and industry involvement/ partnerships at an early stage are desirable to demonstrate need and practical industrial application. - Social science studies are needed to support technology uptake. Extension work should be used to bridge the gap between scientists and technology users/ farmers, and can shape the 'demand pull'. National organisations should be engaged where possible to support selection of extension user groups and gain national support and recognition or awareness of projects. - Understanding local contexts is important, for example road networks for transportation. - All projects should undertake a full audit of the genetic material and traditional knowledge utilised and must ensure they fully comply with access and benefits sharing (Nagoya protocol). This should ensure robust returns are available for SSA - either in terms of knowledge or income streams (either direct or indirect through developing new business, such as for example, small-holders having new opportunities for selling cash crops). - Regionality: projects should take into account regional variations to confirm that research is appropriate for the target region. Examples include population lifestyles e.g. pastoralists and smallholders are very different; variation in soil types or local climate variances. One such example of a GCRF application that emerged out of the project which takes into account the above impact considerations was a collaboration between the University of York (with Prof Katherine Denby as PI, Prof Ian Graham and Prof Sue Hartley as Co-Is), University of Newcastle and a number of organisations in South Africa. The project, entitled 'Harnessing the benefits of African leafy vegetables for smallholder farmers and their households' was submitted to the BBSRC GCRF Sustainable Agriculture for Sub-Saharan Africa, and funding was awarded (project reference BB/R02345/1). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Description | Workshop - Scoping the potential for IB interventions to add value to non-food and dual purpose crops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 24 participants attended this workshop held over two days in York, UK. Participants were researchers from a range of disciples from biology through to social sciences, including representatives from industry. 7 participants were from Africa, from research centres, universities and industry. The workshop explored opportunities for industrial biotechnology in the developing world through a series of presentations and structured discussion groups. A report was compiled of the discussions and recommendations and submitted to the BBSRC and shared with the participants and the HVCfP network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.hvcfp.net |