LILONGWE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND

NATURAL RESOURCES (LUANAR) BUNDA

COLLEGE CAMPUS LILONGWE, MALAWI

2015-19

APPLICATION FOR

CONFINED FIELD

TRIAL (CFT) OF Bt-

COWPEA BUNDA COLLEGE CAMPUS SITE DR KINGDOM KWAPATA

Principal Investigator, Bt-Cowpea Research Project

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Application Form for Confined Field Trial

SITE: BUNDA COLLEGE CAMPUS - LUANAR- LILONGWE

This application form consists of seven parts:

1) Administrative Information

2) Plant Information

3) Trial Description

4) Genetic Confinement

5) Material Confinement

6) Records, Personnel, and Planning

7) Declaration

9.1Administrative Information

The personnel involved in the trial are the following:

1. Principal investigator (PI) is Dr. Kingdom Kwapata

Dr. Kingdom Kwapata is currently a researcher and lecturer of biotechnology at the Lilongwe

University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR). Dr. Kwapata is a Fulbright

fellow and Mericle Fellow who holds a PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology

from Michigan State University in the USA where he developed several varieties of

genetically engineered drought resistant beans. He has over eight years experience both in the

USA and Malawi in dealing with issues of GMO’s. Dr Kwapata has vast experience in

leading international and multi-collaborative projects. Currently he oversees the Malawi

component of a 2.2 Billion Kwacha project on African clean energy in agro-industries project

which is funded by DFID. Dr Kwapata has a number of international awards and patents for

his work in genetic engineering and was named in 2013 by CTA as one of the top ten young

scientists in Africa. (Refer to Annex 5 for detailed curriculum vitae).

2. The Trial Manager is Dr. Abel Sefasi

Dr. Abel Sefasi is currently a researcher and lecturer in Molecular Biology at LUANAR. Dr.

Sefasi holds a PhD in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology from Makerere University in

Uganda. He has over seven years regional and international experience in dealing with issues

of GMOs in Uganda, Kenya, Malawi and Belgium. His PhD research led to the development

of a de novo method for in vitro regeneration and genetic transformation of African

sweetpotato cultivars. This collaborative research, which mainly involved the International

Potato Center (CIP)-Peru, Makerere University and the National Agricultural Research

Organisation (NARO) in Uganda included evaluation of the efficacy of articical diet and

transgenic sweetpotato roots against the weevil pest, Cylus puncticollis (Refer to Annex 5 for

detailed curriculum vitae).

3. The Entomologist is Associate Professor Dr. G.K.C Nyirenda

Dr. G.K.C Nyirenda is an associate Professor of entomology at LUANAR. He hold a PhD in

entomology from UK. He has over 30 years experience working with insect pests. He has

been on several local and international advisory boards for integrated pest management. He

was the main scientist training technicians in scouting and scoring for the presence of the

African Bollworm in the Bt. Cotton trials. Dr. Nyrenda’s vast experience will be critical in

this project as he will be able to determine insect pests regimes and dynamics especially for

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Maruca which is the main target insect under this study (Refer to Annex 5 for detailed

curriculum vitae).

4. Pathologist is Prof. Vincent Saka

Professor Vincent Saka has a PhD in Nematology from University of Massachusetts.

Amherst. He has vast experience in plant pathology, spanning a period of more than 40 years.

He has practiced plant pathology teaching and mentoring in various universities. He has

played leadership roles in plant protection and quarantine issues under various government

departments in various positions. He attained the prestigious achievement of professor of

pathology in 1995. His active contribution has also been in being a member of various

scientific bodies in Malawi, in the region and also internationally. Some of these

organizations include ICRISAT, Nematological society of Southern Africa, Ministry of

Agriculture Technology Release committee (ATRC). He has unique experience with

pathology of legumes including pigeon peas and cowpea (Refer to Annex 5 for detailed

curriculum vitae).

5. Gene Introgression Expert and Breeder is Prof. James Bokosi

Professor Bokosi is a lecturer at LUNAR responsible for teaching both Undergraduate and

Postgraduate Students. He teaches Biology, Plant Genetics, Tree Improvement and Plant

Breeding for Undergraduates, and Advanced Plant Breeding, Plant Molecular Biology and

Biotechnology, Host-Parasite Interaction, for Post-Graduate students. He has supervised

research projects at both Undergraduate and Post-Graduate levels. He holds a PhD from

University of Nebraska, USA in Plant Breeding and Genetics and has over 20 years

experience in the field of Biotechnology. Currently he is also the trial manager for the Bt

Cotton project and as such he will bring in vast knowledge and experience in dealing with

transgenic products.

6. Biosafety Compliance Manager Dr. Wezi Mkwaila

Dr. Wezzie Nkwaila will co-lead the role of trait introgression as well as biosafety

compliance manager for the CFT. She holds a PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics and

Biotechnology from Michigan State University in the USA. Her current appointment at

LUNAR is to conduct research, teaching and outreach in the field of plant breeding and

genetics; molecular genetics; application of statistics and quantitative approaches in plant

breeding, biotechnology and general applied horticulture. She also serves as a part time

programs officer for the African Union NEPAD African Biosafety Network of Expertise

(Refer to Annex 5 for detailed curriculum vitae).

7. Technical Advisor Prof. Moses Kwapata

Professor Moses Kwapata has a PhD in Botany. He achieved the level of Professor of

Horticulture in 2003 after advancing from lecturer to senior lecturer and then to Associate

Professor from 1981. He actively participated in the development of the 1995 Biotechnology and

Biosafety Policy for Malawi. He is the principal investigator of the first GM confined field trials

in Malawi. These on-going trials are evaluating, at various locations, the efficacy of BGII gene

that confers resistance to cotton bollworm which is a serious pest. Professor Kwapata has vast

administrative experience after being Head of Department, Dean, Vice Principal and Principal at

the University of Malawi Bunda College and currently is the Acting Vice Chancellor of Malawi

University of Science and Technology (MUST). He is a member of various scientific advisory

boards in Malawi (Refer to Annex 5 for detailed curriculum vitae).

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Technicians on the Trial

1. Senior Technician Denis Kathabwalika

Denis Kathabwalika holds a BSc and MSc in Horticulture from Bunda College. His area of

expertise is in research methodologies and analysis. He has done a number of consultancy

work for a number of institutions in Malawi. He has vast experience in agronomic

management of legume crops such as cowpea. In addition he has leadership skills to lead the

team of technicians who will be directing field research together with field staff. Denis has

done a number of courses in biotechnology as part of his MSc training. In addition he was

trained by AATF in management of CFT and regulatory compliance. Refer to appendix 5

detaied curriculum vitae.

2. Assistant technician:. Gray Dawa

Gray Dawa has been a horticulture technician at Bunda College for the past 19 years. He has

an MSCE certificate plus other training certificate in biotechnology and handling of CFT’s

He has been trained in this area by AATF, PBS and Africa Bio just to mention a few.

Throughout his extensive career experience he has acquired a lot of knowledge in field

supervision and management of agronomic practice of a wide range of crops including

cowpea. G. Dawa has performed well as a supervisor technician for the Bt. Cotton trials. He

has amassed great knowledge in handling transgenic crop research to an extent that he will be

a valuable asset to the Bt. Cowpea CFT. Please refer to appendix 5 for his resume which

gives details of his training, experience and expertise.

3. Field Supervisor: Mac Kumayo

Mac Kumayo, is a dedicated field technician with over five years experience supervising field

workers in various organizations. He holds an MSCE certificate with other training

experiences in data management. The role of Mac Kumayo in the project is to supervise and

work with casual labourers who will be recruited from time to time to work on agronomic

preparations of the field such as ploughing, weeding and fertilizer application. Mr Kumayo

will undergo training in CFT management by the PI and TM .Refer to appendix 5 for

kumayo’s curriculum vitae.

ii) Partnerships and Collaboration

LUANAR is in partnership with the following institutions: African Agriculture Technology

Foundation (AATF), Department of Agriculture Research Services (DARS), Program for

Biosafety Systems (PBS) and United States Aid for International Development (USAID). The

specific role of each and every collaborating institution is as follows:

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR):

LUANAR provides the overall research leadership in the project in terms of generating the

data and reporting all issues related to biosafety to EAD.

Department of Agriculture Research Services (DARS)

DARS are the custodians of agriculture research in Malawi, they shall provide expertise and

technical support towards conducting the multi-location trials. They will also be providing

specific technical information and guidance that will be required to be followed in order for

the technology under investigation to be released by the Agriculture Technology Release

Committee (ATRC). The key designated link person between DARS and the project is Mrs

Esnart Nyirenda.

Esnart Nyirenda

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Mrs Esnart Nyirenda is an agricultural research scientist specifically working as a legume

breeder specializing in cowpea at Chitedze Research Station, Lilongwe, Malawi. She has

been engaged in legume breeding research for nine years. From 2004-2009 she worked as a

technician in the legumes breeding and in 2010 she started working as a scientist aimed at

developing improved and high yielding cowpea varieties and best agronomic practices so as

to improve the production and productivity of legumes in Malawi. She has been involved in

releasing of varieties of medium duration Pigeon pea as one of the adaptive measures to

climate change. Esnart was also involved in releasing three soybean varieties that are early to

medium maturing that can adapt climate change and one of the varieties (Tikolore) is very

popular among farmers and is grown in parts of Malawi. She has released three sunflower

varieties. She is in the pipeline to release two cowpea varieties that will be suitable in drought

prone areas.

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF):

AATF are the custodians of the technology and managers of the grant/funding. They will

provide the GM seed as well as technical back-stopping to ensure that the project is well

implemented. In addition AATF shall provide regulatory support for the project through

periodic compliance training for project staff and the trial manager As stated above funding

for this project will be administered through AATF. Therefore Bunda will be accountable to

AATF for all the funding received. AATF representatives on the project are Dr. Prince Addae

and Dr. Francis Nang’ayo who are based at AATF offices in Nigeria and Kenya respectively.

More details pertaining to these collaborators from AATF is provided below;

1. Dr. Prince Addae of AATF based in Abuja, Nigeria

Dr. Prince Addae has a PhD in agronomy from University of Sydney, Australia. His

experience includes being a Project Manager for cowpea at African Agricultural Technology

Foundation (AATF) based in Abuja since 2012. He coordinates the Maruca Resistant

Cowpea project in West Africa. He has worked with various organizations as an advisor and

also directly involved in implementing biotechnology and biosafety projects. Some of the

organizations where he has worked and gained experience in biosafety and biotechnology for

the last 15 years include Monsanto Company, USAID, Danforth Plant Science Center and

Bayer Crop Science. Dr. Prince Addae is a member of the International Society for Biosafety

Research (ISBR) (Refer to Annex 5 for detailed curriculum vitae). Dr. Addae will perform

the function of supervisory and advisory role to the PI (Dr. K. Kwapata) to ensure that

internationally accepted standards of conducting scientific research of this nature are adhered

to and that the research outcomes and results can be internationally accepted.

2. Dr. Francis Nang’ayo of AATF based in Nairobi, Kenya

Dr Francis Nang’ayo has a PhD in applied ecology from the University of London. He is

currently Senior Manager and Head of Regulatory Affairs Division at the Nairobi-based

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). Having once served as General

Manager at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), Kenya’s premier

regulator for seed and other agro-inputs and earlier on, as Principal Scientist and Deputy

Director for Biotechnology Research Program at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

(KARI), he is familiar with critical operations associated with leadership of programs and

implementation of projects. Trained in Agricultural Sciences, he has some 28 years of

combined work experience in agricultural research, technology testing, regulatory

compliance and technology deployment in countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. He is versed in

formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects aimed at enhancing food

security and conserving biological diversity through integrated natural resource management

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approaches. Dr Nang’ayo is a Rockefeller Foundation Fellow (RF) who has authored and co-

authored over 100 scientific publications, monographs and press articles; and delivered many

presentations at national, regional, international and, professional meetings.

Dr. Nangayo of AATF will work with Dr. Addae more in particular to help the Bunda team

with issues associated with regulatory compliance. From time to time he will be conducting

audits to ensure that the Bunda team is in compliance with local and international standards

of conducting CFT’s within defined legal frameworks that are applicable local and

international.

Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS)

PBS will support the project as a non technical partner (i.e. will not be involved in the actual

scientific research such as data collection etc.) but it will support on issues of communication

and outreach and assurance of the project adhering to the regulations. In addition PBS will

work jointly with AATF to provide regulatory support for the project through periodic

training in record keeping and reporting for project staff and the trial manager

United States Agency for International Development .(USAID)

USAID is the development partner that will support project by providing funding through

AATF for operations of the project. Its important to note that funding from USAID does not

come directly to Bunda Project Team but through our partner AATF. In view of this Bunda

will not be dealing directly with USAID but with the subcontracted institution AATF.

Purpose of Application:

[Application for a confined field trial for (Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea).]

The purpose of this application is to conduct a confined field trial of cowpea (Vigna

unguiculata [L.] Walp) plants genetically modified for resistance against a serious insect pest

of cowpea in Africa, Maruca vitrata. Cowpea line IT86D-1010 was genetically modified to

express Cry1Ab protein encoded by the cry1Ab gene (Bt gene) sourced from Bacillus

thuringiensis, a commonly occurring soil-borne bacterium. The data from this CFT will

facilitate R&D efforts geared towards enhancing productivity of cowpea by smallholder

farmers in Malawi and Sub-Saharan Africa. The proposed trial will be conducted at Bunda

College Campus of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

in a specially-designed confined field trial (CFT) facility.

Previous Applications or Approvals:

[Information on the status of this crop and trait, including pending, approved, or denied

applications for field trials and commercial releases here or in other jurisdictions. Indicate

also if this is a new application or a renewal.]

This is a new application for Malawi.

Bt-cowpea has been previously approved for field trials in the following jurisdictions:

Puerto Rico (US):

2008: CFT application was submitted and approved, and Bt-cowpea efficacy trials completed

in 2008.

Nigeria:

2009-2010: Application for 2 years of CFT trials submitted, approved and event selection and

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efficacy trials successfully completed.

2011-2012: The CFT permit was extended for an additional 2 years and CFTs continued.

2013-2014: Notification was filed for Multi-Location Trials (MLT), which in 2014 are being

conducted in Zaria, Minjibir, and Bakura to generate regulatory data in support of an

application for general release (efficacy, agronomic assessment, compositional analysis, and

surveys of non-target organisms).

Burkina Faso:

2011: Application for CFT was submitted, approved, and trials successfully completed.

2012: Application for CFT was submitted, approved, and trials successfully completed.

2013: Application for contained trial (screenhouse production of seed to support 2014 MLT)

was approved and seed production completed.

2014: Permit for MLT was submitted and approved, and MLT are currently being conducted

in Farako Ba and Kamboinse to generate regulatory data in support of an application for

general release (efficacy, agronomic assessment, compositional analysis, and surveys of non-

target organisms).

Ghana:

2012: Application for CFT was submitted and approved for 2013 planting.

2013: CFT (efficacy testing and seed production) successfully completed.

2014: CFT application was submitted and approved to support efficacy demonstration and

regulatory studies (agronomic assessment, compositional analysis, and surveys of non-target

organisms) in Tamale.

No adverse effects have been observed in any Bt-cowpea field trial.

The Maruca Pod Borer is a serious field pest of cowpea that is responsible, together with

other insect pests, for yield losses as high as 90 percent (Murdock et al., 2001) in major

cowpea producing countries such as Nigeria. With the cry1Ab gene, which confers resistance

to Maruca, the need for insecticide sprays often required for cowpea production is expected

to be substantially reduced and smallholder farmers who grow cowpea stand to protect their

cowpeas from yield loss associated with Maruca feeding, which in turn could greatly enhance

their nutritional well-being and economic status. The initiative to transform cowpea is being

spearheaded by a coalition of non-profit institutions to reduce grain yield losses in cowpea in

Africa. This effort is currently at the advanced research and proof-of-concept phase and

hence this new application seeks to test genetically modified cowpea plants to evaluate their

efficacy against Maruca under field conditions in Malawi.

[Name of applying institution, which may also include the name of the Principal Investigator

or other key personnel.]

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

Bunda College

P. O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

Contact Details of Principal Investigator:

Dr Kingdom Kwapata

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

Bunda College

P. O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

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Tel: (265) 999 195 477

Fax: (265) 01 277 364

E-mail: kwapata@yahoo.com

Contact Details of Trial Manager:

Dr Abel Sefasi

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

Bunda College

P. O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

Tel: (265) 998 552 090

Fax: (265) 01 277 364

E-mail: abelsefasi@yahoo.co.uk

Contact details for Technical Collaborating Partners:

1. Dr Prince Addae, Molecular Agronomist

Cowpea Project Manager

African Agricultural Technology Foundation

C/o ARCN, No. 3 Idris Ibrahim Crescent

Abuja

NigeriaTel: + + 234-7064016459

E-mail: p.addae@aatf-africa.org

2. Dr Francis Nang’ayo, Entomologist/ Biosafety Specialist

Regulatory Affairs Manager

African Agricultural Technology Foundation

C/o ILRI Nairobi

P. O. Box 30709 – 00100

Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 (0) 20 4223745

Fax: +254 (0)20 4223701

E-mail: f.nangayo@aatf-africa.org

3.Esnart Nyirenda

Department of Agricultural Research Services

Chitedze Research Station

Tel: +265 999104624

E-mail: esnartnyirenda@yahoo.com

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Size of Trial:

The size of this trial will be approximately 0.65 ha.

The trial will be organized as follows:

Entries: Five (5) cowpea varieties (transgenic and non-transgenic lines of variety

IT86D-1010, and 3 local varieties

Replicates: Three (3)

Rows per Entry: Two (2)

Row length: Three (3) meters

Row and Plant Spacing: 75cm between ridges; 25cm between plants in row

Isolation distance: The trial will be spatially isolated from any cowpea species by an

isolation distance of 30 m beyond cowpea pollen trap border rows.

Proposed Location:

GPS information or description of the exact location of the trial site (see attached

Google aerial map in Annex 3).

The trial site will be located at the CFT facility of the Bunda College biotechnology farm,

next to Animal Science farm at Sakula (about 1km away from senior staff quarters). This is

the same CFT site previously surveyed, inspected, and approved for conducting field trials of

GMO cotton. Since the proposed work shall take place at LUANAR, it should also be

mentioned that the PIs for Bt cotton and Bt cowpea have held discussions on using the same

CFT site for the cowpea trials as Bt cotton and Bt Cowpea trials will be running concurrently.

The total fenced area for the CFT site is 2.0ha of which 0.65 ha will be allocated to cowpea

and the rest for cotton and other rotational crops such as maize.It should also be mentioned

that all corrective measures pertaining to the integrity of the fence have been made in order to

ensure full compliance with the regulations.

Proposed Duration of Trial:

Three (3) years from the start date. i.e. from the date permit is granted

2.0 Plant Information

2.1 Unmodified Plant Information

This section describes the characteristics of the unmodified plant as it relates to confinement.

Important information pertains to the plant’s reproductive mechanisms and its ability to

escape, establish, and persist in the environment into which it is being introduced.

Plant Species Name (common and scientific):

Common name: Cowpea

Family name: Fabaceae

Genus: Vigna

Species: unguiculata (L.) Walp

The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is in the tribe Phaseoleae in the family Fabaceae

of the order Fabales.

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Center of Origin:

[What is the center of origin of the unmodified plant?]

Based on the presence of the highest genetic diversity of the species, as well as the

occurrence of the most primitive form of wild cowpea, Southern Africa is the most probable

center of origin for V. unguiculata. Domestication of cowpea appears likely to have occurred

in West Africa (Padulosi and Ng, 1999).

Reproductive Mechanism of the Plant:

[Describe the reproductive biology of the plant. This information may be obtained from

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) biology consensus

documents or similar sources, and should include relevant information on: inter- and intra-

specific breeding; pollen production, dispersal, and viability; seed production and dispersal;

seed dormancy; capacity for vegetative reproduction.]

Vigna unguiculata is propagated by seeds. The species is largely self-pollinating, and

predominantly inbred. The out-crossing rate is generally considered to be lower than 1%

(Fatokun and Ng, 2007). The low out-crossing rate is primarily a result of floral morphology;

pollen is released within the keel, which is virtually closed. Pollen can only escape from the

keel if the flower is manipulated by human intervention or by bees visiting the flowers.

Because of the closed nature of the flower, the keel can only be efficiently tripped-open by

certain bee species that are heavy in body weight such as leafcutter bees (Hymenoptera:

Megachilidae) and carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.). Vegetative propagation of cultivated

cowpea and wild cowpea does not occur in the field.

Vigna unguiculata is apparently a well-isolated species with limited potential for intergenic

or interspecific crossing. However, the three sub-species can be crossed, and free gene

exchange is possible.

Seeds from wild plants are typically dispersed through pod shattering and seed dispersal is

limited to a few centimeters from the source. Due to seed dormancy (which cultivated

cowpea lacks), wild cowpea seed can survive in the soil for a few years.

The different cowpea accessions show wide variation in reproductive development. Some

may start flowering 30 days after sowing and are ready for harvest of dry seeds 25 days

later; others may take more than 90 days to flower. Many cultivars mature uniformly

although there are determinate and indeterminate genotypes. Indeterminate types are

particularly useful in smallholder farming systems where a supply of fresh leaves and

flowers, over an extended period of time enables a sustained supply of vegetables for the

household.

Tendency to Weediness:

[Is the unmodified plant regarded by agricultural experts as a weed in regions where it is

cultivated? If so, are control methods available that may be used to effectively limit the

dispersal and establishment of the unmodified plant? NOTE: The information on the confined

field trial location and how the genetically modified plant will be managed are described

elsewhere in this application.]

Domesticated cowpea is not considered to have weedy characteristics as an annual plant

grown in Malawi. It does not possess any of the attributes commonly associated with weeds,

such as seed dormancy, long soil persistence, germination under diverse environmental

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conditions, rapid vegetative growth, a short life cycle, high seed output, high seed dispersal,

or long-distance dispersal of seeds.

Wild cowpea is generally not considered as a weed by farmers, especially since both wild and

domesticated cowpea are used for fodder. Typically, the term weed is used to describe a plant

that is a nuisance in managed ecosystems such as farms or forest plantations. Although wild

cowpea plants frequently colonize areas that have experienced soil disturbance, they do not

become established to the extent of outcompeting and displacing other plant species. Cowpea

therefore is not considered to be a weed and does not show tendencies for weediness (Feleke

et al., 2006; Baker, 1965).

Allergenicity: [Is the plant species known to be a source of substances that are toxic or allergenic to

humans or animals? If yes, identify the substances and levels that induce toxicity or

allergenicity and the affected species.]

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] is not known to be allergenic, nor is it a source of

mammalian toxins. Cowpea is an established agricultural field crop with a long history of

safe use both as a food and feed. The genus Vigna has a long history of cultivation with

familiarity in widely separated parts of the world, typically in relatively arid parts of the

tropics and subtropics stretching from Asia through Africa to the Americas. While grain is

the major source of food, young leaves are also utilized as food, and all parts of the crop are

used as feed and provide a good source of protein.

2.2 Modified Plant Information

This section is intended to provide information on known or intended effects of the genetic

modification or introduced trait that may affect confinement measures employed in the

confined trial.

Describe the Intended Phenotypic Changes to the Plant:

The intended phenotype is resistance to feeding damage caused by Maruca podborer. This

phenotype is a result of expression of the Cry1Ab protein, whose well-understood mode of

action is highly specific for larvae of lepidopteran insects such as Maruca. When larvae of

Maruca feed on Bt-cowpea plants, the Cry1Ab protein in cowpea tissues causes paralysis of

the insect mid-gut, and the insect typically stops feeding and eventually dies. Therefore the

consequence is protection of the cowpea plant from feeding damage by Maruca, which

results in decreased grain yield and quality. There is no reasonable hypothesis available that

would indicate that either Cry1Ab or the genetic modification would have an effect on other

aspects of the biology of the plant. Furthermore, many years of field trial testing conducted

with Bt-cowpea in different genetic backgrounds, and across a range of environments in

Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso, indicate that there are no discernible phenotypic changes

in the modified plant compared to non-transgenic cowpea plants.

Intended Reproductive Effects:

[Does the genetic modification intentionally alter the reproductive biology of the plant? How

do these changes affect strategies for confinement?]

The genetic modification does not alter the reproductive biology of the plant. Nevertheless,

the strategies for genetic and material confinement (described below) include a series of

redundant procedures to ensure reproductive isolation.

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What is the source of the genetic material? Is the source of the genetic material

likely to affect the safe conduct of a confined field trial? If yes, how?

[Describe any known or intended introduction of infectious agents, plant, animal or human

pathogens or allergens or toxins.

Genetic material used in cowpea transformation was sourced from plants and harmless

microorganisms as shown below:

1. The cry1Ab gene protein coding region is derived from Bacillus thuringiensis strain

kurstaki HD1, a naturally occurring ubiquitous, harmless, soil borne saprophytic

bacterium.

2. The cry1Ab gene promoter is derived from the Arabidopsis thaliana gene for the

small subunit of the enzyme ribulose bis-phosphate carboxylase.

3. The cry1Ab gene 3’polyadenylation signal is derived from the Nicotiana tabacum

gene for the small subunit of the enzyme ribulose bis-phosphate carboxylase.

4. The nptII (neomycin phosphotransferase II) gene protein coding region is derived

from the Escherichia coli (E. coli) transposon Tn5.

5. The nptII gene intron is derived from the gene encoding the enzyme catalase from

Ricinus communis.

6. The nptII gene promoter is derived from the plant virus Subterranean Clover Stunt

Virus gene 1.

7. The nptII gene 3’polyadenylation signal is derived from the plant virus Subterranean

Clover Stunt Virus gene 3.

8. Agrobacterium Binary Vector: DNA integration sequences are derived from the T-

DNA plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

None of these genetic components are infectious agents, and none encode allergens or toxins.

Changes in Toxicity or Plant Composition:

[Describe any changes to toxicity, allergenicity, or significant changes in composition

intended by the genetic modification.]

No changes in toxicity, allergenicity or plant composition are anticipated by the genetic

modification. Neither Cry1Ab nor nptII possess similarities to allergens, and neither protein

exhibits mammalian toxicity.

Both the genes and the protein products expressed in Bt-cowpea have previously undergone

rigorous characterization in genetically modified crops that are in commercial release. For

example, nptII has been used as the selectable marker in nine genetically modified crops

(potato, tomato, canola, cotton, plum, papaya, squash, maize, sugar beet) approved for food,

feed and/or environmental release in a number of OECD countries (http://cera-

gmc.org/index.php/GMCropDatabase). Similarly, insect-resistant maize expressing cry1Ab

has an exemplary history of food and environmental safety, having been grown by farmers in

over 20 countries worldwide since 1996, and on more than 50M ha.

It is worth noting that our goal in conducting this CFT and subsequent MLT in Malawi (and

in other countries) is ultimately to confirm substantial equivalence of Bt-cowpea, based on

internationally-accepted principles and guidelines for food and feed safety assessment as

stipulated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety

Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants [CAC/GL45-2003]) and other

risk assessment procedures so that smallholder African farmers may benefit from this

technology.

Describe the Features of the Genetic Construct:

[Include coding sequences, promoters, enhancers, termination, and polydenylation signal

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sequences. Attach a genetic map and describe the method of modification in an annex.]

1. The cry1Ab gene protein coding region (1869bp) is derived from Bacillus

thuringiensis strain kurstaki HD1. The gene sequence was modified for efficient plant

expression by removal of polyadenylation signals, lowering of AT content and

removal of destabilizing sequences.

2. cry1Ab gene promoter: The promoter from the Rubisco Small Subunit (SSU) gene of

Arabidopsis thaliana, including 1725 bases of the 5’ untranslated region was added

to the 5’ end of the Cry1Ab protein coding region. The promoter contains no

additional enhancers.

3. Cry1Ab gene 3’ polyadenylation signal: The polyadenylation signal was derived

(485bp) from the Rubisco SSU gene of Nicotiana tobacum and was added to the 3’

end of the Cry1Ab protein coding region. This DNA sequence contains one

polyadenylation signal.

4. The selectable marker gene is nptII. The neomycin phosphotransferase II (npt II)

protein coding region (971bp) is derived from Escherichia coli transposon Tn5 and

includes a catalase-1 intron (184bp) from Ricinus communis to reduce bacterial

expression.

5. npt II gene promoter: The NptII protein coding region is equipped with a promoter

(531bp) from Subterranean Clover Stunt Virus promoter 1. No additional enhancers

are present.

6. nptII gene polyadenylation signal: The nptII protein coding region is terminated with

a Subterranean Clover Stunt Virus 3’ sequence (138bp). This DNA sequence contains

one polyadenylation signal (highlighted in the nucleotide sequence in Annex I).

7. Agrobacterium Binary Vector: The vector sequence is derived from the binary

vector, pArt27, which contains the left and right T-DNA border regions for

Agrobacterium - mediated transformation (LB and RB) highlighted in italics in the

nucleotide sequence of the borders in Annex I).

A genetic map of the chimeric gene constructions and method of transformation is provided

in Annex 1.

3.0 Trial Description

This section describes the purpose of the field trial, the experimental design and data to be

collected, including anticipated pesticide use. Include a description of the habitat at the site,

and any organisms of conservation concern that may be in the general area.

14

Purpose of the field trial: The objective of this CFT is to carry out confined field trials with Bt cowpea to evaluate the

efficacy of the Bt resistance trait against Maruca vitrata strains present in Malawi, and to

determine the yield response of cowpea to protection from Maruca damage.

The intended phenotype of Bt-Cowpea is tolerance to attack from larvae of the lepidopteran

insect pest, Maruca vitrata. This tolerance is likely to increase grain yield and quality.

Reduced spraying for Maruca is also likely to allow populations of natural enemies to reach

levels at which they contribute significantly to the control of important sucking pests such as

aphids, thrips, red spider mites and white-fly. Outbreaks of these cowpea pests are often

triggered by repeated spraying of broad-spectrum insecticides, forcing farmers into a vicious

cycle of weekly spraying with very toxic chemicals.

The net effect of Bt-Cowpea adoption is anticipated to be reduced exposure of farmers and

their families to pesticides, reduced pesticides in the environment, and reduced costs relating

to pest control, and therefore increased income and safety to the farmers.

Experimental Design

The trial design is a randomized complete block with 3 replications.

The entries are five (5) cowpea varieties (transgenic and non-transgenic lines of variety

IT86D-1010, and 3 local varieties):

Transgenic Event 709A in variety IT86D-1010 (T1)

Non-transgenic variety IT86D-1010 (T2)

3 Local varieties (non-transgenic; T3, T4, T5)

Seed of the 5 test lines will be sown near the optimal cowpea sowing date at the Bunda

College CFT site. Two rows will be planted for each entry, each 3.0 m in length. Seed will

be planted to achieve plant-to-plant spacing of 20 cm to achieve a stand count of 15

plants/row and row spacing of 75 cm between ridges. Each plot of two rows consisting of 15

plants will be separated by 1.5m unplanted walkways. Similarly, the replicates (blocks) will

be separated by 1.5m unplanted paths.

Outside the pollen trap rows, an isolation distance of 30 m will be maintained. No cowpea

will be planted within this zone, and it will be regularly monitored to ensure the absence of

cowpea or compatible cowpea species. See the plot design in Annex 2.

To confirm efficacy levels in the field, the trial will be artificially infested with first instar

Maruca larvae. To ensure confinement of Maruca and exclude potentially confounding

effects caused by other cowpea insect pests, the entire trial plot will be enclosed in netting.

No insecticides will be used in the trial. It should be noted that this netting will also exclude

pollinators such as bees, which will act to further maximize genetic confinement of the trial.

Laboratory reared, neonate first instar Maruca larvae will be used for infestations of the

efficacy trial. Established universal insect rearing sanitary precautions will be followed to

ensure limitation of disease incidence. Larvae will be maintained on a modified European

corn borer diet obtained commercially from. International Institute of Tropical agriculture

(IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria.

Manual infestation will begin by 35 days after sowing. Neonate larvae will be collected near

first light which will allow infestation at or about 0600-0700 each day. Larvae will be

harvested from the containers in which they were laid. A triangular piece of paper or similar

15

functional tool e.g., artist’s brush, will be used to transfer the larvae from a holding container

and directly onto flower buds.

Infestations will occur every 5 days for a total of 5-7 infestations to cover the approximately

25 to 30 days of flowering. Twenty neonate first instar larvae will be placed directly on the

flower buds of each plant at every infestation.

Observations and Recording

All observations such as % germination, disease infection, etc. will be recorded with indelible

ink and dated in a field notebook.

Data to be collected and recorded in CFT:

Plant stand. Count and record the total number of plants for each row at (a) 21 days after

planting, (b) at 85% maturity.

Days to 50% flowering. For each plot, record the number of days after sowing at which the

first flower is observed in the plot. Continue to record number of plants with flowers daily

until 50% of the plants in each plot have produced flowers.

Plant height: From one row per plot, select 10 consecutive plants and measure the height

(cm) of each plant from the ground to the base of the top leaf on the main stem (not tendrils)

and record.

Number of pods per plant, total seed weight per plant, and 100 seed weight. At harvest,

select a total of 10 consecutive plants from one row or 5 consecutive plants from each row of

each plot. For each of these plants, the following data will be collected and recorded with

indelible ink in the field notebook:

Total number of pods per plant.

Number of Maruca-damaged (penetrated) pods per plant

Total weight of seeds per plant

Weight of Maruca-damaged seeds per plant

100 seed weight of seed from each plant

In addition, observations will be made on the presence or incidence of disease, pests, or

abiotic stresses, and recorded using the attached data spreadsheets (Annex 4).

When all measurements have been taken and recorded, the remaining pods of each plot will

be harvested into individually labeled bags. After threshing, the seeds will be retained in

labeled bags. There will be no mixing of the seed. Bags of GM seed are to be kept separately

in a secured storage place in one of the rooms clearly marked GMO storage within the newly

constructed insectory building that is inside the CFT facility. Within this storage room the

GMO seed will be locked in a lockable cabinet whose keys will be kept by the PI at all times.

Measures will be taken to ensure that this room is is free of storage pests which include

insects and rodents. Such GMO material will be kept there until time for destruction through

incineration.

Data collection and analysis

The attached data spreadsheets (Annex 4) will be used to collect all data for the trials in the

field. Indelible ink will be used for making data entries. Wrong data entry will be crossed out

with a single line. The data will be transferred to an Excel spreadsheet on computer within 3

days of collection. All paper records will be retained after data entry into the computer for

reference and regulatory purposes.

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A statistical package will be used for data analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be

used to test the difference between the means of the lines for the following variables: a) plant

stand at 21 days post-planting; b) plant stand at 85% maturity; c) plant height; d) days to first

flowering; e) days to 50% flowering; f) total pods/plant; g) Maruca-damaged pods/plant; (h)

total weight of seed/plant; i) weight of Maruca-damaged seed/plant; and j) 100-seed seed

weight per plant. Least Significant Difference (LSD) at P = 0.05 will be used for

comparisons.

The Principal Investigator will provide copies of the original raw data to the Cowpea Project

Manager as soon as any data set is collected. This step is critical so that the study meets

international standards for re-constructability.

In addition, Bunda College will archive the data, make copies and certify as true copies of

the trial for archiving.

17

Description of habitat at the trial site:

(Provide a map showing the location of the trial site, surrounding fields, and relevant

geographic features such as streams or waterways).

i. The location of the site for the proposed release

The confined trial of Bt-cowpea will be conducted at the CFT facility of the biotechnology

farm at Bunda College of Agriculture, Lilongwe District, in Central Malawi whose GPS

coordinates are 140 35’ S and 14

0E (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Trial site for Genetically Modified Cowpea

ii. Description of the trial site:

Size. The area is located to the south eastern part of Lilongwe city and the entire Bunda

College campus covers about 1565.18 hectares. The fenced area of the CFT trial site is 2 ha.

Soil type. The soils are basically deep red Ferruginous soils and according to FAO

classification these are Chromic Luvisols and under United States classification the soils are

alfisols. The top soil texture is sandy clay loam while sub soils are sandy clay or clay. With

these properties the soils respond very well to management.

Altitude. The site is 1200 m above sea level.

Topography. The vegetation and habitats mainly arable land surrounded by Brachystegia

(miombo), Dambo (wetlands) and Mopane woodlands. While grasses predominate at the

margins, hedges and herbs are more common nearer the central wetter area. The Mopane

woodland is dominated by varying density of Acacia polyacantha, Piliostigma thonningii and

Combretum molle among others. It has tall grass mixture which includes Hyparrhenia

variabilis, H.filipendula, H. gazensis, H. nyassae, Setaria sphacelata, S. longiseta, Digitaria

setivalva, D. diagonali, Panicum maximum and Themeda triandra.

Flora and fauna. Currently it is mostly grass species including Hyparrhenia filipendula,

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Themeda triandra, Andropogon schirensis, Bewsia biflora and Andropogon amplectens

flourishing on the land. The grass is subjected to early control burning to reduce damage to

vegetation in the mopane woodland and the areas.

Climate, especially prevailing winds. The site receives an average rainfall of 1000 to

1200mm per annum and temperature is generally warm most times of the year. From

December to April wind direction is variable, with an average speed of 7 kph. Cowpea is not

wind-pollinated and its pollen is not subject to dispersal by wind.

Previous history of trial site. Most of the land to be used has been under cultivation with

maize, soybeans and groundnut, cotton, and fallowed. Also, conventional cowpea has

previously been grown at the trial site for the past two years. This cowpea was grown as a

rotational crop with cotton to maintain the nutritional balance of the trial site. Cowpea was

chosen as a rotational crop of choice because of its ability to replenish the soil with biological

nitrogen fixation.

Distance from nearest human settlements together with the size of such settlements. The

distance to the nearest villages is about 3-5 kilometres. Otherwise, the site is situated

between 1.5 to 3.0 kilometres away from the Bunda College Buildings to facilitate access,

supervision and provision of security (see Annex 3 showing Google aerial map of the site).

Distance from nearest surface water. A dambo catchment acts as a hydrological store about

600m from the site holding water and releasing it as base flow to its headwater stream during

the dry season. The nearest surface water supply is about one (1) kilometer away.

Distance from nearest environmentally and other protected areas. The main protected

area in proximity to the trial site is Bunda Forest Reserve, which is situated about 2.5- 4 km

from the site, and further separated from the CFT site by college buildings and agricultural

lands.

iii. Description of the nearest environmentally and other protected areas.

The main protected area surrounding the trial site is Bunda Forest Reserve, which is situated

about 2.5- 4 kilometer from the site but separated by college buildings and agricultural lands.

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4.0 Genetic Confinement

This section describes the measures to be taken to ensure confinement of the genetically

modified plants and genes. It is based on knowledge of the unmodified crop and the intended

genetic modification.

Are there wild plant species in the vicinity of the trial site that could be fertilized by pollen

from the trial plants, resulting in viable seeds?

Recent scouting trips around the Bunda College CFT site failed to reveal wild cowpea species

or feral cowpea populations growing in the vicinity (30m radius) of the trial site. The absence

of compatible plant species in proximity to the trial site further minimizes the chances that

pollen from the trial site could fertilize wild, feral or cultivated cowpea plants. However,

conventional cowpea was previously grown within the trial site as a rotational crop with

cotton to maintain the integrity of the soil.

Describe mechanisms in place to prevent pollen-mediated gene flow from the plants in

the trial site:

[Genetic confinement or reproductive isolation measures are based on the biology of the

unmodified plant and the introduced genetic modification, and include isolation distance

and/or other measures as justified by the reproductive biology of the unmodified plants, and

any intended effects of the introduced traits on their reproductive biology.]

As described above in Reproductive Mechanism of Plant, cowpea is essentially a self-

pollinating plant with very low rates of out-crossing. Cowpea pollen is large and sticky, and

not easily dispersed by wind. Out-crossing is less than 1%, with pollen gene flow being

mediated primarily by bees. Also, the cowpea stigma is only receptive on the day the flower

opens (anthesis), which results in the majority of the seed set being the result of self-

pollination and not cross-pollination. Fatokun and Ng (2007) report that outcrossing can be

reduced to negligible levels by observing a spatial isolation distance of 10 m.

Both the absence of compatible species around the CFT site as well as the very low out-

crossing rate of cowpea provide a high degree of assurance that pollen-mediated gene flow

will not occur. However, several additional measures are incorporated into the trial design

that serve to further minimize the chances of pollen-mediate gene flow:

A perimeter border of 3 rows of conventional cowpea will be planted around the plots

to act as a pollen trap to intercept any possible movement of pollen from the trial

plots. Trap plants will be disposed of in the same manner as transgenic plants at the

termination of the field trial.

As described above in Experimental Design, in the first year of CFT, the trial plot will

be netted. Although the primary purpose of netting is to exclude insect pests of

cowpea other than the manually-infested Maruca, the netting also excludes potential

pollinators such as bees from accessing plants within the trial plots.

A spatial isolation distance of 30 m will be maintained beyond the CFT plot which

will be monitored and maintained free of compatible cowpea plants of any kind.

Describe measures in place to control trial plant volunteers after termination of the

20

trial:

[Describe the crops to be allowed following the confined trial, duration of monitoring for

volunteers, frequency of monitoring, methods of destruction and disposal of any identified

volunteers, and any other measures needed to ensure that the trial plants do not persist on

the trial site.]

Upon completion of the trial, a cereal crop will be planted on the site and maintained under

irrigation to induce germination of any cowpea seeds that may have inadvertently lodged

themselves into the soil. This will facilitate easy identification and removal of volunteer

cowpea plants. Such plants, if found, will be uprooted, collected in a secured bag, and

incinerated. The site will be monitored for such volunteers weekly for eight weeks, during

which all viable seed that might be in the soil will have germinated. Records of weekly

monitoring results and records of disposition of any volunteer plants will be maintained.

9.5 Material Confinement

This section describes the mechanisms by which trial personnel will maintain control of

the genetically modified plant material, so that it is not mixed with non-modified plant

material, does not escape into the environment, and is not eaten by humans or livestock.

The CFT site is surrounded by a two-meter high chain-linked fence and has a locked gate.

The CFT site includes a guardhouse where security guards will be housed and will provide 24

hour security throughout the duration of the trial. Only persons authorized to enter the CFT

site will be permitted to enter and a log book maintained at the CFT site will record the

names, dates and times of all visitors to the site. No animals will be permitted to access the

CFT site. The fence has been repaired to restore the integrity of the fence in preparation for

this trial.

Harvesting, Transport, and Storage:

[Describe how the plant material will be harvested, including plans for any material to be

retained, and how that material will be stored and/or transported.]

At crop maturity, pods will be hand-harvested into clearly labeled harvesting bags. Red

permanent marker will be used to label the GM materials throughout as opposed to black marker

used for labeling non GM material. The harvested GM pods will be contained in clearly labeled

cloth bags and be transported in a sealed, rigid-walled container into the laboratories within the

CFT area for threshing and data recording. The seeds will then be clearly labeled using a red

permanent marker. One label will be inside the cloth bag while another one will be tied outside

and stored in a specially secured seed storage locker within the laboratory and under the sole

custody of the PI. No other personnel will have access to the locked storage locker.

Bunda shall be responsible for ensuring containment during harvest, cleaning of equipment, and

maintaining appropriate records (refer to section 9.6 for specific records) of all harvest activities.

Packaging:

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[Describe how the genetically modified plant material will be packaged and labeled for

transport to the trial site and measures for cleaning and/or disposing of the packaging

material. Note that the chain of custody documentation is required for all genetically

modified material being transported.]

The seed will be packaged with three levels of protection. The package will consist the first

level whichwill be seed in a paper bag, the second layer of covering will be a rigid plastic

container and the third cover will be a cardboard carton, tightly sealed with masking tape.

The seed will be properly labeled with a red sticker marked GM Cowpea Seed with an

inscription indicating “for research use only” and not to be used for commercial purposes or

as food or feed.

Seed import and storage. Seed will be imported from Australia upon approval of CFT by the NBRC and a permit to

import genetically modified organism shall be obtained from the Biosafety Registrars office.

Bunda shall conduct seed receipt, shipment and movement activities in accordance with local

and international regulations as applicable. These regulations shall include; a) The Biosafety

Regulation (2007) for Malawi and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on

Biological Diversity (2000).

The Bt cowpea seed is produced at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research

Organization (CSIRO) Agriculture Flagship, P. O. Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia,

a partner institution with AATF. During shipment the seed will be contained in three rigid

layers of packaging as indicated above. The seed will be shipped by express courier to

Kamuzu International Airport, received by a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture

(DARS) in the presence of biosafety registrar inspectors and the PI. After clearance by the

inspectors at the airport, the seed materials will be transported to the biosafety registrar’s for

secure storage until the date for planting. Prior to shipment, advance notice (7 days before)

will be given to the biosafety registrar inspectors on details of consignment and flight. On the

date of planting the seed will be escorted by the biosafety registrar representatives to the CFT

site. After planting, any remaining seed will be returned by biosafety registrar to secure

storage at the biosafety registrar offices on the same day.

Seed security and containment shall be maintained to prevent any unintentional release, loss or

spill during movement, shipping and storage. All shipping containers shall be secured at all

times and properly labelled indicating clearly that the contents are not intended for commercial

use or for consumption as food or feed. All seed or grain shipping containers shall be properly

labelled (GM cowpea seed).

Disposal and Clean-Up

[Describe how surplus planting material will be disposed of at the trial site, how any

equipment used during planting or other farm operations will be cleaned and how harvested

materials and crop residues will be disposed.]

Whenever possible the plant material in the CFT shall be handled with dedicated equipment

used exclusively for this purpose. However, if this is not an option, Bunda shall implement

cleaning procedures before transporting machinery out of the field or harvesting other material.

Cleaning procedures shall follow written best practices aimed to minimize contamination risk

and possibility of an unintended release and shall be included in the Field Trial Managers

Handbook. Checklists documenting cleaning shall be completed prior to moving machinery

22

outside the work area and prior to harvest of other material and these shall include at a minimum

date cleaned, method of cleaning, parts of machine cleaned and a signature of person cleaning.

All surplus plant material (stems, leaves, pods, etc) arising from the trial (including all

border/trap plant material) will be collected by staff and kept within the CFT in secure plastic

bags awaiting incineration. The surplus material will then be burned to ashes at one end of

the CFT site under the supervision of the Trial Site Manager.

Site Security

Security personnel will be present at the site 24 hours a day, every day.The site will be

manned by two guards during the day and three during the night. These five men will be

trained on how to guard the facilities. This training will be done by the chief security officer

for LUANAR. In addition to these five permanent men being trained, the neighbourhood

security watch team and campus security patrol will be sensitized on the CFT being

conducted and a patrol program will be outlined facilitated by the chief of security of

LUNAR for those who will be conducting patrols at the site. Booklet of patrol visits will be

maintained at the CFT site to document accountability of the exercise being done.

All authorized personnel will be trained in the proper code of conduct for entering the field

trial site prior to entry. Any authorized person entering the trial site will be required to

register with the security personnel at the entry gate, which will remain locked at all times

except to allow personnel and/or equipment to enter or leave the site. Records of personnel

entry and exit will be maintained by security personnel.

The Bunda CFT site is completely fenced and posted with signage warning against

unauthorized entry. Fencing of the site serves to exclude inadvertent entry by animals and

humans and limit potential exposure to, or consumption of, plants in the trial. This measure

is also intended to prevent any unauthorized movement of plant materials out of the trial site.

9.6 Records, Personnel, and Planning

Describe measures in place to ensure adequate documentation of all confinement measures

and data requirements as described herein.

Records

Observations and measurements taken in the field will be documented and recorded into a

field notebook using indelible ink.

As mentioned above all records shall be kept in accordance to best-practice record keeping

and maintained in safe, secure storage areas which are lockable cabinets?.

All plant material produced in the trial ( including that derived from the perimeter border

rows), will be treated identically to the GM plant material, and will be disposed of through

incineration, and records kept of the disposition of such material.

The records kept at the CFT site shall include:

i. Transportation, including a description of the material transported, method of

transport and authorized custody

ii. Storage, including location and security

iii. Material confinement at the trial site, including site security and cleaning of

equipment to ensure that no propagative material is removed from the trial site

iv. Disposal of any GE material, including methods used

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v. Monitoring and enforcement of reproductive isolation, including a description of the

activities performed within the trial site and enforcement of the spatial isolation

distance or other method used

vi. Critical phases of experimental progress, including planting and harvest

vii. Monitoring for unanticipated effects and other required observations, according to

the specific trial

viii. Post-harvest monitoring, identification and destruction of volunteers

ix. Records of any unauthorized or accidental release of GE traits or plant material,

including corrective actions taken or planned.

x. Additional records may be required depending on specific circumstances.

Reporting schedules

Various reports will be submitted to inform the National Biosafety Regulatory Committee

(NBRC) of progress and results of the confined field trial, including unusual or unanticipated

effects or occurrences. All reports shall reference the authorization code assigned to the trial,

and shall be submitted to the Designated Representative of the NBRC and copied to the

appropriate IBC. The reports are in three groups: in-season reports, other reports and summary

reports.

1.0) IN-SEASON REPORTS

1.1.Planting Report: This report shall be submitted within five (5) working days

after the completion of planting at the trial site. This report shall include details of

the trial establishment and a final field site map.

1.2.Trial Progress Report(s): These reports shall be submitted with details on post-

flowering with border management, monitoring for genetic isolation. This report

shall provided when the crop is podding.

1.3.Harvest Report: This report shall be submitted within five (5) working days after

the completion of harvest at the site or termination of the trial. This report shall

include date and method of harvest, the storage or disposal of any harvested

materials, and the method of destruction of any residual plant material on the site.

2.0) OTHER REPORTS

2.1. Incident and Corrective Action Report: In case of any incident involving an

accidental or unauthorized release of genetically engineered plant material, an oral

report shall be submitted to notify the NBRC immediately. This oral report shall

be followed by a written report within 24 hours. The report shall include any

corrective actions taken or planned to confine GE material and ameliorate the

incident.

2.2. Unanticipated Effects Report: If the GE cowpea exhibits any substantial

unanticipated characteristics, or if any unusual event occurs that may jeopardize

the confinement of the GE cowpea the Regulatory Authority shall be notified in

writing within five (5) working days.

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3.0) SUMMARY REPORTS

3.1. Experimental Report: An Experimental Report shall be submitted within six (6)

months after termination of the trial. This report shall summarize observations,

methods of observation, data and analysis of experimental results concerning the

trial, required observations, and any unanticipated effects.

3.2. Post-harvest Report: A Post-harvest Report shall be submitted within six (6)

months after the completion of the post-harvest period. The Post-harvest Report

shall include a summary of observations on volunteers and their destruction,

mitigation practices, any data and analysis not previously submitted, and any

responses required by the Regulatory Authority concerning results of the trial.

Personnel

All personnel assigned to the trial shall have the necessary academic qualifications. This has

been well articulated in the above section and in the appendex where their bio-data and CV’s

especially senior managers and scientists as well as technicians have been presented. In

addition, prior to initiation of the trial, field trial personnel shall undergo supplementary

training by stakeholders to assure quality of CFT site management, including field trial

compliance training, and procedures for ensuring genetic and material confinement. This

training will be supplemented by providing all field trial personnel with a CFT manual

describing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will be employed during the

course of the trial.

The personnel involved in this project are at various levels; the first level is senior research

scientists. These include the PI, TM, Entomologist, and Breeder as mentioned above under

Section 1.0 (Administrative information). These individuals have PhDs or MSc degrees. They

will undergo training in CFT biosafety in addition to the training which was already

conducted by AATF on 18 November 2014, and also training on technical management of

the research trials this will also be administered by AATF. The PI, the TM and the field

technicians have also undergone a training by PBS on record keeping and report writing for

CFT trials. This was conducted on 22 and 23 September 2014. The second level of training

will be given to the technical staff (technicians). The training will be on regulatory

compliance and data management and recording this will be done by PBS. The last level of

training will be done to field staff these are the individuals responsible for ensuring that all

agronomic practices are adhered to such as weeding, application of fertilizer etc. They will be

trained on compliance with regulation, agronomic management and field hygiene. These will

be trained by the PI, TM and entomologist.

Planning

Within a week of receiving approval for the CFT application, and prior to planting, a proper

planning schedule shall be provided to the Biosafety Registrar detailing dates when major

activities surrounding the trial are expected to take place (e.g., movement of seed to the trial

site, planting, harvest, movement of plant material from the trial site, disposal, volunteer

monitoring, etc.), including the person responsible for each activity.

Contingency Plans

Describe planned response to the loss of control or accidental release of genetically modified

plant material, including notification of authorities and the Authorized Party, recovery and

25

disposal of plant material, and any other measures to be taken to mitigate any potential

adverse effects.]

In collaboration with PBS and AATF, Bunda shall develop a CFT trial management and

compliance manual subject to receiving the license to go ahead with the CFT by the NBRC.

This manual will be tailored to specifically any additional terms and conditions mandated by the

CFT permit approval. This manual will be maintained as a standard reference manual during the

trial to minimize chances for accidental release of genetically modified plant material. In the

very unlikely event of such occurrence, the trial staff will be duty-bound to report any such loss

to the Site Trial Manager who will in turn report the same to the Principal Investigator. This will

also be brought to the attention of the Biosafety Registrar no later than 24 hours. The

circumstances surrounding such an eventuality will be investigated immediately and a recovery

plan for the genetically modified plant material instituted.

Any unintended release of genetically modified plant material will be reported immediately

(within 24 hours) to the Biosafety Registrar, with an immediate implementation of

appropriate measures to mitigate the circumstances or effect. An incident and corrective

action form provided in the Trial Manager Handbook will be completed for each case of

accidental release. The completed incident and corrective action forms will be incorporated

into the compliance binder maintained at the CFT site and a copy sent to the inspectorate and

the NBRC secretariat.

In an event that the site has been broken into by thieves with intention to vandalize or steal

the transgenic material, the site security guards will report to the PI, and in his absence, to the

Trial Manager. These shall in turn report to the university security chief who will bring the

matter to the local police at Mitundu police station who will be responsible for carrying out

any criminal investigation. Promptly after notifying the university security chief, and in no

more than 24 h after the incident has occurred, the PI (and/or TM) will also notify the

Biosafety Registrar by phone through their office contact lines (+2651771111) and official

email biosafety@nccpmw.org, as specified in the 2007 Biosafety Regulations. If these are not

working then efforts will be made to contact the designated officials through their personal

contacts (phone and e-mail) Immediately following notification of Biosafety Registrar, the

Vice Chancellor of LUANAR will also be informed of the incident. Both Biosafety Registrar

and the Vice Chancellor will be kept appraised of any developments by the PI

Recovery of materials

If any transgenic cowpea seeds are accidentally released from a seed package, they will be

immediately recovered, and returned to the appropriate storage package. If any pods or seed

are accidentally removed from the CFT site at grain-filling, inspectors and regulators will be

immediately notified of the incident and appropriate measures instituted to recover them and

prevent any further occurrence. All actions related to the recovery of the materials will also

be recorded on the corresponding incident and corrective action form provided in the Trial

Manager Handbook which will be developed upon approval by the NBRC to conduct the

trial. The completed incident and corrective action forms will be incorporated into the

compliance binder maintained at the CFT site and a copy sent to the Biosafety Registrar

If civil unrest such as a war, or mass vandalism by protestors or natural disaster such as

floods, hurricane affects the integrity of the CFT, the Biosafety Registrar will be notified

within 24 hours, and all the experimental plants will be destroyed. The Regulator shall have

the right to audit project documentation, training records of personnel, whether the

26

procedures are currently being followed, and will be provided access to Bunda employees

performing the trials at any time.

9.7 Declaration

I hereby certify that the information in the application and all attachments is complete and

accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Name of Principal Investigator for Applying Institution: Dr. Kingdom Kwapata

Signature

Date: 27/ 07/2014

27

References

Allen,D.J. (1983). The pathology of tropical food legumes. In: Disease Resistance in Crop

Improvement, John Wiley &Sons,Chichester,U.K. [is this correct?]

Baker, H. G. (1965). Characteristics and modes of origin of weeds. In: The genetics of

colonizing species, pp. 147-168. Baker, H. G., and Stebbins, G. L. (eds.), Academic

Press, New York.

Ehlers J and Hall, AE (1997) Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.). Field Crops Research

53:187-204.

Fatokun, C. and Ng, N.Q.. (2007). Outcrossing in cowpea. Journal of Food, Agriculture and

Environment 5, 334-338.

Feleke, Y.; Pasquet, R.; Gepts, P., (2006). Plant Systematics and Evolution, 262, 75-87

Gethmann A. and Tscharntke, T. (2002). Foraging ranges of solitary bees, Anim. Ecol.71

(page numbers missing).

Murdock, L.L., Bressan, R.A., Sithole-Niang, I. and Salifu, A.B.(2001) Molecular genetic

improvement of cowpea for growers, NGICA Document WA5-A1.

Padulosi S, Ng N.Q. (1999). Origin, taxonomy, and morphology of Vigna unguiculata (L.)

Walp. In: Co-publication of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and

Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), 1–12.

Tindall, H.D (1983). Vegetables in the tropics. Macmillan Press. London.

28

Annex 1. Method of transformation and genetic map of chimeric gene construct.

Method of transformation:

Cowpea is transformed using Agrobacterium and transformed cells selected by culturing on

kanamycin. Briefly, sterilised mature cowpea seeds are imbibed in water overnight. Two

different explants are routinely used for multiple shoot production, the embryonic axis and

the cotyledon itself. The selectable marker gene npt II is used for selection of transformed

cells. Agrobacterium tumefaciens AGL1 is the preferred strain for cowpea transformation.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain AGL1 containing the T-DNA is cultured overnight at 28°C

and the cells centrifuged and re-suspended in Medium 1 [MS-basic medium (Murashige and

Skoog, 1962) diluted one in ten and containing 30 g/L sucrose, 20 mM 2-MES, adjusted to

pH 5.6 prior to autoclaving, supplemented with filter sterilised MS-vitamins, 100 mg/L myo-

inositol, 1.7 mg/L BAP, 0.25mg/L GA3, 0.2 mM acetosyringone, 250 mg/L Na-thiosulphate,

150 mg/L dithiothreitol and 0.4 g/l L-cysteine]. The explants are submerged without shaking

in the Agrobacterium suspension for one hour following wounding in the meristematic

regions with a scalpel. The treated explants are then transferred to solidified Medium 2

(Medium 1 containing 0.8 percent agar). After four days of co-cultivation, explants are

transferred to Medium 3 (full strength MS medium, supplemented with100 mg/L myo-

inositol, 150 mg/L timentin, 30g/L sucrose, 3mM MES, 1.7 mg/L BAP, 150 mg/L

kanamycin, 0.8 g/L agar and adjusted to pH 5.6) for shoot initiation. After two weeks the first

shoots become visible. The cotyledons are removed from the cotyledonary node region and

cultures are transferred to fresh Medium 3. Cultures are transferred to fresh Medium 3 every

two weeks following removal of dead and dying tissue. After four to six such sub-cultures,

the surviving green shoots are transferred to Medium 4 (Medium 3 without BAP but

supplemented with 0.5 mg/L GA3, 50 mg/L asparagine, 0.1 mg/L 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA),

150 mg/L timentin, and kanamycin (150 mg/L), for shoot elongation. The shoots are sub-

cultured every two weeks until single shoots were more than 1cm long. These larger shoots

are transferred from petri dishes to culture jars (80mm height) for further growth under

selection.

The majority of the regenerated shoots can be rooted in vitro, but shoots that are slow to root

are directly grafted onto 10-day-old seedlings by removing the seedling’s cotyledons and

primary leaves and replacing them with the in vitro regenerated shoot using a silicon ring.

Grafted or directly rooted plants are transferred to soil and allowed to establish in a humid

chamber for 14-21 days before transfer to ambient greenhouse conditions.

The progeny of transgenic T0 plants are selected for a normal phenotype. The transgenes are

transmitted to the progeny, and homozygous T2 plants are confirmed by screening their T3

progeny by ELISA. Southern blotting is used to confirm gene copy number and to test for

absence of vector backbone sequences. Using cowpea variety IT86D-1010, this protocol

requires six months from explant preparation to harvested T1 seeds.

29

Genetic map of chimeric gene construct:

Agrobacterium Binary Vector: The vector sequence is derived from the binary

vector, pArt27, which contains the left and right T-DNA border regions (LB and RB,

respectively) for Agrobacterium - mediated transformation.

30

Annex 2. Plot Design for Cowpea CFT

Trial plot showing the area that will be netted (20m X 15m), the walkway furrow

perimeter and the outer perimeter will be left fallowThe primary purpose of netting is

to exclude insect pests of cowpea other than the manually-infested Maruca..

T5 (Local variet

y

IT86D-1010

T3 (Local variety

)

T4 (Local variety

)

T3 (Local variet

y)

T5 (Local variet

y

T3 (Local variety

)

709A T5 (Local variet

y

709A

IT86D-

1010

T4 (Local variet

y)

REPLICATE 1 REPLICATE 2 REPLICATE 3

IT86D-1010

709A T4 (Local variety

)

1.5 m

1.5 m

20 m

15 m

1.5 m

Walk way furrow perimeter

Outer Perimeter cowpea pollen trap (3 border rows)

2.5 m

31

Annex 3 : Google map of aerial photo to trial site at Bunda College

Google map showing trial site and the surrounding catchment at Bunda College

Cowpea Trial site

Annex 4. Data spreadsheets

Plant Growth and Development Monitoring Form

Trial Location: Replicate Number:

Initials/Date Plot Growth Harvest Plot

dd/mon/year Vigor 1 Stage 3Date Lodging (%) Yes No

1Plant Vigor (1-5): 1= relatively small and weak, pale yellow in appearance, 3= acceptable growth and development, 5= normal size, strong and erect sprout emergence.

This is a composite score. Please ensure that your determination represents the entire plot and not outliers.

Please indicate if significant and unanticipated differences were seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls. 2Plant Height: Document in field notebook the individual measurment of the plants within the center two rows. Record here the calculated average (cm).

Please indicate if significant and unanticipated differences were seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls. 3 Growth Stage Iindicate development stage and note any obvious differences seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls.

where 1= plant emergence, 2= 1-2 nodes, 3= 3-4 notes, 4= visible buds, 5= flowers present, 6= pod set, 7= pod swell, 8= pods wrinkled, 9= immature seed, 10= dry seed, harvest mature.

This is a composite score. Please ensure that your determination represents the entire plot and not outliers.

Please indicate if significant and unanticipated differences were seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls. 4

First Flowering Date: Date when flowers first detected in plot.5

50% Flowering Date: Date when 50% of the plants within a plot support flowers.6

Normal Growth and Development? Yes/No

Any symptoms or signs that lead you to believe growth and development is altered or changed?

If no, a timely explanation is required- call the Principal Investigator or Project Manager for direction and quidance.

Please indicate if significant and unanticipated differences were seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls.

Bt- Cowpea (Cry1Ab)

Emergence Plant 1st Flowering Seed Pod50% Flowering

Height2 (cm)(plants/plot) DateDate

4

Authorization Code/ID:

Plot Identification ID/Name:

Normal Growth?6

Shattering (%)

Trial Location:

Initials/Date

dd/mon/year Disease ID Score (0-5)1 Insect ID Score (0-5)2 Identity Score (0-5)3 Stress Score (0-5)4

1Damage attributed to Disease:

Always Survey for the fol lowing common cowpea diseases : Anthracnose, Septoria , Cercospora, Rhizoctonia s tem rot, Sclerotinia rot, Fusarium wi l t.

If disease i s present, indicate what speci fic diseases and symptom severi ty on 0-5 sca le.

where 1= slight infection (less than 5%), 2= 5% to 20%, 3= 21-30%, 4= 31-50%, 5= greater than 50% severity).

Please indicate if significant and unanticipated differences were seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls.

2Damage attributed to Insects: If yes, please indicate insect pest present and if there are any significant differences seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls.

Always Survey for the fol lowing Insect pests common to cowpea include: Aphids , Thrips , Maruca , Pod Sucking bugs , Bl i s ter beetles .

If insect damage is found, indicate what speci fic pest and damage assessmentsymptom severi ty on 0-5 sca le.

where 0= no symptoms seen, 1= slight infection (less than 5%), 2= 5% to 20%, 3= 21-30%, 4= 31-40%, 5= greater than 41% severity).

Please indicate if significant and unanticipated differences were seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls. 3 Non-target and Beneficials- indicate or list any beneficial insect or predacious species present.

Survey for the fol lowing insect species : Ladybird beetles , Syrphids , Spiders , Assas s in bugs , Paras i tic wasps , Bees , Ants , and Termites .

where 0= not detected, 1= infrequent but present, 2= seen frequently, 3= consistently detected, 4= significant pressence, 5= multitudes abound.

Please indicate if significant and unanticipated differences were seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls. 4Plants Response to Abiotic Stress (wilt due to drought, excessive salts , hail damage, wind throw, etc.)

Please indicate if there are any noted differences seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls.

where 0= no symptoms seen, 1= trace injury, 2= mild but infrequent, 3= mild and frequent, 4=consistently moderate, 5= severe.

Please indicate if significant and unanticipated differences were seen between transgenic and non-transgenic controls.

Pest, Stress, and NTO Monitoring Form

Bt- Cowpea (Cry1Ab)

Plant Disease Incidence1 Insect Damage2 Non-Target/Beneficials3 Abiotic Stress4

Plot Identification ID/Name:

Authorization Code/ID:

Replicate Number:

Annex 5: Curriculum vitae of Key Personnel

Dr. KINGDOM M. KWAPATA

Bunda College, P.O Box 219, Lilongwe.

E-mail: kwapata@yahoo.com

Tel: +265 (0)1 205 672 / +265 (0) 999195477 ( cell )

I am a highly self motivated, independent, forward looking, result oriented individual

with a gift of innovation and creativity. I desire to contribute towards developing high

throughput molecular tools and techniques that would advance the improvement of

biotechnology for the benefit of mankind.

BORN : July 17th

1977

NATIONALITY : Malawian

CURRENT EMPLOYER:

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Malawi) Since 2011

EDUCATION

PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Michigan State University (2006 – 2011)

MSc in Horticulture Biotechnology. University of Malawi (2004-2006)

BSc. in Agriculture ( Crop science). University of Malawi (1997 – 2001)

CURRENT WORK POSITION

Lecturer in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture

and Natural Resources. My area of specialization is development and improvement of

legume crops through biotechnology applications.

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

Adjunct Professor of Plant Chemistry and Microbiology 2009-2011

Lansing Community College (LCC)USA

WORK EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVMENTS IN MOLECULAR GENETICS

Genetic Engineering of Plants for Bio-fuels

I have worked on the development of Spartan corn which is a transgenic line of

corn with a characteristic brown mid-rib. This corn has been engineered for bio-

fuels using RNAi constructs for the down regulation of lignin. The corn also has

got constitutive promoters for the up regulation of cellulase enzymes. The

enzymes have been localize in various cellular compartments using unique signal

localization peptides that lock-up the enzymes during the growth and

development of the corn so that they don’t interfere with the normal physiological

development of the plant. These become released into the cytosol when the plant

biomass is being degraded for conversion into fermentable sugars.

Genetic Engineering of Plants for Drought and Salt Stress Tolerance

I have engineered beans with a group 3 LEA protein, HVA1 gene cloned from

barley to confer drought and salt stress. I use standard molecular procedures to

evaluate gene integration, expression and mode of transmission.

Genetic Engineering of Plants for Disease Stress Tolerance

I have engineered beans with gf2.8 gene cloned from wheat that expresses oxalate

oxidase which inhibits the activity of oxalic acid the pathogenicity factor of white

mold fungus (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). I have performed different in vitro cell

bioassays to assess effectiveness of protein inhibition.

Biopharmaceutical Engineering Of Protein Drugs

I have worked on designing different gene expression vectors and codon

optimization systems for protein derivatives of Secretory Leukocyte Protease

Inhibitors (SLPI) cloned from human saliva that confer anti-inflammatory and

anti-HIV activity.

Microbial Genetic Engineering

I have transformed different strains of E.coli to compare their relative efficiency

in their ability to express various proteins.

I have also worked with different strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to

evaluate their relative effectiveness in delivering transgenes into host genomes

MOLECULAR GENETICS SKILLS

I am competent and highly skillful in the following molecular genetics skills;

Molecular analysis techniques

1. Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR)

2. Reverse Transcription (RT- PCR )

3. Northern Blot

4. Southern Blot

5. Western Blot analysis

6. Microscopy

7. Mass spectrometry

8. Gas and Liquid chromatography

9. Generation and use of molecular markers such as SSR’s

10. Various in vitro biological assays eg. HIV biological analysis assays, fungal

activity assays, glucose analysis assays etc.

Genetic engineering techniques

1. Use of gene gun and preparation of DNA for bombardment

2. Gene cloning and cDNA synthesis

3. Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation

4. Growing and maintenance of bacteria stock cultures

5. Transcription activation tagging for generation of mutants

6. Vector construct for genetic transformation

7. RNAi vector construct for down regulation of gene expression.

8. In vitro synthesis of oligonucleotides.

9. Protein synthesis and fusion

Tissue culture techniques

1. Maintenance of sterile and aseptic conditions for in vitro cultures

2. Preparation of tissue and cell culture media

3. Generation and maintenance of callus and cell suspension cultures

PATENTS FILED

Transgenic dry bean lines resistant to white mold fungus (2010)

Transgenic dry bean lines resistant to drought and salt stress (2010)

SELECTED RELEVANT SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

Kwapata K. , Sabzikar R and Sticklen M (2012). Genetic Transformation of

Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with the Gus Color Marker, the Bar

Herbicide Resistance, and the Barley (Hordeum vulgare) HVA1 Drought

Tolerance Genes - International Journal of Agronomy.

Kingdom Kwapata, Robab Sabzikar, Mariam B. Sticklen and James D. Kelly

(2010) In vitro regeneration and morphogenesis studies of Phaseolus vulgaris;

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. Vol. 100, pp 97-105

Kingdom Kwapata, Weston F. Mwase, J. M. Bokosi, M. B. Kwapata and P.

Munyenyembe (2007) Genetic diversity of Annona senegalensis Pers. populations

as revealed by simple sequence repeats (SSRs). African Journal of Biotechnology,

Vol. 6 (10), pp. 1239-1247.

OTHER EXPERTISE AND SKILLS

Project development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Project management and research designing

Grant proposal writing

Financial management and accounting

Computer Graphics and Designing

Statistical software packages, SPSS, GenStat, SAS

LANGUAGES

English (excellent)

French (good)

Latin (fair)

HONORARY POSITIONS

Board Chairman Association for Conflict Management and Training (2004 –

2006)

Board member National Youth Initiative Against Corruption ( 2003 – 2005 )

Board member Country Minders for Peoples Development ( 2003 – 2006)

Chairman Civil Society Committee on Biotechnology (2006 – present )

AWARDS

Mericle fellowship ( Awarded by Michigan State University)- 2008/2009

Fulbright PhD Fellowship (Awarded by United States, State Dept.)- 2005

NUFU/NORAD MSc Fellowship (Awarded by Norwegian Dev. Agency) - 2003

Youth Action Net International Award for Youth Services (Awarded by

International Youth Foundation-USA) - 2002

REFEREES

Dr. McDonald Jumbo

Cimmity Nairobi, Kenya

Email: jumbo.mcdonald@gmail.com

Tel: +254 704187167

Dr. Chomora Mikeka

Lecturer of Physics

Chancellor College University of Malawi

P.O. Box 280 Zomba, Malawi.

Email: mikeka_chomora@yahoo.co.jp

Tel: 265 888285851

Dr. Davie Kadyampakeni

Soil and Sci. Dpt. 2169 McCarty Hall,

Gainesville Fl. 32611 USA

Email: dkadyampakeni@ufl.edu

Tel: +1352-215-7095

CURRICURUM VITAE

ABEL SEFASI (PhD)

PERSONAL DATA:

Surname: SEFASI

Given Names: Abel Yoas

Date of birth: 18th

July, 1977

Sex: Male

Nationality: Malawi

Contact address: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources │

Bunda College of Agriculture │ Department of Horticulture │

P.O. Box 219 │ Lilongwe │ Malawi │ Office email:

asefasi@bunda.luanar.mw │ Office telephone: 0111743091 │

Mobile Phone: 0998552090 / 0881986353

Current employer: Bunda College of Agriculture, Lilongwe University of Agriculture

and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

Current Position: Lecturer in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Institution Period of Study Certificate Year of Award

Makerere

University,

Kampala, Uganda

November 2008

– October 2013

Doctor of Philosophy

(Plant Breeding and

Biotechnology)

January, 2014

Ghent University,

Ghent, Belgium

December 2008

– July 2009

Postgraduate studies in

Biosafety in Plant

Biotechnology

July, 2009

Kenyatta

University, Nairobi,

Kenya

September 2005

– December

2007

Master of Science degree.

(Biotechnology)

December, 2007

University of

Malawi, Lilongwe,

Malawi

September 1997

– March 2001

Bachelor of Science

degree (Crop Science)

June, 2001

WORK EXPERIENCE

Duration Organisation

March 2013 to-date Lecturer in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Lilongwe

University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bunda College

Campus

2008 to 2012 PhD Student (Plant Breeding and Biotechnology), Makerere

University, Uganda

2008 Research & Development Manager, Chemicals and Marketing Co,

Malawi

2005-2007 MSc Student (Biotechnology), Kenyatta University, Kenya

2004-2005: Assistant Factory Production Manager, Limbe Leaf Tobacco

Company, Malawi

2003-2004 Head of Seed Services Unit, Ministry of Agriculture (Bvumbwe

Agricultural Research Station), Malawi

2002-2003 Agriculture Officer (Horticulture), Ministry of Agriculture (Dedza

District), Malawi

ACEDEMIC RESEARCH INTERESTS:

I am interested in the application of plant molecular biology and genetics to compliment

on-going efforts in the management of biotic and abiotic constraints to agricultural

productivity.

RELEVANT ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:

1) Graduate Teaching Assistant at Makerere University, Uganda: Assisted in

teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in Molecular Biology (2012).

2) Practical training in tissue culture and molecular techniques at Applied

Biotechnology Laboratories (ABL), Lima, Peru (5th

March to 2nd

April 2011)

3) Plant breeding and crop production - meeting the 2050 food security demands.

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Sweden (16-20 May 2011)

4) Certificate of participation in Bioinformatics Training. Agricultural Genetic

Engineering Research Institute, Giza, Egypt (February 2007).

5) Proposal development and technical writing skills (February 2009). Continuing

Agricultural Education Center, Makerere University

6) Certificate of participation in Bioinformatics workshop. Held at the International

Livestock Research Institute (Nairobi) from 12th

to 13th

October 2006. Funded by

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Generation Challenge

7) Certificate of participation. Writing a convincing project proposal: Strengthening

Project Development, donor relations and Resource Mobilisation. Held at Bunda

college of agriculture (Lilongwe) from 22nd

to 24th

April, 2004. Funded by

Malawi Government (Ministry of Agriculture).

ACADEMIC DISSERTATIONS

2014 – DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD.)

‘Regeneration and transformation systems for improving resistance to weevils in

Ugandan sweetpotato cultivars.’

2007 – MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc.)

‘Genetic transformation of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (l.) lam] with Nicotiana Protein

Kinase 1 gene to enhance drought stress tolerance.’

2001 – BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BSc.)

‘Multiple disease resistance in common bean (Phaseoulus vulgaris).’

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Sefasi, A., Ghislain, M., Kiggundu, A., Ssemakula, G. and Mukasa, S. B. (2013).

Thidiazuron improves adventitious bud and shoot regeneration in recalcitrant

sweetpotato. African Crop Science Journal. 21: 85-95.

2. Ghislain, M.; Tovar, J.; Prentice, K.; Ormachea, M.; Rivera, C.; Manrique, S.;

Kreuze, J.; Ssemakula, G.; Rukarwa, R.; Sefasi, A.; Mukasa, S.; Wamalwa, L.;

Machuka, J. (2013). Weevil resistant sweetpotato through biotechnology. In:

Veale, M. A. (ed). Proceedings of the Second Genetically Modified Organisms in

Horticulture Symposium. 2. Genetically Modified Organisms in Horticulture

Symposium: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future. Mpumalanga (South

Africa). 11-15 Sep 2011. White River (South Africa). International Society for

Horticultural Science (ISHS). pp. 61-98. Acta Horticulturae. ISSN 0567-7572.

no.974.

3. Sefasi, A., Kiggundu, A., Kreuze. J., Ghislain, M., Manrique, S., Ssemakula, G.

and Mukasa, S. (2012). Induction of somatic embryogenesis in recalcitrant

sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars. African Journal of Biotechnology

11:16055-16064.

4. Sefasi A. and Mukasa S.B. (2012). Risk Communication and a multidisciplinary

approach: The key to adoption of agro-biotechnology in Sub-Saharan Africa. In:

Nampala, P. and Makara, M. A., (Eds.) 2011. Proceedings of the International

Conference on Agro-Biotechnology, Biosafety and Seed Systems in Developing

Countries, Kampala, Uganda, March 8-11 2010. Science Foundation for

Livelihoods and Development, Kampala.

5. Rukarwa, R. J., Mukasa, S. B., Sefasi, A., Ssemakula, G., Mwanga, R. O. M. and

Ghislain, M. (2013). Segragation analysis of Cry7Aa1 gene in F1 progenies of

transgenic and non-transgenic sweetpotato crosses. Journal of Plant Breeding and

Crop Science. 5 (10). 209-2013.

6. Sefasi, A., Ssemakula, G., Ghislain, M., Prentice, K., Kiggundu, A., Mwanga, R.

and Mukasa, S. B. (2014). Transient expression of b-glucuronidase in recalcitrant

Ugandan sweetpotato and putative transformation with two Cry genes. African

Crop Science Journal. 22 (3): 215 - 227

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS:

1. Poster: A. Sefasi, S. Mukasa,

A. Kiggundu,

G. Ssemakula,

M. Ghislain

(2013).

Progress towards genetic transformation of Ugandan sweetpotato cultivars for

weevil resistance. 11th African Crop Science Society Conference Theme: Sowing

innovation for sustainable food and nutrition security in Africa. 14 - 17 October

2013, Entebbe Uganda

2. Poster: A. Sefasi, R. Rukarwa, M. Ghislain, A. Kiggundu, R. O. M. Mwanga, S.

Mukasa, G. Ssemakula

(2013). Progress towards genetic transformation of

Ugandan sweetpotato cultivars for weevil resistance. 9th triennial African Potato

Association (APA) conference which will be held at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in

Naivasha, Kenya from June 30th

through July 4th

2013

3. Oral and Poster: Sefasi A., Ssemakula G., Ghislain M., Kiggundu A. and Mukasa

S. (2012). High frequency adventitious root and shoot regeneration in recalcitrant

sweet potato cultivars. RUFORUM fourth Biennial Meeting for Universities, 24-

28 September 2012, Entebbe, Uganda

4. Oral: Sefasi A. and Mukasa S.B. (2011). Efficient regeneration and

transformation systems for improving resistance to weevils in Ugandan

sweetpotato cultivars. PhD course: Plant breeding and crop production - meeting

the 2050 food security demands, 4.5 HEC. 16-20 May 2011. Course given by the

Research School Natural Resource Management and Livelihoods in International

Development (NRML), at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU),

Sweden.

5. Oral and Poster / Published online: Sefasi A. and Mukasa S.B. (2012). Risk

Communication and a multidisciplinary approach: The key to adoption of agro-

biotechnology in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Nampala, P. and Makara, M. A., (Eds.)

2011. Proceedings of the International Conference on Agro-Biotechnology,

Biosafety and Seed Systems in Developing Countries, Kampala, Uganda, March

8-11 2010. Science Foundation for Livelihoods and Development, Kampala,

Uganda

6. Poster: A. Sefasi, G. Ssemakula, J. Kreuze, M. Ghislain, A. Kiggundu and S.

Mukasa (2011). Cultivar and plant organ type differences in influencing somatic

embryogenesis in ugandan sweetpotato. International Society for Horticultural

Science. II Genetically Modified Organisms in Horticulture Symposium.

Genetically Modified Organisms in Horticulture Symposium. 11 - 15 September

2011. South Africa

7. Poster: A. Sefasi, G. Ssemakula, J. Kreuze, M. Ghislain, A. Kiggundu and S.

Mukasa (2011). Optimisation of factors for genetic transformation of Ugandan

sweetpotato to improve resistance to sweetpotato weevils. 10th

African Crop

Science Society Conference. 10 – 13 October, Entebbe, Uganda

8. Poster: Abel Sefasi, Moses Kwapata

and Jesse Machuka (2009). Genetic

transformation of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam)] with NPK1 gene for

drought stress tolerance. 9th

Africa Crop Science Conference, Cape Town, South

Africa

9. Contributed manual chapter: Sweetpotato Tissue Culture, National Crops

Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), April 2010. Contribution to the: “Tissue

Culture, Conservation Biotechnology, Virus Indexing, and seed systems for

vegetative crops.” A training Manual (2010). Edited by Yona Baguma, Robert

Kawuki, Michael Otim, Clet Wandui Masiga and Charles Mugoya. Funded by

ASARECA

SCIENTIFIC MANUSCRIPTS UNDER REVIEW FOR PUBLICATION

1. Sefasi, A., Ghislain, M., Kiggundu, A., Ssemakula, G., Rukarwa, R. and Mukasa,

S.B. (2014). Embryogenenic callus and root regeneration induced by 2,4-

dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in sixteen African sweetpotato cultivars.

CONSULTATIONS ON QUALITATIVE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

The Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRAs) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)

1. Analysis of the factors affecting germination per cent and seedling vigour parameters

of CG7 groundnut seed planted by smallholder farmers in Malawi in 2013/2014

season. A consultancy with the National Association of Smallholder Farmers of

Malawi (NASFAM) in January 2014.

2. Current status and future outlooks of the integrated soil fertility management (ISFM)

markets in Malawi. A consultancy conducted for The Marketing Group of the Soil

Health Consortium of Malawi (SoHCoM) in March 2014

3. Masasa (Ntcheu) Sustainable Livelihoods Project Development Survey (2004). A

reconnaissance survey conducted for the establishment of the project by Concern

Universal

4. Environmental degradation levels in Dedza (2003). A consultancy conducted for

Concern Universal (Dedza).

5. HIV/AIDS situation in Dedza. A survey through Participatory Rural Appraisals

(PRAs) and Focus Group discussions conducted with Concern Universal in 2003

6. Small scale businesses and other sources of livelihood in Dedza (2003). Participatory

Rural Appraisals (PRAs) with Concern Universal

7. The impact of winter cropping on the food situation in Dedza (2002). A survey

conducted for Concern Universal (dedza)

EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING AND REPORTING DONOR-FUNDED PROJECTS:

1. The International Potato Center (CIP), USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates

Foundation through the SASHA project provided funding for my PhD studies. This

PhD, at Makerere University, was strengthened by beginning with course work from

November 2008 before embarking on research in 2009 (Search page:

http://sweetpotatoknowledge.org/projects-initiatives/sasha/description-of-

sasha/student-profiles/abel-sefasi.pdf).

2. The University of Malawi and RUFORUM financed my Master of Science

(Biotechnology) study from course work to completion of research at Kenyatta

University.

3. The International Potato Center (CIP) funded the Postgraduate studies in Biosafety

in Plant Biotechnology from 2008 to 2009 at Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium.

4. The International Potato Center (CIP) funded my training in molecular techniques in

March and April 2011 at the Applied Biotechnology Laboratory (ABL), Lima, Peru

5. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) through its

Network of Centres of excellence financed my training in Bioinformatics at

Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Giza, Egypt

(February 2007)

REFEREES:

Professor James Bokosi

Professor of Plant Breeding

Department of Crop Science

Bunda College of Agriculture

P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

Telephone: 08819692744 (mobile)

Email: jmbokosi@bunda.unima.mw,

Professor Patrick Okori

Principal Scientist (Plant Breeding)

International Crops Research Institute for the

Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

Chitedze Agricultural Research Station

P.O. Box 158, Lilongwe

MALAWI

jmbokosi@yahoo.com,

jmbokosi57@gmail.com

Telephone: 0996777683

Email: P.Okori@cgiar.org,

Patrick.okori@yahoo.com

Dr. Settumba Mukasa

Associate Professor of Virology and Genetics,

School of Agricultural Sciences,

College of Agricultural and Environmental

Sciences, Makerere University,

P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

Telephone: +256782670041

Email: sbmukasa@caes.mak.ac.ug,

sbmukasa@yahoo.com

DR. PRINCE C. ADDAE

ARCN Annex No. 3 Idris Ibrahim Crescent paddae@gmail.com Mobile: 234

(0)7064016459

Jabi, Abuja

OCCUPATION: AGRONOMIST

SUMMARY

Creative, result-oriented, problem-solving, Project Manager, particularly good at

leadership and managing research & product development of genetically modified by

coordinating, evaluating and making assessment of projects, ensuring conformity of project

related agreements, maintaining communication links between donor institutions, partners

and R & D cooperators, training NARS to ensure understanding and compliance of project

commitments and ensuring achievement of project milestones. My background includes

strong technical background in plant breeding including genetic engineering, hands-on

knowledge and practical experience in regulatory issues associated with new technologies of

genetic improvement of crops such as rice, cowpea, corn, soybeans and cotton. Key strengths

include practical experience in plant breeding, genetics, agronomy and familiarity with

African farming environment. Expertise includes:

Product development of genetic modified crops

Strong knowledge of regulatory and Biosafety issues associated with GM technology

Developing Seed systems for GM seed production

Effectively working within multi-cultural environment

EDUCATION

PhD, Agronomy from University of Sydney, Australia

MSc, Crop Physiology from University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

BSc, Agriculture from University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Cowpea Project Manager, African Agricultural Technology Foundation,

Abuja 2012- present

Coordinator of Maruca Resistant Cowpea and other AATF projects in West Africa

International Consultant on Biotech Cotton for United Nations Industrial

Organization (UNIDO), Vienna. 2012

Revitalize the Cotton Industry in Ghana.

Greenhouse Trait Testing Manager Bayer Cropscience, Texas, USA 2011-

2012

Planned and implemented research and development of GM herbicide and insect-

tolerant cotton by coordinating transformants propagation, event segregation,

event increase and event introgression of Bayer CropScience traits

Consultant, Office of International Programs, Danforth Plant Science Center,

Missouri, USA 2010-2011

Provided technical advice on product development of cassava mosaic resistance

for sub-Saharan Africa by planning and designing field trials for cassava and

soybean in Eastern and Southern Africa

Consultant, USAID/CLUSA Farmer to Farmer Program, Washington DC

2010 & 2012

Developed methods of triple containment of millet to reduce post-harvest losses

of millet Trained over 200 farmers on best practices, long term storage and cost of

production of millet in Senegal.

Regulatory Agronomy Manager, Monsanto 2007-2010 Coordinated regulated corn and soybean projects among functional groups of

Regulatory Affairs, Technology Centers, Trait Development (biotech),

Compliance and Stewardship for implementation of field trials in USA

Geneticist/Breeder , Monsanto Company 1998-2007

Developed, designed, implemented protocols for introgressing herbicide tolerant

traits into cotton varieties from USA, Burkina Faso, Egypt, India and Israel for

subsequent deployment to farmers.

Principal Research Officer of Horticulture of Agriculture, Fiji 1991-1996

Consultant/Administrator of Sigatoka Research Station, Fiji Coordinated the vegetable research program of Sigatoka Valley Rural

Development Project budgeted for US$10 million and funded by Asian

Development Bank and Fiji government

Research Assistant, University of Sydney, Sydney Australia 1991

Determined the effect of soil physical factors on emergence and seedling vigor of rice

Senior Development Officer , Ghana Grains & Legumes Development Board

(GLDB), Kumasi, Ghana 1979-1986

Agronomist for the implementation of bilateral venture between governments of

Ghana and Canada (CIDA) Grains Development Project in Ghana including

maize and cowpea

INTERNATIONAL AGRONOMIC COURSES ATTENDED

Research scholar to conduct experiments for my BSc dissertation on cowpea at

Grain Legume Improvement Program at IITA, Nigeria in 1977

Maize Agronomy program at CIMMYT, Mexico in 1982

Advanced Irrigation & Soil Management course at Volcani Centre, Tel Aviv,

Israel in 1995

COMPUTER SKILLS: Proficient in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel,

PowerPoint

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Network of Genetic Improvement of Cowpea Association (NGICA)

Association of African Agricultural Professional in Diaspora (AAAPD)

International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR)

CURRICULUM VITAE

NAME : Greenwell Khoti Chekacheka Nyirenda

DATE OF BIRTH : 8th

April, 1943

PLACE OF BIRTH : Nkhata Bay, Malawi

NATIONALITY : Malawian

MARITAL STATUS : Married with six children EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

MAY, 1986 : PhD (London), External

OCTOBER, 1971 : MSc (London), D.I.C. in applied entomology

JULY, 1969 : BSc (Malawi), Biology and Chemistry COURSE CERTIFICATE:

APRIL 25-27, 2002 : Attended a short course non

financial Managers organized by

Graham Carr at Boadzulo Holiday

Resort

JUNE 1996 : Risk assessment and management

in Bio safety. Biotechnology Advisory

Commission

MAY 16-27, 1994 : Environmental Monitoring of

Pesticides (Southern Africa

Development Community (ELMS)

held at T.P.R. Arusha, Tanzania.

1990 : Certificate of Completion of

training in Managing Change in the

Department of Agricultural Research.

The International Service for National

Agricultural Service (ISNAR).

OCTOBER, 1985 : Certificate in Management for

Engineers and Scientists, The

Industrial Society (London) CAREER

1 MARCH 2001 – 30TH

MAY 2003: Head of Crop Science

Department, Bunda College of

Agriculture

1 JULY 2000 : Promoted to Associate

Professor

11 MARCH – 4 MAY 2000 : Visiting lecturer in

Agricultural Entomology at the

Faculty of Agriculture and Natural

Resources, Ogongo Agriculture

College, University of Namibia

26 SEPT. 1992 TO 30 JUNE 2000: Senior Lecturer in Entomology,

university of Malawi Bunda

College of Agriculture

6TH

MARCH 1991 TO 8 APRIL 1993: Chief Agricultural Research

Officer (Director of the

Department of Agricultural and

Technical Services) and Served

until 8th

April 1993 when I retired

from Government Service.

I helped to initiate the

establishment of: A career structure in the

Department of Agricultural

Research that might reduce the

brain drain.

The establishment of a National

Agricultural Council in order to

rationalize the existence of

expertise in different research

organizations in the country.

18TH

APRIL, 1988 TO 1 APRIL 1992: Head of Plant Protection in

Malawi, in addition to duties

outlined below:

Sensitized Government to

have a bill on pesticides.

Initiated steps to prepare the

pesticide bill, its

enforcement, and support the

creation of its implementing

bodies. Pesticides bill has

now been passed.

Encourage the establishment of coordinated

research, extension systems and linkages in

integrated pest management.

Sensitized government and other authorities for

the need to establish a national insect, other

arthropods and invertebrate biodiversity center in

Malawi. A project proposal has now been

completed.

7 October 1983 to 5 March 1991 Deputy Chief Agricultural Research Officer

: Part-time lecturer in entomology at the

university

Of Malawi lecturing students from 3rd

-5th

years at

Bunda College of Agriculture

1 April 1979 to 6 October 1991 : Assistant Chief Agricultural Research

Officer

1 January 1978 to 30 May 1979 : Principal Agricultural Research Officer

1 January 1976 to 31 Dec. 1978 : Senior Agricultural Research Officer

1 April 1975 to 31 Dec. 1975 : Appointed Agricultural Research Officer by

the Ministry of Agriculture, after Agricultural

Research Council of Malawi was dissolved.

1 October 1971 to 31 March 1975: Promoted to Research Entomologist

1 Sept. 1969 to 30 Sept. 1971 : Trainee entomologist appointed by the

Agricultural Research Council of Malawi

1975-1991 : Officer-In-Charge of Makoka Research

Station

DUTIES:

ADMINISTRATION : Officer-In-Charge of Makoka Research

Station – supervision of research activities at

Makoka (primarily cotton research), preparation

and editing of annual reports, preparation of annual

budgets and liaising with other institutions both

within and outside Malawi. Member of a team

responsible for revising and editing of the cotton

handbook of Malawi in 1976. Oversaw and helped

in the establishment of the Regional Headquarters

(SADC) of the International Centre for Research in

Agro forestry (ICRAF). During this period the

following were achieved by the station.

I. Three cotton varieties adapted to

different ecological zones were

introduced for production by farmers and

all contributing to Integrated Pest

Management (IPM) in cotton.

II. Quantification of DDT in the soil, water

and fish was done in the Shire Valley and

at Makoka research station.

III. Alternatives to DDT were recommended

at economic dosages for use by farmers

in an IPM way in cotton.

IV. Use of Ultra Low Volume (ULV) and

Very Low Volume (VLV) water based

formulations were developed and

recommended to farmers.

V. Durable ULV/VLV and lever Operated

Knapsack Sprayers were identified and

recommended to farmers.

VI. Biological control of cassava mealybug

and its impact were initiated and

executed.

RESEARCH

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

1. Screen several bean varieties being developed within the region and by CIAT for

resistance to bean stem maggots.

2. Evaluate plants for pesticides effects in storage of maize against storage pest’s

especially larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus.

3. Compare the susceptibility of local, open pollinated composites and hybrid

varieties against storage pest’s especially larger grain borer.

4. Compare the effects of currently recommended insecticides against storage insect

pests, especially larger grain borers.

5. Investigations into growing organic cotton in Malawi.

COMPLETED RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

6. Together with ICRISAT, screen insecticides against aphids on ground nuts.

7. Investigation in monitoring insect pests in multipurpose trees in agro-forestry.

8. Investigation on the effect of Diamond Back Moth Plutella xylostella on cabbage.

9. Development of integrated insect pest management techniques for small scale

farmers on cotton. Studies of various pesticides application techniques such as

ultra low volume, very low volume and electrostatic spraying and studies of the

biology and population dynamics of insect pests of cotton. Laboratory screening

of insecticides for cotton insect pests.

SUPERVISION OF POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS

2011-2014: In country supervisor for a PhD in improvement of larger grain borer

resistance in recommended maize varieties in Malawi. Student supported by

African centre for crop improvement (ACCI) at University of Kwa-Zulu, Natal,

RSA.

1986-2007: I have been a co-supervisor of PhD students of the University of London at

Imperial College of Science and Technology, University o f Reading and

University of Malawi and Wageningen University:

1. Co-supervised PhD students where I was the in country supervisor:

I. PhD: Cassava cropping and HIV/AIDS: An Assessment of the

contribution of IPM/FFS approach to crop protection, food

security and family health in Malawi; Wageningen University:

Completed.

II. PhD: Comparison of the efficiency of flowable with

conventional formulations of thiodicarb using VLV techniques:

London University: Completed

III. PhD: Effects of electrostatic sprays on beneficial insects:

London University: Completed

IV. PhD: Control of cassava mealybug using growth regulators:

London University: Completed

V. PhD: Ecological interactions between conifer aphids and their

host trees and natural enemies: influence of host tree and

environmental conditions of the aphid: London University:

Completed

VI. Co-supervision of a PhD student of the university of Reading

studying biological control of maize stalk borer-Chilo

partellus: Completed

REVIEW/CONSULTANCY MISSION

Consultant on the status of insect infestations of sugarcane in 2012 and percentage in

sugarcane infestations from 2006-2012 at Ntchalo Sugarcane Estate.

G.K.C Nyirenda (2014). The status of insect infestations of sugarcane in 2012 and

percentage insect sugarcane of sugarcane in 2012 and percentage insect sugarcane

infestations from 2006-2012 at Ntchalo Sugarcane Estate: 29 PP

FEB/06 – FEB/08 Core consultant pest management expert on Community Based

Rural Land Development Project. Ministry of Lands, Housing and

Surveys.

16-17 March 2006 Local facilitator to support USAID/MALAWI, PERSUAP

Review Workshop Lilongwe, Malawi and Editor of Workshop

proceedings.

October 1995 Local member of a planning mission reviewing project progress

of the Malawi-Germany Bio Control and Post-Harvest Project

(MGBPP) PN 89.2029-0-01.100.

9-13/10/94 Member of team assessing the impact of the

SACCAR/ESAMI/ISNAR Agricultural Research management

training projects.

2/6-11/7/91 Member of a group reviewing the SADCC-GTZ Migrant Pest

Control Project.

11/7-2/8/91 Member of a team reviewing the Southern African Centre of

Cooperation in Agricultural Research. (SACCAR)

18/10-8/11/1992: Served on a project progress review and planning mission of the

Malawi-Germany Bio Control and Post-Harvest Project (MGBPP)

PN. 89.2029-0-01.100.

MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES AND BOARDS

2013 to date : Membership of the Biotechnology Committee of Bunda

Campus of Lilongwe

University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

2006-2007 : Member of the Workshop Organizing Committee of Farmer

Field School in Malawi.

January 2006 : Elected chairman of the Technical Pesticides Registration sub-

committee of the Pesticides Control Board.

November 2005 : Elected member of the Technical Pesticides Registration sub-

committee of the Pesticides Control Board.

December 2003 : Elected member of the Pesticide Task Force by the Pesticides

Control Board.

2003-2006 : Nominated by the Head of Crop Science Department at Bunda

College to represent the Head of Crop Science Department in the

National Research Council of Malawi Research Committee

November 2002- Date : Elected chairman of the National Genetic and

Biotechnology Committee of Malawi.

December 2001 : Nominated member of the Pesticide board by the Principal of

Bunda College of Agriculture.

2000 to 2003 : Elected member of the working group on Integrated Pest

Management in Malawi. Membership consisted of four members of

Government, one member representing an association of

commercial pesticides firm, one member representing a non

governmental organization (CURE), FAO representative in Malawi

and a GTZ coordinator of management of plant Pest Protection

Project.

1997 : Convener of subcommittee on preparation of University Master

Plan for Research.

1996-1998 : Chairman of a Task Force to prepare Biosafety Framework and

Bio safety draft bill and regulations, their monitoring and

enforcement mechanism. Draft bill prepared.

1996-1998 : Elected member of the senate research and publications

committee representing Bunda College of Agriculture.

1995-1998 : Member of the Department of Crop Science and Bunda College

Post-Graduate Committee.

1994-2002 : Chairman of committee to source funds for holding a workshop

to establish an insect, and other invertebrate biodiversity center in

Malawi. Workshop held and proposal for the centre made available

to Government and appropriate donors.

REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL

2005 to date : Confirmed Executive Committee Member of the Forestry Invasive

Species Network for Africa.

December, 2004 : Nominated Interim Executive committee member of Forestry.

Invasive Species Network for Africa. Full status of committee

confirmed in 2005.

2002 to date : Board member of the National Millennium Seed Bank of Malawi

1997-1998 : Representing Malawi Government at meetings of the Open Ended

Adhoc Working Group on Biodiversity, Montreal Canada.

1993 – 1998 : Member of the Steering Committee on Biodiversity in the African

region.

1991-1993 : Southern African Centre for Co-operation in Agricultural Research.

(SACCAR)

1991-1993 : Member of Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa

June 1988- June 1991: Served as member of the Steering Committee of Pestnet at

ICIPE.

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS (REFEREED)

Stephen Nyirenda1, Gudeta W. Sileshi

2, Steven R. Belmain

3, John F.M.

Kamanula4, Brighton M. Mvumi

5, Phosiso Sola

6, Greenwell K.C. Nyirenda

7, and

Philip C. Stevenson8. (2011). Farmers ethno-logical knowledge of vegetable pests

and pesticidal plant use in northern Malawi and eastern Zambia. African Journal

of Agricultural Research Vol.16 (6), 18 March, 2011: 1525-1537.

John Kamanula; Gudeta W. Sileshi; Steven R. Belmain; Phosiso Sola; Brighton

M. Mvuni; Nyirenda G.K.C.; Stephen Nyirenda and Philip C. Stevenson.

Farmer’s insect pest management and pesticidal plant use in the protection of

stored maize and beans in southern Africa. International Journal of Pest

Management Vol. 57 no. 1 January- March 2010:41-47

V.H. Kabambe, W.G. Mhango, M. Msiska, W.A.B. Msuku, Nyirenda G.K.C., and

C Masangano Facilitating Food Crop Production in Lungwena, Mangochi district

in Malawi; Lessons from a farmer based pass-on seed support model – African

Journal of Agriculture Research Vol 3 (6):440-447.

W.R.L Masamba, J.F.M Kamanula, Elizabeth M.T. Henry, and Nyirenda G.K.C.

(2003) Extraction and analysis of Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citrates) oil. An

essential oil with potential to control the Larger Grain Borer (Prostephanus

truncatus) in stored products in Malawi. Malawi Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Vol. 2 (1) :56-64

Chamango A.M.Z., Mloza-Banda H.R., Ritchie J.M., and Nyirenda G.K.C.

(2003). Comparative effects of farmers and researchers weeding practices on

weed populations and crop yields UNISWA Res. J. Agric. Sc. And Tech.

Vol.16(2): 147-156

Chamango A.M.Z., Mloza-Banda H.R., Ritchie J.M., and Nyirenda G.K.C.

(2003). Factors influencing smallholder weeding practices. Assessment of

farmers’ decision making process for weeding in southern Malawi. UNISWA

Res. J. Agric. Sc. And Tech. 16(2): 157-164.

Nyirenda G.K.C. (2002). Preliminary Results of Bean Insect Pests in Karonga

Agricultural Development Division and some parts of Lilongwe and Shire valley

Agricultural Development Divisions in Malawi: Paper represented at the

Bean/Cowpea CRSP workshop held at Impala hotel in Arusha from 12-14

January 2001;Cooperative Extension Washington State University: 7pp

Nyirenda G.K.C. (1987). Recent development in the application machinery for

insect pest management with particular reference to small scale farmers in the

Tropics, Insect Science and Its Application: 8; 723-729.

BOOKS Nyirenda G.K.C. (1994). Paurocephala gossypii Russell (Homoptera: Psyllidae).

In Matthews, G.A. and Tunstall, J.P. (Eds). Insect Pests of Cotton, Chapter 15.

Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International: 359-365:ISBN 0851987249.

Nyirenda G.K.C. and Brabant, P. (1993). Identification of possible benchmark site

in Malawi. In a holistic approach to sustainable soil use in SADCC countries. In

Catizzone M. and Muchena, S.C. (1993) (Edits). Part 11 (Section 3) interim

papers of Report, EUR 15809 EN a workshop supported by the European

Commission Directorate General x11 for Science and Development Life Sciences

and Technologies for Developing Countries STD3 Programme and Southern

Centre for Cooperation in Agricultural Research, Harare, November, 1993,

Zimbabwe: 50-51: ISBN 192-826-8291-9.

Publications not presented for first appointment to Senior Lecturer in the

University of Malawi and promotion to current grade of Associate Professor in

September 1992 and in July 2000 respectively.

CURRICULUM VITAE

VINCENT WASEKHAYA SAKA

1. BIRTH DATE : August 28, 1942, Chintheche,

Nkhata Bay, Malawi.

2. NATIONALITY : Malawian.

3. MARITAL STATUS : Married with one child.

4. ADDRESS: : University of Malawi

Bunda College of Agriculture

P.O. Box 219,

LILONGWE, MALAWI

Tel: 01 277 226

01 277 291 (Home)

Cell: 08 832 042 / 09 202 955

Fax: 265 277 364 / 420

E-mail: vwsaka@yahoo.co.uk

5. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

(a) Primary Education 1951 - 1958: Bandawe Full Primary School.

(b) Secondary Education 1959 - 1962: Nkhata Bay Secondary School.

(O Levels)

1963 – 1964: Dedza Secondary School

(A Levels).

(c) University Education 1965 - 1966: One year in the University of

Malawi.

1966 - 1970: BSc. Plant Pathology: University of

Massachusetts. Amherst

Massachusetts,

U.S.A.

1972 - 1978: MSc., PhD, Plant Nematology:

University of Massachusetts.

Amherst

Massachusetts, U.S.A.

6. PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT

1970 - 1972 : Research and advisory in Plant Pathology,

Nematodes and Quarantine services at Bvumbwe

Research Station. Responsible for produce

inspection in storage facilities including ADMARC

1978 - 1979 : Research and advisory in Nematology

and Plant Pathology and Quarantine produce

inspectoion in storage facilities

1979 - 1982 : Head of Plant Protection Services in

Malawi and Senior Plant Nematologist.

1982 - 1984 : Lecturer in Plant Pathology at Bunda College of

Agriculture (on secondment).

1984 : Promoted to Senior Lecturer in Plant Pathology.

1984 : Visiting Scientist at the International Crops

Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics

(ICRISAT), India, November 26, 1983 - January 7,

1984.

1985 : Visiting Senior Lecturer in Plant Pathology in the

Biology Department, Chancellor College,

University of Malawi, January - June.

1986 : Visiting Senior Lecturer in Plant Pathology and

Microbiology in the Biology Department,

Chancellor College.

1989 : Promoted to Associate Professor.

1991 - 1996 : Head, Crop Science Department. One of the major

contributions to the Department during my tenure

are the introduction of taught MSc Programme

initially funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

First person to get research funds from Rockerfeller

Foundation and encouraged others.

1995 to date : Promoted to Professor.

2002 : Retired

2002 to date : On contract until 2006 August 31

Teaching Plant Pathology and soil microbiology to

Undergraduates and Post graduates as well as

supervising MSc and Ph.D students.

2006 – 2008 : Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research

9. MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND COMMITTEES

1979 to date : Nematological Society of Southern Africa

1978 – 1986 : Cooperator in the International Meloidogyne

Project based at North Carolina State University at

Raleigh.

1981 to date : Collaborator in Pigeon Pea Pathology with

ICRISAT

Scientists.

1984 – 1990 : Faculty Representative on the University of Malawi

Senate Research and Publications

Committee

1985 to date : Member of the Ministry of Agricultural Research

Council Technical and Finance Sub-Committee

1985 to date : Member of the Ministry of Agriculture and

Technology

release committee.

1983 - 1990 : Member of Bunda College Projects and Seminars

Committee.

1984 - 1990 : Chairman of Bunda College Research and

Publications

Committee.

1983 – 1985 : Member of Bunda College Housing Committee.

1986 - 1990 : Chairman of University of Malawi Senate Research

and

Publications Committee.

10. AWARDS

African Crop Science Society Meritorius Award for cutting Edge in nematology.

11. FELLOWSHIPS/COURSES

1985 : Fulbright Fellowship Award Recipient at the North Carolina State

University at Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, (July - December).

This a prestigious fellowship awarded to distinguished scholars by

USA Government.

1985 : Recipient of Commonwealth Foundation and Technical

Cooperation Fellowship to participate in the 3rd

International

Course on the Identification of Plant Nematodes of Economic

Importance organized and conducted by the CAB International

Institute of Parasitology, St. Albans, UK.

1992 : Course: Advances in Agroforestry: Crop selection, Management

components, and system evaluation - University of Wales Bangor

UK, March 29 to 10 April.

1992 : Course: Plant Tissue Culture Training course. Taiwan Banana

Research Institute. Ping Tung 9 November - 29 November.

Fellowship awarded by the Taiwan Government.

1996 : Training workshop for trainers on Agroforestry Research for

Integrated Land use, 14 October to 6 November, 1996, ICRAF,

Nairobi, Kenya.

Since 1966 to date attended several courses including the latest on Sanitary /

phytosanitary (SPS) Risk analysis workshop in Pretoria, South Africa- May 23 to June 3,

2011 organised by Tuskege University, USA.

B. PUBLICATIONS IN REFERRED JOURNALS

Saka, V.W. and M.A. Siddiqi 1979. Plant parasitic nematodes associated with

plants in Malawi. Plant Dis. Reporter 763: 945 - 948.

Brown, D.J.F., D.J. Hooper and V.W. Saka, 1982. A description of a male

Longidorus pisi (Nematoda: Dorylaimoidea) from Malawi with

observations of females and the taxonomic status of the species.

Nematologia Mediterranea 10: 101 - 106.

Brown, D.J.F., M. Luc and V.W. Saka, 1983. Two species of Xiphinema cobb

1913 (Nematode Dorylaimodea) from Malawi, East Africa. Bull. Mus.

Nath. Hist. Paris 4 (5): 521 - 529.

Saka, V.W. and D.W. Makina 1983. Nematicidal activities of aquous extracts of

“bitter” cassava peel and tung cake against Meloidogyne javanica

(Treub) Chitwood. Luso J. Sc. Tech. (Malawi) 4 (I): 31 - 37.

Saka, V.W. 1986. The occurrence of Meloidogyne javanica and Fusarium udum

interaction on pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan in Malawi, Bunda J. Agric.

Research 1: 49 - 53.

Saka, V.W. 1990. Evaluation of Common Bean Phaseolus vulgaris Groundnut,

(Arachis hypogea and pigeon pea Cajanus cajan) for resistance to Root-

Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp). Field Crops Research, 23: 39 - 44.

Msuku, W.A.B., V.W. Saka, J.C. Mbalule and S. Kamkwamba, 1990.

Evaluation of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Germplasm against Angular

leafspot and some root nematode (Meloidogyne) species in Malawi,

Zimbabwe J. Agric. Res. 28: 15 - 21.

C. CHAPTER IN A BOOK

Saka, V.W. 1985. Meloidogyne spp. research in Region V of International

Meloidogyne Project IMP. Pp 361 - 368, In Advanced Treaties on

Meloidogyne, Vol. I (Ed J.N. Sasser and C.C. Carter). North Carolina

State University Graphics. Raleigh, NC 422 pp.

D. BOOKS

Saka, V.W. and C.C. Carter 1987. Hosts and Nonhosts of the root-knot

nematodes Meloidogyne incognita. North Carolina State University

Graphics, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. 62 p.

Msuku, W.A.B., V.W. Saka and D.C. Munthali, 2000. Major Diseases and

Insect Pests of Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Malawi: Problems and

their control Study Guide, Montfort Press, 62 p.

F. CONSULTANCY

Member of Triennial Review - Department of Agriculture Research sponsored

by World Bank, March 1992.

Saka, V.W. (Team Leader) and I.J. Minde (1994). Evaluation of “Accelerated

Multiplication and Distribution of Improved Cassava and Sweet Potato Planting

Material as Drought Recovery Measure in Malawi.” Report submitted to

IITA/SARNET for the project funded by USAID.

Member of Core Team for the Preparation of the Malawi Agricultural and

Natural Resources Master Plan, 1996-1998.

Component Leader for Micro-organisms Biodiversity Task Force - Department

of Environmental Affairs, 1998.

Team Leader for the Evaluation of Methyl Bromide Phase out Project. Report

submitted to the Depatment of Environmental Affairs in the Ministry of Natural

Resources and Environmental Affairs/UNDP, June 2002.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Agricultural and Technical Research

Projects.2010, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Agricultural Research and Extension Trust

Projects, 2010.

Reviewing of 1969 Malawi Plant Protection Law as a national Plant Protection

Specialist, European Union together with European Union Trade Lawyer.

RESEARCH GRANTS

Principal Investigator 1993-1995 “Investigation on Pathogenic Variability of

Fusarium udum Butler, the Incitant of Wilt in Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.)

Millspaugh)”. (74,000 US Dollars, Rockefeller Foundation).

Principal Investigator: V.W. Saka and A.M. Julian, 1996. The significance and

management of smuts and ear rots in smallholder farmers in Malawi (85,000 US

Dollars, Rockefeller Foundation).

CONTRIBUTION

Have contributed to the identification of Pigeonpea variety ICP 9145 as a

resistant

cultivar to Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium udum in Pigeonpea. The ICP 9145

is

currently widely grown in the Southern Region.

. REFEREES

Professor G.Y. Kanyama-Phiri

Principal

University of Malawi

Bunda College of Agriculture

PO Box 219

Fax No.: 277 364/420

Lilongwe

Professor L.A. Kamwanja

Pro-Vice Chancellor

University Office

PO Box 278, Zomba

Prof. W.A.B. Msuku

Head, Crop Science Department

University of Malawi

Bunda College of Agriculture

PO Box 219 Fax No.: 277 364/420, Lilongwe

Wezi E. Mkwaila PhD

wezimkwaila@gmail.com

P.O. Box 219,

Lilongwe,

Malawi

Cell +265 99 833 1376 / +265 88 121 1282

________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________

Professional Objectives Research, teaching and outreach in the field of plant breeding and genetics; molecular

genetics; application of statistics and quantitative approaches in plant breeding,

biotechnology and general applied horticulture.

Education Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI PhD (2013)

Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Program, Dept. of Crop and Soil Science

Thesis Title: QTL Analysis for White Mold [Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary]

Resistance in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Coursework Quantitative Genetics and Plant Breeding Advanced Plant Breeding

Fundamental Genetics Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Statistics for Biologists Advanced Statistics for Biologists Biotechnology for Plant

Breeding Plant Reproductive Biology and Ploidy Plant Molecular Pathology Plant

Pathology Writing in the Sciences Plant Genomics

University of Malawi, Chancellor College Master of Science (Biology), 2005

Specialization: Plant Biology, Applied Plant Biotechnology and Genetics

Grade: Credit

Coursework Genetics Molecular Biology

PCR Theory and Practice Population Genetics

Statistics

University of Malawi, Chancellor College Bachelor of Science (2001)

Major: Biology

Grade: Credit

Experience 2005 - Present Bunda College, LUANAR Malawi

Teaching and Research Lecturer

tuber crops, plant breeding and biotechnology

mittees including University

Senate Research & Publications and Library & Information Technology Committees.

2012 – Present African Union NEPAD African Biosafety Network of Expertise

Part time Program Officer gulatory affairs

-NEPAD as part of a multidisciplinary team on Biotech and Biosafety

issues in Malawi and Africa

Research Assistant: Breeding for white mold resistance in common bean

other agronomic traits (multi-year; multisite) using Excel, GenStat, SAS, and basic

analysis of variance and heritability and linear models in R

gical variables, estimation of population parameters, hypothesis testing,

correlation and regression, analysis of variance, field and greenhouse experimental design

for plant breeding research including randomized block designs, lattice designs, Latin

squares, split plots, repeated-measures designs, and regression applications.

including follow up on past projects to ensure continuity of research

ta capture tools including visual, metric and

computerized imagery

R/qtl JoinMap, MapQTL and QTL Icimapping.

molecular markers to advance breeding objectives especially favorable trait introgression

ng soil preparation,

planting, maintenance, pollination, harvesting, threshing, plant disease evaluation and

other related work.

digests, agarose and acrylamide gel electrophoresis

genomics personel on molecular marker generation, genotyping and phenotypic data

sharing.

Agriculture-

Agricultural Research Services.

2002-2004 Chancellor College and Bvumbwe Agricultural Research Station Malawi

Research Assistant

morphological characters

2001-2005 Biotechnology-Ecology Research and Outreach Consortium

Research Associate

and urban area in Malawi

increasing public awareness of the applications of biotechnology

biotechnology for policy formulation

2004 Food and Agricultural Organization Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding

Capacity Building with BioEROC

Consultant

National Agricultural Research stations and CGIAR Centers to determine the needs and

opportunities

Other Qualifications Certificate in Integrated Pest Management 2012 Michigan State University, MI USA

Certificate in Intellectual Property Rights 2012 Michigan State University, MI USA

Certificate in Food Safety 2012 Michigan State University, MI USA

Certificate in Biosafety 2012 Michigan State University, MI USA

Certificate in Science Communication 2012 Michigan State University MI USA

Certificate in Molecular Plant Breeding, 2009. Michigan State University, MI USA

Certificate in Zero-Emission Type Agriculture & Environmental System for Rural Areas,

2007. Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan.

Certificate in Research Methods and Statistical Methods, 2006. Regional Universities for

Capacity Building in Agriculture, Zambia.

Certificate in Biotechnology Communication, 2004. Sothern Africa Development

Community (SADC) Republic of South Africa.

Certificate in Computer Skills, 2000. Chancellor College, University of Malawi

Certificate in Communication Skills, 2000. Chancellor College, University of Malawi

Certificate in Women’s Educational Leadership, 2007. United Nations Educational

Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Awards African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) 2014-2016

African Biosafety Network of Expertise Fellowship

Dr Leo W. Mericle and Dr Rae Phelps Mericle Memorial Scholarship Michigan State

University

Rockerfeller MSc Fellowship University of Malawi

Publications & Presentations Mkwaila W., W. Changadeya, and A. J.D. Ambali. 2013. Morphological Characterization

of cultivated and wild yam (Dioscorea sp) in Malawi. IJPSS Volume 3, Issue 10 ISSN:

2249-5894:Pp 295-312

Mkwaila et al. 2014 Mapping of QTL for white mold resistance in pinto bean using

single nucleotide polymorphisms. In preparation.

Kelly, J.D., W. Mkwaila, G.V.Varner, K. Cichy and E. Wright. 2012. Registration of

‘Eldorado’ pinto bean. J. Plant Registrations 6:3 doi: 10.3198/jpr2012.02.0140crc

Mkwaila, W. and J.D. Kelly , 2012. Identification and validation of QTL for white mold

resistance in two pinto bean RIL populations. Ann. Rev. Rep. Bean. Improv. Coop. 55,

157-158. 4

Mkwaila, W. and J.D. Kelly. 2011. Heritability estimates and phenotypic correlations for

agronomic traits and white mold resistance in pinto bean. Ann. Rev. Rep. Bean. Improv.

Coop. 54, 134—135.

Mkwaila, W. and J.D. Kelly. 2013. QTL analysis for white mold resistance in pinto bean.

Presentation at 2013 Annual National Sclerotinia Initiative Minneapolis MINNESOTA

Mkwaila, W. and J.D. Kelly, 2010. Evolution of dry bean varieties. Presentation at the

2010 Michigan State University AgExpo. East Lansing Michigan

Msowoya-Mkwaila, W. 2005. Morphological Characterization of Dioscorea spp in

Malawi. Msc Thesis, University of Malawi

Ambali, A.J.D. and W. Msowoya-Mkwaila. 2004. Report on plant breeding and

biotechnology capacity survey, Malawi (Draft). Biotechnology-Ecology Research and

Outreach Consortium, Zomba, Malawi.

Msowoya-Mkwaila W., Gondwe W.T and A.J.D. Ambali, 2003. Morphological

characterization of yam (Dioscorea species) in Malawi. Presented at Sixth African Crop

Science Conference12-17 October 2003, Nairobi, Kenya.

Gondwe W. T., A.J.D. Ambali and W. Msowoya-Mkwaila, 2003. Yam (Dioscorea spp)

germplasm evaluation for yield and quality, Department of Agricultural Research

Services. In-house Scientific Conference September, Chitedze Agricultural Research

Station.

Membership in Professional Associations American Society of Agronomy

Crop Science Society of America

Soil Science Society of America

Bean Improvement Cooperative

Fellow of African Biotechnology Network of Expertise

Referees

Dr David Mkwambisi

ddmkwambisi@gmail.com

Dr Wezi Mhango

Wezzi2002@yahoo.com

RESUME

James M. Bokosi, PhD

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources

E-mail: jmbokosi@yahoo.com or jmbokosi57@gmail.com

Experience:

Employment: - Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Position: - Professor: Responsible for teaching both Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Students. I teach Biology, Plant Genetics, Tree Improvement and Plant Breeding for

Undergraduates, and Advanced Genetics, Advanced Plant Breeding, Plant Molecular

Biology and Biotechnology, Host-Parasite Interaction, for Post-Graduate students. I

supervise research projects at both Undergraduate and Post-Graduate levels.

Education:

Michigan State University, USA

Master of Science (1986): Plant Breeding and Genetics

University of Nebraska, USA

Doctor of Philosophy (1996): Plant Breeding and Genetics

CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES

Project Manager for AGRA funded MSc. training in Plant Breeding and

Agronomy: The project was implemented between February 1, 2010 to January 31, 2012

(24 months and aimed at building human capacity in Malawi and Mozambique through

provision of formal training of students at MSc. level in Plant Breeding and Agronomy in

order to address the critical shortage of critical mass of scientists in the two

disciplines/specialties. The project support grant amounted to $376,825 and trained a

total of ten (10) MSc. students in plant breeding and agronomy

Project Manager for AGRA funded MSc. training in Plant Breeding, Agronomy,

and Seed Science: The project was a follow-up to the one implemented between

February 1, 2010 to January 31, 2012 following developing a successful renewal. The

aim was to expand the number of trained researchers and scientists in in Malawi and

Mozambique through provision of formal training of students at MSc. level in Plant

Breeding, agronomy seed science in order to address the critical shortage of critical mass

of scientists in the three disciplines/specialties. The project support grant amounted to

$346,815 and a total of ten (10) MSc. students will be trained between May 2012 and

October 2014

ACADEMIC WORK, RESEARCH AND STUDENTS SUPERVISION

STUDENT SUPERVISION

Undergraduates

I have supervised more than 50 undergraduate students over the years and their research

projects have been completed successfully and are documented in the Department of

Crop and Soil Sciences and the College library.

Postgraduates

Have supervised and co-supervised more than 15 MSc. students both Malawian and

foreign students some of whom are working in University, private sector, non-

governmental organization and International research centres.

Co-Supervisor for two PhD Students (Joint Program between Bunda College and

Agricultural University of Norway) under a NUFU Project sponsorship (Norway)

PUBLICATIONS (Last 5 years))

V. M. Mwale, J.M. Bokosi, C.M. Masangano, M.B. Kwapata, V.H. Kabambe, and C.

Miles. 2009. Yield performance of dwarf bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines under

research designed farmer managed (RDFM) system in three bean agro-ecological zones

of Malawi. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 7(16), pp.2847-2853.

V. M. Mwale, J.M. Bokosi, C.M. Masangano, M.B. Kwapata, V.H. Kabambe, and C.

Miles. 2009. Performance of climber common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines under

research designed farmers managed (RDFM) system in three bean agro-ecological zones

of Malawi. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 8(11), pp.2460-2468.

F.M. Chipojola, W.F. Mwase, M.B. Kwapata, J.M. Bokosi, J.P. Njoloma, and M.F.

Maliro. 2010. Morphological characterization of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in

four populations in Malawi. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 8(20), pp. 5173-

5181.

B.Y.E. Chataika, J.M. Bokosi, M.B. Kwapata, R.M. Chirwa, V.M. Mwale, P.

Munyenyembe, and J.R. Myers. Performance of parental genotypes and inheritance of

angular leaf spot (Phaeosariopsis griseola) resistance in the common bean (Phaseolus

vulgaris). African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(28), pp.4398-4406.

V.E. Mshani, M. Kwapata, J. Bokosi, W. Mwase, J.Njoloma, and M. Maliro. 2010.

Growth and multiplication ability of Musa species using the whole-corm technique. Tree

and Forestry Science Biotechnology 4 (Special Issue 1). pp.88-92.

B.Y.E Chataika, J.M. Bokosi, and R.M. Chirwa. 2011. Inheritance of resistance to

common bacterial blight in common bean. African Crop Science Journal, Vol. 19 (4).

pp312-323.

B.Y.E Chataika, J.M. Bokosi, R.M. Chirwa, and M.B. Kwapata. 2011. Inheritance of

halo blight resistance in common bean. African Crop Science Journal, Vol. 19 (4).

pp325-333.

J.P Hella, J. Chilongo, A.M. Mbwaga, J. Bokosi, V. Kabambe, C. Riches and C.L

Massawe. 2013. Participatory market-led cowpea breeding in Sub-Saharan Africa:

Evidence pathway from Malawi and Tanzania. Merit Research Journal of Agricultural

Science and Soil Sciences. Vol.1(2) pp. 011-018.

M.M. Chipeta, J.M. Bokosi, V.W. Saka, and I.R.M Benesi. 2013. Combining ability and

mode of gene action in Cassava for resistance to cassava green mite and cassava mealy

bug in Malawi. Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science. Vol. 5 (9), pp. 195-202.

F.M. Chipojola, W.F. Mwase, M.B. Kwapata, J.P. Njoloma, J.M. Bokosi and M.F.

Maliro. 2013. Effect of tree age, scion source and grafting period on the grafting success

of cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.). African Journal of Agricultural Research.

Vol. 8 (46), pp 5785-5780.

M.M. Chipeta and J.M. Bokosi. 2013. Status of Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Production

and Utilization in Malawi. International Journal of Agronomy and Plant Production.

Vol.,4(S), 3637-3644.

CURRICULUM VITAE

NAME : Moses Bauleni Kwapata E-mail: mkwapata@yahoo.com

SEX : Male

DATE OF BIRTH : 30th June, 1953

MARITAL STATUS : Married with 4 children

NATIONALITY : Malawian

EMPLOYER : Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources

HOME ADDRESS: Misyoni village, TA Mabuka, Mulanje District, Malawi, Africa

FORMAL EDUCATION 1984 - 1989 : Ph.D Botany (Horticulture) Univ. of California

1979 - 1981 : M.Sc. Plant Sciences, (Univ. of California)

1977 - 1979 : B.Sc. Horticulture (California State Poly. Univ.)

1972 - 1975 : Diploma in Agriculture (Univ. of Malawi)

INFORMAL EDUCATION (Certificate of attendance) 2005 : Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy Development

2006 ; Power of negotiation and conflict resolution

1996 : Training of trainers

1983 : Plant Genebank Management

EMPLOYMENT

2003 - Present: Professor of Horticulture – University of Malawi 1992 - 2002 : Associate Professor of Horticulture - Univ. of Malawi

1990 - 1992 : Senior Lecturer in Horticulture - Univ. of Malawi

1981 - 1990 : Lecturer in Horticulture - Univ. of Malawi

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES (At work)

2008 - 2012 Principal of Bunda College of Agriculture (BCA) 1992 - 1996 : Vice Principal of BCA

2000 - 2008 : Dean of Faculty of Environmental Sciences, BCA

2000 – 2004 Head of Forestry and Horticulture Department, BCA

1996 - 2000 : Head, Crop Science Department, BCA

2010 – 2012 : Team Leader of LUANAR Establishment Taskforces

2000 – 2012 Member of University Senate (UNIMA)

2003 - 2008 : Senate Representative on University Council

1997 - 1999 : Coordinator of Bunda / Abryestwyth Link relationship

CIVICS DUTIES 2001 –-2008 Chairman, Council for National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi

2

1998 - 2008 Chairman, Board of Trustees of Shire Valley Smallholder Cane Growers

Scheme

1998 – 2008 Chairman, Board of Directors of Kasinthula Cane Growers Ltd

2006 – 2008 Member of working committee on establishment of LUSTECH

1992 - 2005 Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Science and

Technology of Malawi

CONSULTANCIES

1999 : GTZ Horticultural Promotion Project Appraisal Consultant

1998 Research master plan: Horticultural sector development

1997 Peer review of regional Crop Science masters Programme

at University of Zambia

1999 Conservation of National Biodiversity: Domesticated plants

and animals

EDITORIAL BOARDS 2002 - Member of Editorial Board – Malawi Journal of Agricultural

Research

1998 - 2002 : Member of Editorial Board - Horticulture in Malawi Magazine

1997 - 2002 : Member of Editorial Board - Agroforestry Farm news newsletter

1990 - 1992 : Member of Editorial Board - Malawi Journal of Science and Technology

LIST OFSOME PUBLICATIONS Kwapata, M.B. and Hall, A.E. (1990) Response of Contrasting Vegetable Cowpea

genotypes to plant density and harvesting of young pods. 1. Pod production. Field Crops

Research 24: 1-10. 3

Mwase,W. F. Erik-Lid,S.,Bjornstad.A.,Stedje, B., Kwapata, M.B. and Bokosi, J.M.

(2007) Application of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLPs) for detection of

sex-specific markers in dioecious Uapaca kirkiana, Muell. Arg. African Journal of

Biotechnology: 6(2):137-142

Mwase, W. F., Bjornstad, A., Stedje, B., Bokosi,J.M. and Kwapata, M.B.(2007) Genetic

diversity of Uapaca kirkiana Muell. Arg.populations as revealed by amplified fragments

length polymorphisms (AFLPs) African Journal of Biotechnology:5(13):1205-1213

Maliro, M.F.A and Kwapata, M.B. (2000) Apomictic embryo development and survival

in Uapaka Kirkiana under invitro and invivo seed germination. Scientia horticulturae Vol

83, No. 2 pp 139-147.

ON GOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. Bt-Cotton Confined Field Trial Testing efficacy of BGII gene that confers resistance to cotton bollworm which is a

serious pest in cotton. The results of the study will assist smallholder farmers by reducing

frequency of chemical sprays and thereby cut cost of production and increase yields of

quality cotton.

2. Production of pathogen free potato seed for smallholder farmers

Demand for Irish potato by small to medium restaurants and hotels has increased

tremendously. However Potato seed quality is poor, supply to smallholder farmers is

inadequate and purity of seed is questionable. Hence, on-going study to clean-up seed

from pathogens and ensure adequate supply of true to type seed for improved production

and utilization of the potato crop.

C U R R I C U L U M V I T A E

dgdawa@gmail.com

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

FIRST NAME : GOODSON DYSON

SURNAME : Dawa

SEX : Male

MARITAL STATUS : Married

DATE OF BIRTH : 2nd

February 1962

NATIONALITY : Malawian

RELIGION : Christianity

PHONE NUMBERS : 0888 353 519 /0992 287 305

CARRIER OBJECTIVE

Goodson is a hard worker, responsible, serious person, able to handle people, and can

work under stress, he is also an easy learner. He is a self motivated worker with a

positive attitude who enjoys working in a challenging environment. He loves the

opportunity to learn new things that are challenging and does his best in his work. He

is a creative thinker; he always tries to find different way of doing work. He is a

courageous person and likes taking risks and struggle for his goal until it’s fulfilled.

PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION

SECONDARY SCHOOL INFORMATION:

(1) MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (MSCE)

(Obtained at Thekelani Malawi Crosspondance Center (MCC) 1N 1984

(2) JUNIOR CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (J.C.E )

(Obtained : at Mitundu Secondary School in 1982)

WORK EXPERIENCE

I joined Bunda College of Agriculture which is now LUANAR University in

1986 in Crop Science Department, Horticulture Section as a Research Assistant

In 1991 I was promoted to Horticulture Field Assistant

In 2006 I was promoted to Ass Field Technician

DUTIES

Handling students practicals

Assist students projects

Supervision of Field staff

Handling of Field Trials

Data Collection and Data Entry

Data analysis statistically

Fruits and Vegetables Nursery / Field Management

CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION AND TRAINING

In1993 I participated in an international workshop on plant tissue culture and its

application to Agriculture and Forestry.

In 2006 I participated on Effective Leadership skill Training workshop

In 2003 I participated on Supervisory committee Training

In 2011 I participated on Stewardship and Development of Standard Operating

Procedures Technicians

In 2013 I participated on Stewardship Practices and Confined Field Trial.

In 2013 I participated on Bt-Cotton Insects Pest Biology, Identification, Scouting and

Insecticide Mixing and Application.

EXTRA CURRICULA ACTIVITIES

Playing Football

Listening to gospel music

Associating with people

REFEREES:

HORTICULTURELIST/VC MAST HORTICULTURELIST

Prof M.B Kwapata

Luanar University

P.O. Box 219

Lilongwe

Cell: 0999 237 378

Dr E Chilembwe

Luanar University

Bunda College

P.O. Box 219

Lilongwe

Cell: 0888 843 594

CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSON DETAILS

SURNAME : Khumayo

FIRST NAME : Mac lonard

DATE OF BIRTH : 3rd

April, 1989

MARITAL STATUS : Married

SEX : Male

NATIONALITY : Malawian

HOME DISTRICT : Lilongwe

CONTACT ADDRESS : C/o Mr M V Khumayo

Mitundu Seventh Day Adventist Church

P O Box 07

Mitundu

Lilongwe

Cell : 0881 486 656

PERSONAL PROFILE Iam reliable, well organized and used to work on my own initiative and as part of a team. Iam

able to prioritize my workload. Maturity, honest and integrity. Able to work under pressure.

SKILLS AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES

Excellent public relation skills

Good problem solver

Familiar with English And Chichewa

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

Completed Certificate of computer packages

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Publisher

Microsoft Power Pointer

Microsoft Access

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

Malawi School Certificate of Education

Junior Certificate of Education

EXPERIENCE

2012 - 2013 : Community facilitator (Mitundu)

ORGANISATION; Word Alive Ministries International

2011 : Loan Collector (Mchinji)

ORGANISATION; NASFARM

2010 : Data Entry Clerk (Nkhotakota)

ORGANISATION; Nkhotakota Agriculture

INTEREST

Reading, Travelling, Watching TVs, Aspiring to learn new things

OTHER KNOWLEDGE

Driving Motor Cycle (Six years experience)

AMBITION

To be successful at work and cooperative with different kinds of people at work and

learn more.

REFFEREES

1. Mr Mavuto Kasambwe

Box 677

Lilongwe

Cell : 0999 629 855

2. Mr Damison Kauta

Patsankhondo F.P School

Box 16

Mitundu

Lilongwe

Cell : 0995 394 069

3. Mr John Ligomeka

Green Gold Finance Company

P O Box 2353

Lilongwe

Cell : 0993 348 361

CURRICULUM VITAE

Esnart Nyirenda Yohane

Chitedze Agricultural Research Station

P.O. Box 158

Lilongwe

Cell: 0999104624/0888715299

Email: nyirendaesnart@yahoo.com

Personal Information Sex Female

Date of birth 26th

March 1983

Marital status Married

Religion Christian

Nationality Malawian

Home district Kasungu

Work experience Mrs Esnart Yohane is an agricultural research scientist specifically working as legumes

breeder in the legumes commodity team at Chitedze Research Station, Lilongwe, Malawi.

She has been engaged in legumes breeding research for nine years. From 2004-2009 she

worked as a technician in the legumes breeding and in 2010 she started working as a scientist

aimed at developing improved and high yielding legume varieties and best agronomic

practices so as to improve the production and productivity of legumes in Malawi. She has

been involved in releasing of varieties two medium duration Pigeon pea as one of the

adaptive measures to climate change since these varieties matures abit earlier as compared to

the existing long duration and local varieties. Esnart was also involved in releasing three

soybean varieties that are early to medium maturing that can adapt climate change and one of

the varieties (Tikolore) is promiscuous and dual purpose. She also released three sunflower

varieties. She is also in a pipeline to release two cowpea varieties that will be suitable in

drought prone areas.

Current duties and responsibilities include:

Develop research project proposals to address farmers constraints faced in Malawi on

legume production

Conduct demand driven research to address farmers’ emerging constraints on grain

legumes production in Malawi

Establish links with local, regional and international partners

Report writing and timely submission of all reports (quarterly and annual) both

technical and financial as demanded by the Director of Agricultural Research Services

and donors

Liase with other scientists such as breeders, agronomists, entomologists and

pathologists to identify appropriate researchable areas

Supervise implementation of experiments by technical.

Prepare detailed annual reports for presentation at the Department of Agricultural

Research Services (DARS) annual review and planning meetings

Academic and profesional background

YEAR AWARD AWARD INSTITUTION

2012-2014 MSc in Agronomy/breeding student University of Malawi, Bunda

College of Agriculture

2008 BSc. Degree in Forestry Mzuzu University

2003 Diploma in Agriculture Natural Resources College

December, 2012 Certificate of Completion: Rhozobia

isolation and characterisation using

molecular method

Crawford fund

August, 2013 Certificate of completion: Genomics

and molecular breeding

ICRISAT

December, 2013 Certificate of Completion: Pre-breeding

and crop improvement in legumes

ICRISAT

Referees

G.A.D Kananji, PhD

Country Coordinator

AGRA Malawi

P.O. BOX

Lilongwe

Cell: (+265) 995 446 443

E-mail: gkananji@yahoo.com

P. Nalivata, PhD

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) Bunda Campus

P.O. Box 219,

Lilongwe

Cell: +265 999079870

E-mail: patienalivata@yahoo.com

J.M.M Chintu, PhD

Agricultural Research Scientist & Team Leader (Groundnut)

Department of Agricultural Research Services

Chitedze Research Station

P.O. Box 158

Lilongwe.

Cell: +265 993 48873

E-mail: jmmchintu@yahoo.co.uk

Curriculum Vitae

DR FRANCIS NANG’AYO, B.Sc. (NRB), M.Sc. (Guelph), Ph.D., DIC (London)

P.O. Box 30709 – 00100, Nairobi

Office Tel: +254-20-422-3745, Cellphone: +254-735 992 203

email: f.nangayo@aatf-africa.org

PERSONAL DETAILS

Date of birth : September 8, 1960

Place of birth : Busia, Kenya

Nationality : Kenyan

Gender : Male

Marital Status: Married with three grown up children

CAREER PROFILE AND KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Dr Francis Nang’ayo is currently Senior Manager and Head of Regulatory Affairs Division at

the Nairobi-based African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), an international

organization that facilitates public-private partnerships for technology transfer in sub-Saharan

Africa. Having once served as General Manager at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate

Service (KEPHIS), Kenya’s premier regulator for seed and other agro-inputs and earlier on,

as Principal Scientist and Deputy Director for Biotechnology Research Program at the Kenya

Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), he is familiar with critical operations associated with

leadership of programs and implementation of projects. Trained in Agricultural Sciences, he

has some 28 years of combined work experience in agricultural research, technology testing,

regulatory compliance and technology deployment in countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. He is

versed in formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects aimed at

enhancing food security and conserving biological diversity through integrated natural

resource management approaches. Dr Nang’ayo is a Rockefeller Foundation Fellow (RF)

who has authored and co-authored over 100 scientific publications, monographs and press

articles; and delivered many presentations at national, regional, international and, professional

meetings.

During the past two decades, Nang’ayo has accomplished the following:

Provided longstanding programmatic R&D leadership in agricultural research aimed at

enhancing food security in Sub-Saharan Africa with a number of break-through results

Provided institutional management roles on regulatory affairs at the Kenya Plant Health

Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), a state corporation in Kenya responsible for plant

quanrantine, biosafety and seed certification

Provided board-level corporate leadership at several national institutions in Kenya

Ably managed the Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs division of the African

Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) thereby ensuring that all project activities

at AATF and partner institutions attain requisite regulatory compliance in target

countries of Sub Saharan Africa

During the last five years, guided project teams at AATF and partner institutions to

secure over 30 permit approvals for field testing GM materials in some six countries in

East and West Africa

Mobilized resources for training a cadre of senior officers and managers responsible for

produce inspections in compliance with national and international plant safety

regulations

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION & MEMBERSHIP

Member and former Chairman of the Entomological Society of Kenya (ESK)

Member of the African Crop Science Society

Member of the African Association of Insect Scientists (AAIS)

Member and Board Chair of the African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF)

Former Member of Kenya Standing Technical Committee on Imports and Exports

(KSTCIE)

Former Member of the Kenya National Biosafety Advisory Committee (NBC)

Former Member of KARI Institutional Biosafety Committee (KARI, IBC)

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY TRAINING

(i) Imperial College London, University of London, UK, 1993 – 1996 - Doctor of

Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Postgraduate Diploma of Imperial College (DIC) in Agricultural

Entomology; under an international merit scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation.

(ii) University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, 1988 – 1990; - Master of Science (M.Sc.)

in Environmental Biology under an international merit scholarship from the

International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada

(iii) University of Nairobi, 1981 – 1985; - Bachelor of Science, Upper Second Class

Honours, (B.Sc. Hons), in Biological Sciences supported by Government of Kenya

undergraduate scholarship

(iv) Moi University, Eldoret, 2009 to date – Executive Master of Business Administration

(MBA) in Strategic Management

EMPLOYMENT RECORD AND WORK-RELATED ASSIGNMENTS

(i) Senior Manager & Head of Regulatory Affairs (January 2005 to date), African

Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Nairobi, Kenya, responsible for:

Advising AATF on appropriate mechanisms, processes and protocols for harnessing

benefits arising from modern biotechnology applications while safeguarding

potential risks to public health and the environment.

Charged with developing and managing all components critical for the regulatory

approval process during testing and deployment of agricultural technologies

including ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements of target countries for

AATF projects.

(ii) General Manager, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) (2003/2004)

responsible for:

Coordinating quarantine, phytosanitary and biosafety affairs at KEPHIS

Ensuring inspection and grading of plants and plant produce at ports of entry and exit

Coordinating issuance of plant import permits in compliance with national plant

import regulations of Kenya

(iii) Deputy Director and Principal Research Scientist, Biotechnology Research

Programme, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (September 2001 to December

2003). in liaison with the Head of Programme, responsible for administration of staff and

intellectual leadership of biotechnology research activities within KARI

(iv) Principal Research Officer (January to September 2001) (Crop Protection Research

Programme) at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, (KARI), Muguga and was

Principal Investigator on the following research projects:

Integrated control of the Larger Grain Borer in Kenya

Biocontrol-based integrated management of the Diamond Back Moth in Eastern

and Southern Africa

Towards the Biocontrol of the African Bollworm using egg parasitoids in

sustainable vegetable production systems.

Biological control of Citrus Woolly Whitefly in Kenya

(v) Senior Research Officer (1996-2000). (Crop Protection Research Programme) at the

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, (KARI), Muguga:

Principal investigator on project to study the ecology and control of the larger grain

borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn), a highly destructive exotic pest of stored maize

with an expanding range in East and West Africa.

Lead scientist and co-ordinator of project responsible for integrated management of

insect pests of citrus in East and Central Africa.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

2012 – to date: Board Chair; African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum, ABSF,

2011 – to date: Board Member; African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum, ABSF,

2008 – to date: Member of Panel of Experts on Biotechnology and Biosafety, COMESA,

Lusaka, Zambia

2006 – 2009: Board Member; National Public Archives of Kenya,

2003 – 2009: Board Chair; St Luke’s High School, Odiado, Busia District, Kenya

2003 – 2004: Member of Senior Management Team; served on the institutional Tender and

Technical Committee, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)

GRANTMANSHIP & RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

Sourced funding alone and jointly with others as indicated below:

CAD $ 33, 200, IDRC Project-related award for Graduate Studies, University of Guelph,

1988,

US $ 62,000, Rockefeller Foundation Pre-doctoral Grant, Imperial College London, UK,

1993

US $ 75,000, Rockefeller Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship Grant, 1998,

DM 10,000, Research Grant, GTZ-IPM Horticulture Programme, 1998

US $ 2.5 Million, KARI/USAID Agricultural Biotechnology Programme, 2002, (jointly

with others)

US $ 30,000, Biosafety Capacity Building to KEPHIS/TPRI Staff, 2004 from The

Rockefeller Foundation

US $ 200,000, FAO Technical Cooperation Project on building capacity for

Biotechnology and Biosafety among regulatory institutions in Kenya, 2004

US$ 47.5 Million, WEMA Project Phase I grant from B&M Gates Foundation, 2008

(jointly with others)

US$ 50 Million, WEMA Project Phase II grant from B&M Gates Foundation, 2008

(jointly with others)

AWARDS, HONOURS & FELLOWSHIPS

Government of Kenya Undergraduate Scholarship, University of Nairobi, 1981-1985

International Development Research Centre (IDRC) postgraduate fellowship, University of

Guelph, Canada, 1988 - 1990

Thomas Jefferson Associateship for advancement of Science and Technology as Visiting

Scientist, International Institute of Agriculture, Michigan State University, USA, 1993

Crawford Foundation Fellowship, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, to

participate in IPM Decision Tools Course, 1994

Rockefeller Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship, University of London, UK, 1993 - 1996

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Author/co-author of over 100 publications including peer reviewed papers, conference papers,

technical reports and theses; Technical Editor of the East African Agricultural and Forestry

Journal. Selected publications comprise:

1. Nang’ayo, F.L.O., M. G. Hill and D.J. Wright (2002) Potential hosts of Prostephanus

truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) among native and agro-forestry trees in Kenya.

Bulletin of Entomological Research 92, 499-506

2. Nang’ayo, F. Mignuona, J.H., Bokanga, M. and Terry, E. (2006). Challenges of

raising agricultural productivity in Africa through partnerships for Technology

Transfer. Book chapter, Biotechnology in Africa

3. Nang’ayo, F. (2007), Standard-Setting on Biotechnology and Trade in Eastern Africa

Region. Book Chapter Biotechnology-making, trade and sustainable development in

Eastern Africa by International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development

(ICTSD).

4. Nang’ayo, F. (2003). Let Africa Grow “Golden” Rice: Opinion Columnists. The

New York Post July 19, 2003

5. Oikeh, S.O and F. Nang’ayo (2012) Regulatory challenges for GM crops in

Developing Economies: the African Example. A keynote paper presented during the

ISBGMO Symposium, St Louis Missouri, USA, 16 – 20 September 2012

REFEREES

1. Mr R.Y. Boadi,

Legal Counsel/Board

Secretary, AGRA, Nairobi

email: RBoadi@agra-

alliance.org

2. Dr Gospel Omanya

Seed Systems Manager

AATF

Tel: +254 735 99 22 04

Email: g.omanya@aatf-

africa.org

3. Prof Karim Maredia

Michigan State University,

Michigan State, USA

Tel: 517 353 5262

Email:kmaredia@msu.edu