Staple Crops, Smallholder Farmers and Multinationals: The ‘Water-Efficient Maize for Africa’ Project

Abstract

Doubling food production by 2050 under conditions of climate change and depleted natural resources requires increased investment and creative approaches. The Water-Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project, a five-year public–private partnership begun in 2008 and led by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), is an excellent example. Under WEMA, Monsanto, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and national agricultural research systems in Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda are developing, testing and disseminating drought-tolerant maize. Efforts involve both advanced, conventional breeding techniques and biotechnology tools. Transgenic drought tolerance from Monsanto and BASF is being added to elite, drought-tolerant maize lines from CIMMYT and Monsanto so that the new varieties will better withstand the increasing impacts of climate change in Africa. WEMA varieties under development have been licensed to AATF for eventual use by local, qualified seed producers and made available to them royalty-free. The project reflects both Monsanto and CIMMYT’s goals of putting advanced technology within reach of smallholder farmers in developing countries. In this pioneering effort, important challenges have arisen around project governance, contrasts in institutional culture, managing risk, intellectual property and external communications. More difficulties loom in the areas of regulatory approval, contracting, delivery and stewardship. Addressing these issues demands determination, creativity and good faith of all parties. WEMA is proving a valuable learning experience for participants and, hopefully, a model for multi-sectoral alliances that focus on crucial development aims.