(Cosmos) Game-changing GM crop finally planted in Nigeria

Earlier this summer, Nigeria achieved a major milestone in the history of agricultural research and development with the commercial launch of Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea. Dr. Donald MacKenzie, executive director of the Institute for International Crop Improvement at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center led the regulatory submission process.

A recent article from Cosmos outlines the long road to PBR cowpea, a staple legume that will help millions combat hunger and poverty. In the article, Dr. Donald MacKenzie discusses the process of testing GM foods. “Our mission is to do what we can do to shorten the time it takes to put good safe technology in the hands of smallholder farmers. The number of hungry people in the world is going up,” says Dr. MacKenzie.