Economic Growth through Plant Science Innovation

Danforth Center Scientists recently shared an overview of our plant science research aimed at sustainable crop improvement with the Honorable Francis Gatare, cabinet-level head of the Rwanda Development Board and Ronald Mutabazi, first counselor Commercial Affairs, the Embassy of Rwanda in the U.S. As leader of the agency that oversees the national economy of Rwanda, Francis Gatare has a mandate to accelerate and enable Rwanda’s economic development through private sector growth, including improving agricultural economic development by increasing the productivity of crops. 

Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa. Ninety percent of employment comes from the food and agricultural sector, which accounts for 35% of Rwanda’s gross domestic product. 

 In 2019, colleagues at the Rwanda Agricultural and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB, the national agricultural research organization) joined Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA), an effort led by Nigel Taylor, PhD, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID to address the major virus diseases affecting cassava productivity in East Africa. 

Given that earnings from cassava exports declined by 40% due to Cassava brown streak virus between 2016 and 2017 in Rwanda, there’s a great need for resistant varieties. The VIRCA project goals in Rwanda include testing performance of recently developed varieties in field trials, training scientists, obtaining approvals, registering improved varieties, delivering seed to smallholder farmers, and training entrepreneurs.