By 2021, soybean imports exceeded $3 billion, a 55% increase in just two years.4Increasing Domestic ProductionTo reduce costly imports and bolster local economies, many African countries have sought to increase their domestic soybean production. Caused by the airborne fungus, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, it is a fast-moving, aggressive disease that can destroy up to 90% of a soybean crop within just 3 weeks of initial infection. One successful proof-of-principle was the transfer of a pigeonpea gene into soy to achieve strong resistance to ASR.12Transgenic soybean plants with pigeonpea gene (CcRpp1) exhibit strong ASR resistance. The livestock and aquaculture industry can rely less on soybean imports; stabilizing the local supply chain. It will promote economicdiversification, enrich the soil, reduce chemical use, introduce new high-value products and markets derived from soy, and enhance soy profitability for farmers, producers, and processors.

Source: The Star May 16, 2024 11:57 UTC