DR JEFFREY VITALE

Breaking new ground in

agricultural biotechnology
Dr Jeffrey Vitale shares some insights with International Innovation into his research which is successfully
linking traditional agricultural methods in sub-Saharan Africa with advanced scientific biotechnologies
the developing world with one of the most
advanced scientific companies in the world has
been fascinating. Burkina Faso cotton farms
have become an eclectic mix of traditional and
modern farming methods. It is a true experience
to watch Burkina Faso farmers planting the Bt
cotton seed (Monsantos Bollgard II varieties)
with traditional techniques such as animal
traction or hand-and-hoe. Countries such as
Burkina Faso have traditionally been cautious
about reaching out to the private sector so
there was little to no legislative or regulatory
infrastructure in place to provide the legal
framework for commercialising Bt cotton. It has
been great to see these frameworks develop
over time.

How did you become interested in monitoring

the role of biotechnology in sustainable
agriculture of the 21st Century?
I have been researching smallholder farming
systems since 1990. My interest and involvement
in this particular project began in 2004. I was
working as part of a larger project, sponsored
by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
that aimed to improve cotton production in
West Africa. It was around this time that the
major American agrochemical and agricultural
biotechnology company Monsanto began testing
their genetically modified (GM) cotton product
line Bollgard II in Burkina Faso. Shortly after I was
introduced to the Monsanto team, we developed
a project to study the impacts of Bollgard II
cotton on smallholder producers in Burkina Faso.
What about this current project holds
particular appeal for you?
This project has been by far the most interesting
I have worked on during my career. Participating
in a process that links smallholder farmers from

In what ways does your research aim to

change the hesitancy that Africa has over
employing agricultural biotechnology?
African countries have for the most part
followed the European view of being highly
precautionary against the use of GM crops.
Concerns have been raised over gene outflow
and potential contamination of other plants,
the development of resistance in plant species
to existing (conventional) pest control methods,
typically chemical sprays, and safety concerns
over consuming GM food. The US and much of
the rest of the world do consider these concerns
largely unfounded and maintain that the benefits
of using GM crops far outweigh any risks. Our
research is not intended to change anyones
fundamental beliefs on GM crops. Rather, we
provide a transparent set of research outcomes
that document the first few years of the
commercial use of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso. We
hope that the positive results we have found will
be used by stakeholders and citizens in Burkina
Faso to support the use of GM crops in their
country. Likewise, we hope that in other parts
of sub-Saharan Africa, where GM crops have
been poorly received, the results of our study

can begin to counteract the negativity that

currently surrounds GM crops.
Were there any environmental, economic
or health challenges you faced during this
research?
Our research had to undergo rigorous
safeguards to protect the local flora and
fauna from any unintended consequences
of introducing a GM crop. These were highly
conservative measures since GM cotton has
not been found to contaminate other plants or
animals. Moreover, the Government of Burkina
Faso had control of the safety and monitoring
systems that were in place at the experiment
stations. Testing proceeded by adhering to, or
often exceeding, the biosafety protocols and
precautionary levels taken by the US, Australia
and other developed countries. There was a
high degree of confidence in the technology so
there were few economic challenges and the
necessary investments were made by the major
sponsors such as Monsanto and the national
cotton companies. The project promoted a
healthier farming community.
Where do you hope to focus your research
efforts next?
I am always keen to undertake any project that
advances the productivity and sustainability of
smallholder producers in sub-Saharan Africa.
There are clear needs to introduce Bollgard
II in other countries throughout West Africa,
as well as other GM crops such as maize and
soybean, which can widen the scope of benefits
by generating impacts to consumers. An
equally pressing need is to provide assistance
to producers in areas subject to climate change.
In sub-Saharan Africa, such needs will typically
be in areas already constrained by high
temperatures and low rainfall that will only
worsen under climate change.

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DR JEFFREY VITALE

Future farming
Oklahoma State Universitys research on genetically modified cotton production in sub-Saharan Africa is
producing empirical evidence of its contribution to increased productivity and economic returns, potentially
catalysing long-term sustainable development in Africa
Cotton is a fibre in global demand, and
arguably one of the most profitable non-food
crops grown around the world. As a commonly
used fibre it has seen major growth in value
throughout the last few decades. Many
countries now rely upon cotton production for
employment and income. While historically
Africa has not been one of the main
cotton producing regions, according to the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) it has made significant
progress in the last few decades, increasing
production tenfold since 1960.
Today around 8 per cent of the worlds
cotton is harvested in sub-Saharan Africa.
The UN Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) state that the cotton sector in Africa is
critical to the provision of sustainable rural
livelihoods and the economic development
of these countries. FAO recognises that
recent developments in production and
technology are producing significant changes
in the cotton industry, including competition
from humanmade fibres, the emergence of
new low-cost producers and the cultivation
of new genetically engineered or transgenic
cottonvarieties.

USING BT COTTON AS PEST CONTROL

TRIALS IN BURKINA FASO

Research underway by a team of agricultural

economists and biotechnologists from Oklahoma
State University and Burkina Fasos Environment
and Agricultural Research Institute (INERA) is
investigating potential biotechnologies that can
support sustainable agriculture. One of their major
projects is studying the commercial introduction
of genetically modified (GM) cotton in Africa and
looking at how this has impacted the economy
of particular regions. Led by Dr Jeffrey Vitale,
Associate Professor in the Universitys Department
of Agricultural Economics, the project works
closely with cotton farmers in Burkina Faso who
have been harvesting Bollgard II biotechnology
company Monsantos Bt cotton seed product. Bt
cotton has been improved to include in its genetic
profile Cry proteins that control bollworm a
major pest for cotton crops. Vitale explains that Bt
cotton produces the Cry proteins itself throughout
the plant which has some significant benefits: The
active ingredient is therefore always available to
control the targeted pest, unlike spray methods that
reduce in efficacy over time as chemical formulas
lose their strength. In contrast to insecticides, the
Cry proteins are extremely selective and spare non
targeted and beneficialinsects.

The production of cotton in sub-Saharan Africa

is dominated by smallholder farmers, with the
vast majority of them using traditional harvesting
methods. A major challenge here is the pests that
can destroy entire cotton crops, and one area
suffering in particular from elevated pest problems
is Burkina Faso. The producer groups heard that Bt
cotton was available and were keen to test it as
a product. The Government of Burkina Faso was
supportive and testing, under the guidance of
Monsanto, started in 2003 with growing Bollgard II
cotton. Vitale observes that whilst other countries
in this region were reluctant to test Bt cotton,
Burkina Faso had a particularly progressive stance
towards science and technology developments
enabling the testing to go ahead.
To compare and observe the performance of the
commercial use of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso the
research team has studied and analysed published
data that has been collected from six years of field
trials and producer surveys. Initial comparisons
were completed by Burkina Fasos Environment
and Agricultural Research Institute (INERA), where
they looked at the differences between using GM
cotton and spray-based management during field
trials between 2003 and 2005 in two different
areas within the country. Both field experiments
found significantly higher yields and pest control
efficacy on the Bt cotton plots, expoundsVitale.

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS

CAPTION TO FOLLOW

56 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION

The University began its research project in 2009,

which coincided with the first year that there was
large scale commercial use of Bt cotton. Their
studies followed the same rigorous method that
has been scientifically accepted in peer review
journals for looking at how GM crops impact
a region. For five years they have completed

INTELLIGENCE
THE ROLE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE OF THE
21ST CENTURY: THE COMMERCIAL
INTRODUCTION OF BOLLGARD II IN
BURKINA FASO
OBJECTIVES

monitoring surveys of producers in Burkina

Faso. The information they collected includes
data about cotton yields, use of pesticides and
fertilisers, field size and other management
practices. This approach enables a side-by-side
comparison between Bt cotton and conventional
cotton, so that impacts can be directly measured
for key performance variables such as cotton
yield, pesticide use and cotton profit, Vitale
comments. Health impacts from the use of GM
crops is an important topic for many countries,
and monitoring these impacts in Burkina Faso was
a key component of the project. This was done by
talking to producers and ensuring any pesticide
poisonings were reported, as well as any costs
to them from lost wages or healthcare needs.
By working closely with producers the team has
been able to identify and quantify a pathway
ofimpacts.
The researchers still have two more years of
results to add to their conclusions, but are pleased
with the findings so far. They have produced
evidence through field trials to demonstrate a
significant benefit in controlling bollworm using
Bt cotton rather than traditional spray pesticides.
This means that far fewer pesticides need to be
used and the cotton is more profitable. As a result,
Bt cotton is highly attractive to farmers, including
those with small fields and reduced inputs. Their
work notes that national impacts amounted to
$53.3 million over the first three years of the
commercial use of Bollgard II in Burkina Faso.
Recognising the effects on human health led
to a saving of around $1.09 million per year
through reduced poisoning incidents, medical
bills and prescription costs. We have been able
to show that use of Bt cotton increases yields

by an average of 20 per cent, which translates

to an increase of $64 per ha in cotton profit and
corresponds to a 50 per cent increase in overall
farm income, Vitale states.

SHARING KNOWLEDGE
The teams findings are being disseminated
at an upcoming workshop in Burkina Faso in
November, where a wide variety of stakeholders
and outside groups, including cotton producers
and environmental activists will be attending and
discussing the results. Vitale firmly believes that
the highly successful performance of the Burkina
Faso cotton sector, compared to other sectors in
the region is due, in large part, to their use of Bt
cotton. Burkina Fasos experience with Bt cotton
highlights the need for governments to enable
the demand for agricultural products and services
to be fostered, particularly when stakeholders
need to access products on global markets. He
sees that to realise the maximum possible gains
from this approach, the recent effort to broaden
the scope of Bt cotton use throughout other parts
of West Africa, including Ghana, Mali and Togo,
needs to be continued; however, considers there
are a number of political and social roadblocks to
the use of such types of biotechnology.
Over the longer term, the team is hopeful that the
success they have demonstrated with Bt cotton
in Burkina Faso will inspire more connections
between global agribusiness companies and
smallholder producers throughout Sub-Saharan
Africa, potentially providing new opportunities
for other GM crops and other agricultural
biotechnologies to support sustainable crop
production in Africa.

The project works closely with cotton farmers in Burkina Faso

who have been harvesting Bollgard II biotechnology company
Monsantos Bt cotton seed product

Burkina Faso has emerged as one of

the most biotech-progressive countries
in Africa. In 2009, following six years
of extensive testing, monitoring, and
evaluating, Burkina Faso commercially
released Bt cotton (Bollgard II). The
project compiles five years of agronomic
and socioeconomic evaluations of Bollgard
II. Based on producer surveys, Bollgard
II produced cotton yields that were
an average of 20 per cent higher than
cotton grown using conventional pest
management practices, while reducing
pesticide applications by 67 per cent.
Cotton profit was elevated by $64 per ha,
a 51 per cent increase over current income
levels. Researchers also report improved
human health resulting from reduced
exposure to chemical sprayings.

KEY COLLABORATORS
Gaspard Vognan; Karim Traore*, linstitut
de
lenvironnement et de recherches agricole
(INERA), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
*Currently Monsanto Company,
Burkina Faso.

FUNDING
Monsanto Company

CONTACT
Dr Jeff Vitale
Project Coordinator
Oklahoma State University
Department of Agricultural Economics
418 Ag Hall
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078
USA
T +1 405 744 6175
E jeffrey.vitale@okstate.edu
DR JEFF VITALE is an Associate Professor
at Oklahoma State where he teaches
a class on farm and agribusiness
management. He has been researching
smallholder production systems in
sub-Saharan Africa for over 20 years.
His primary focus is evaluating the
introduction of new agricultural
technology in cropping systems. Since
2005, Vitale has been researching the
impacts of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso. His
other research interests include measuring
food security in East and West Africa,
the adoption of hybrid maize varieties in
Kenya, and striga resistant ceral crops in
East Africa.

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