World’s cassava experts to wage war against cassava viruses; introduction into Nigeria, the largest cassava producer in the world, could result in drastic food shortages in this part of Africa
Cassava experts are reporting new outbreaks and the increased spread of Cassava Brown Streak Disease or CBSD, warning that the rapidly proliferating plant virus could cause a 50 percent drop in production of a crop that provides a significant source of food and income for 300 million Africans.
The “pandemic” of CBSD now underway is particularly worrisome because agriculture experts have been looking to the otherwise resilient cassava plant—which is also used to produce starch, flour, biofuel and even beer—as the perfect crop for helping to feed a continent where growing conditions in many regions are deteriorating in the face of climate change.
“Cassava is already incredibly important for Africa and is poised to play an even bigger role in the future, which is why we need to move quickly to contain and eliminate this plague,” said Claude Fauquet, a scientist at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (known by its Spanish acronym CIAT) who heads the Global Cassava Partnership for the 21st Century (GCP21). “We are particularly concerned that the disease could spread to West Africa and particularly Nigeria—the world’s largest producer and consumer of cassava—because Nigeria would provide a gateway for an invasion of West Africa where about 150 million people depend on the crop.”
Fauquet and his colleagues in the GCP21—an alliance of scientists, developers, donors and industry representatives—are gathering at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Italy this week for a conference dedicated to “declaring war on cassava viruses in Africa.”
A “Silent Killer” Emerges: CBSD on Warpath from East to West
First identified in 1935 in East Africa and little-known until about ten years ago, CBSD has emerged as the most serious threat among the various cassava viruses. Infections can claim 100 percent of a farmer’s harvest without the farmer’s knowledge. The leaves of infected plants can look healthy even as the roots, cassava’s most prized asset, are being ravaged underground. The tell-tale signs of the disease are brown streaks in the root’s flesh that, when healthy, provides a rich source of dietary carbohydrates and industrial starchy products.
There have been recent reports of new outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—the world’s third largest cassava producer—and Angola, where production has boomed in recent years. The spread of the disease to West Africa and particularly Nigeria is a major cause for concern, experts say, because the country now produces 50 million tons of cassava each year and has made a big bet on cassava for its agricultural and industrial development in the near future.
Nigeria is the first African country to massively invest in the potential of cassava to meet the rapidly growing global demand for industrial starches, which are used in everything from food products to textiles, plywood and paper. Nigeria hopes to mimic the success of countries in Southeast Asia, where a cassava-driven starch industry now generates US$5 billion per year and employs millions of smallholder farmers and numerous small-scale processors.
CMD—a Scourge for Cassava on the African Continent
Scientists at the conference will also consider options for dealing with another devastating virus—the Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD). CMD has plagued the whole African continent for over a century, each year removing a minimum of 50 million tons of cassava from the harvest.
The disease is caused by several viruses and the African continent witnessed several major CMD epidemics over the past decades, the most recent and devastating of which occurred in the 1990s in East and Central Africa. Great success was achieved in combating the CMD pandemic through developing and disseminating varieties that were resistant to CMD. In fact, by the mid-2000s, half of all cassava farmers were benefiting from these varieties in large parts of East and Central Africa. But by a cruel twist of nature, both improved and local varieties all succumbed to the ‘new’ pandemic of CBSD.
Unexpected Plot Twist: Whiteflies Ambush a Climate-Resilient Crop
Interest in cassava has intensified across Africa as rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns caused by climate change threaten the future viability of food staples such as maize and wheat. Cassava has been called the “Rambo root” for its extraordinary ability to survive high temperatures and tolerate poor soils. But rising temperatures now pose a threat to cassava because they appear to be one of several factors causing an explosion in whiteflies, which carry the viruses that cause CMD and CBSD and pass it along as they feed on the plant’s sap.
Compounding the effects of rising temperatures, scientists also think that genetic changes have led to the emergence of “super” whiteflies. This toxic mix of circumstances affecting a tiny fly threatens to shoot down the “Rambo root,” bringing the misery of food insecurity to vast swathes of Africa.
“We used to see only three or four whiteflies per plant; now we’re seeing thousands,” said James Legg, a leading cassava expert at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). “You literally have a situation where human beings are competing for food—with whiteflies.”
Farmers also help spread the disease by planting new fields with infected stem cuttings. Scientists note that while it would take several years for the disease to spread across the continent via whiteflies alone, infected stem cuttings could spark outbreaks in new areas overnight.
The Latest Bing News on:
Brown Streak Disease
- Dr. Kevin Korus: Laurel wilt poses a threat to Florida-grown avocadoson March 19, 2023 at 2:01 am
The ambrosia beetle is a wood-boring insect that creates tunnels and galleries found in both the sapwood and heartwood of trees.
- The longest active NCAA tournament streakson March 11, 2023 at 4:00 pm
NOTHING BUT NET: The NET rankings, explained This Kansas streak really begins in the 1980s. In 1988, Larry Brown coached Kansas to a national championship. Danny Manning had 31 points and 18 ...
- Jaylen Brown sounds off on Celtics struggles amid losing streak: ‘We should be fighting to win’on March 7, 2023 at 4:53 am
The woes on both ends of the floor has raised alarms for Jaylen Brown who voiced his concerns after the team’s 118-114 loss to the Cavs. “Super urgent,” Brown said of the team’s focus now.
- Vanderbilt basketball snaps 14-game losing streak to Kentucky, wins at Rupp Arena for first time since 2007on March 1, 2023 at 6:49 pm
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Vanderbilt basketball snapped its third long drought of the season, beating Kentucky, 68-66 on Wednesday night, to end a 14-game losing streak against the Wildcats and win at ...
- Losing Streak at Tom Brown's Hedge Fund Shows the CEO's Not Your Broon February 28, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Tom Brown has been meeting with bank executives for more than 30 years. Lately, the access isn't helping: His flagship Second Curve fund is down for a third straight year. Tom Brown has been ...
- NEMA gives a go ahead for research on GMO cassavaon February 22, 2023 at 10:47 am
He said the cassava plant cultivars are resistant to the devastating Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) and Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD). “With the current drought in the country, cassava can ...
- Brown faces stiff challenge to keep Diana streak goingon February 15, 2023 at 3:59 pm
And trainer Charlie Appleby is probably the one to beat. Brown will be hard-pressed to keep his streak alive in the Diana, which produced the first Grade I victory of his career as a head trainer ...
- Developing AI tools to reduce the spread of crop disease in east Africaon September 15, 2022 at 10:20 am
The crop is cultivated primarily by smallholder farmers, however its production is affected by two common viral diseases: the cassava mosaic and brown streak disease. These can be transmitted plant to ...
- Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) Symptoms on Cassava (IMAGE)on July 21, 2022 at 1:40 am
Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) symptoms on cassava variety Kipusa and cultivars Kikombe and Kiroba. Stem necrotic lesions and shoot dieback are indicated by arrows. Disclaimer: AAAS and ...
- Brown Spots in an Autumn Blaze Mapleon August 19, 2020 at 2:24 pm
along with brown streaks or spots on the inner layers of wood. In most cases, there is no cure for these diseases. Prune out infected branches, disinfecting your tools between cuts by dipping them ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Brown Streak Disease
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Brown Streak Disease” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Cassava
- The Future of the Cassava Flour Market [2023-2030] | A Data-Driven Assessmenton March 24, 2023 at 10:51 am
Mar 24, 2023 (The Expresswire) -- Pre and Post-Covid Report Is Covered | Final Report Will Add the Analysis of the Impact of Russia-Ukraine War and COVID-19 on the Cassava Flour Industry. “Cassava ...
- Villagers turning sweet potato and cassava into flouron March 24, 2023 at 1:05 am
VILLAGERS in Western Highlands province are turning their sweet potatoes (kaukau) and cassava into flour to be stored and consumed.
- Corns, beans and cassava as money-spinneron March 23, 2023 at 9:01 pm
One of the highlights of Nigeria’s recently concluded 2023 presidential elections was the huge joke made out of the reference to staple foods such as agbado (maize), ewa (beans) and cassava by the ...
- Cassava Packaging Market Product Overview and Scope to 2028on March 23, 2023 at 6:21 pm
Mar 23, 2023 (The Expresswire) -- "Cassava Packaging Market" 2023 : Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Cassava Packaging market size is estimated to ...
- Oddar Meanchey: Investors sought to diversify cropson March 22, 2023 at 9:34 pm
The climate and soil conditions of Oddar Meanchey province are favourable for the cultivation of paddy rice, but provincial leaders see no reason why the province cannot diversify and introduce other ...
- It’s Official: The Wine Bar by Cassava Will Open in the Richmond Later This Springon March 22, 2023 at 9:30 am
Yuka Ioroi and Kris Toliao, longlisted for the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurateur award, are opening a wine bar ...
- Cassava cultivation catching on in hilly areason March 20, 2023 at 2:30 am
Cassava, known as shimul alu in Bangladesh, is a root vegetable widely consumed in many countries across the globe for its dietary benefits, which include healthy carbohydrates and vitamin C.
- Cassava exports to rise on FTA use, policyon March 16, 2023 at 8:25 am
Cambodian cassava exports are about to pick up steam and soar beyond the 293,653-tonne monthly average over January-November 2022, propelled by a growing pool of regional buyers and increasingly ...
- How Cassava Could Impact The Future Of Agriculture In Africaon March 16, 2023 at 4:45 am
By investing in cassava, African countries can reduce their dependence on imported wheat flour, improve food security and support economic growth.
- My child's allergies inspired me to start cassava enterpriseon March 15, 2023 at 10:51 pm
Have you ever tasted or heard of cake or chapati made out of cassava flour? Most people grew up eating cassava as a tea escort for breakfast, it would be boiled, fried, and sometimes the cassava ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Cassava
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Cassava ” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]