Two Ghanaian scientists Joseph Opoku Gakpo and Dr. Samuel Acheampong have announced the establishment of HavAfrica, Africa’s first CRISPR seed startup. HavAfric is a mission-driven seed company working to eradicate food waste, hunger, and malnutrition across Africa through the development and supply of climate-smart seeds, produced using CRISPR gene editing technology.
“We are building Africa’s first CRISPR seeds startup to optimize agricultural production on the continent and help ensure sustainable food production. We aim to become a leading agricultural innovation company in Africa that will be known for pioneering agricultural inventions that transform farming practices and improve food systems across the continent,” Gakpo said.
HavAfric will utilize CRISPR gene editing technology to develop seeds with desired traits, such as drought resistance, pest and disease resistance, extended shelf life, higher yield, and improved nutritional content. Guided by the Responsible Innovation Framework, the company will engage farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders to ensure the varieties and traits it offers are what they want and address their needs. The company will collaborate with public research institutions and universities to advance CRISPR technology and apply it to crop improvement.
“We will seek regulatory approval and conduct rigorous testing of the new CRISPR seed varieties in diverse African climates to ensure adaptability. We will undertake multi-locational trials to ensure they perform well in farmer environments,” Gakpo said.
CRISPR is a revolutionary gene editing technology that allows for precise modifications to plant genetic materials to improve crops. The CRISPR system relies on simpler crop improvement techniques, which can be done in laboratories in Ghana and Africa. Most importantly, the CRISPR system enables the improvement of crops without the introduction of foreign genes. This makes CRISPR food products more friendly to farmers, consumers, and the environment.
You can read more about HavAfric here; https://havafric.com/
By Communications Department, HavAfric