A partnership including researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St Louis, MO, the National Crops Resources Research Institute in Uganda (NaCRRI) and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). VIRCA is a humanitarian effort to develop and deliver farmer-preferred cassava varieties enhanced to resist serious plant virus diseases that are greatly reducing crop yield and increasing the threat of poverty and famine.

“Food shortages in the world will increase as global warming continues to rise, especially in Africa where drought likely will decrease the capacity to produce sufficient food. That’s why we need to demonstrate that using science and technology to improve agricultural production can make a difference for millions of people,” states Director of ILTAB at Danforth Plant Science Center, Dr. Claude M. Fauquet, and adds, “We’re using CLC bio’s software to analyze and map siRNAs providing information required for accelerating development and identification of the elite cassava lines for testing under field conditions in East Africa.”

VIRCA is applying RNAi technology to enhance resistance to virus disease in cassava cultivars preferred by farmers. VIRCA’s goal is to develop, test and deliver virus resistant cassava to smallholder farmers with no royalty fees thereby helping to secure harvest of this important staple crop.

Video interview

Watch an interview featuring Dr. Claude M. Fauquet elaborating on ILTAB’s VIRCA project and some of the challenges involved.

Background on Cassava

Cassava’s edible storage root is a staple for an estimated 700 million people worldwide, and a critical food source in South America, Asia, and Africa. However, in sub-Saharan Africa production of cassava is affected by viruses, bacteria, and insects which suppress yields and threaten food and economic security of smallholder farmers.

About ILTAB

ILTAB has three overall goals: To improve cassava productivity and quality through genetic transformation; to study and control cassava viruses; and to transfer technologies to less developed countries.

About The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research at the Danforth Center will feed the hungry and improve human health, preserve and renew the environment, and enhance the St. Louis region and Missouri as a world center for plant science. The Danforth Center’s work is funded through competitive grants and contract revenue from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Howard Buffett Foundation, the Monsanto Fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information please visit www.danforthcenter.org, featuring interactive information on the Center’s scientists, news and research. Follow us on Twitter at @DanforthCenter.