Ghana’s National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has granted regulatory approval for a next-generation cowpea designed to provide resistance to both Maruca pod borer and storage weevils. These insect pests cause significant yield and storage losses, affecting farmer incomes and food security across West Africa. The regulatory submission was led by the CSIR–Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) in Ghana, reflecting the country’s leadership in advancing agricultural innovations developed to address Africa’s food security challenges.
Building on the previous insect-resistant cowpea variety, the new next generation cowpea provides protection from the field through storage, helping reduce both pre- and post-harvest losses. Developed through collaboration among the ACIA partner organizations, the technology represents an innovation designed “by Africans, for Africans” in partnership with global experts to address challenges faced by African smallholder farmers. The new variety will reduce the need for insecticide applications, lower post-harvest losses, improved household food security and increased farmer income.
The regulatory approval follows Ghana’s established biosafety assessment process, which involved a comprehensive scientific evaluation of the variety’s safety for human and animal health and the environment. The decision reflects the country’s rigorous regulatory framework and demonstrates the role of science-based oversight in ensuring that new agricultural technologies meet the required standards before release to smallholder farmers.
“The approval is an important step toward providing smallholder farmers with access to technology that addresses two of the most significant insect pests affecting cowpea production,” said Dr. Jerry Nboyine, Principal Research Scientist and Entomologist at CSIR-SARI.
Regulatory approval marks an important step toward making this innovation available to smallholder farmers. The approved variety will now proceed through seed multiplication and conventional variety release processes before becoming available to farmers. ACIA remains committed to supporting the next stages in its path towards commercialization.
About the Alliance for Cowpea Improvement in Africa: The Alliance for Cowpea Improvement in Africa (ACIA) is an Africa-focused agricultural research partnership embracing the opportunities and addressing the challenges of cowpea production and consumption. More information is available at Alliance for Cowpea.
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