GCRF Agri-tech Catalyst Seeding Award - JIC The primary outcome of this award is the adoption of relevant agricultural and food system innovations by farmers and other stakeholders in target countries in Africa. Benefiting residents in rural communities in Ethiopia and Morocco. 

Secondary outcomes include increased and improved understanding amongst UK businesses of the needs and opportunities in African countries; and increased engagement with African countries by UK businesses, including successful collaborations and lasting partnerships post-project.

The Seeding Award funded four research projects which will support rural farmers by contributing to improved yields, tackling plant disease, improving food safety, and resilience to climate-change: 

1) Extrapolation of UK research findings on wheat to the African orphan crop, teff. Ethiopia's second “Growth and Transformation Plan” recognises the importance of agricultural productivity increases to economic development. This project supports rural farmers by contributing to improved yield of an Ethiopian orphan crop, teff, upon which many farmers' livelihoods depend.

2) Demonstrating the potential of MARPLE technology in-country and on-farm. This project focused on the deployment of the MARPLE diagnostics system in Ethiopia to rapidly type strains of the wheat yellow rust pathogen in farmers' fields in near real-time. Wheat yellow rust can cause severe losses and plagues wheat production in Ethiopia.

3) Improving understanding of the feasibility and acceptability of new varieties of the African orphan crop, grass pea. Farmers in Ethiopia will benefit from being able to grow improved varieties of grass pea which are safe for human consumption. Ethiopia is frequently afflicted by droughts and dry spells. Grass pea is extremely drought tolerant and survives when other crops fail. However, traditional varieties are poisonous and cause paralysis of the lower limbs when eaten in large quantities, which happens when grass pea is one of the last things to eat. The new varieties are drought tolerant and completely safe to eat. 

4) Extrapolation of UK research findings on pea to the African crop chickpea. At ICARDA, Morocco, there is a major focus on breeding chickpea crops, that are high-yielding and well-adapted to local climates. Translation of genetic knowledge gained from studies on pea will allow new varieties of chickpea with superior seed quality traits to be bred.

SDGs: 2, 8, 9 The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) supports cutting-edge research to address challenges faced by developing countries. The fund addresses the UN sustainable development goals. It aims to maximise the impact of research and innovation to improve lives and opportunity in the developing world. The fund addresses the UN sustainable development goals. It aims to maximise the impact of research and innovation to improve lives and opportunity in the developing world.