Global GM Crop Production Quiz

The major challenges to livestock production in Botswana include lack of superior breeds, quality feed, drought, and animal disease prevalence.

The intermittent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease have affected beef export to lucrative markets in Botswana.

Challenges facing the dairy cattle industry in Botswana include unavailability of animal feed in both quantity and quality, as well as climatic stress for lactating cows which is mostly associated with low performance of lactating dairy cows.

<p>Recent reports show that the area planted with rain-fed crops by both smallholders and commercial farms in Botswana has jumped to almost 300,000 hectares annually on 90,000 holdings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main areas of expertise identified in the biotechnology survey were crop, animal, environmental, and industrial biotechnology. Examples of specific techniques or applications within each area include molecular plant breeding and plant tissue culture/transgenic plants in crop biotechnology, molecular animal breeding and disease diagnosis in animal biotechnology, bio-fertilizer and food manufacturing applications in environmental and industrial biotechnology.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The survey found that 73% of respondents were proficient in molecular biology techniques, while proficiency in systems biology was relatively low but adequate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The survey found that access to basic equipment for nucleic acid and protein isolation was adequate, but advanced analysis equipment and DNA sequencing systems were lacking. Additionally, access to literature sources was generally low.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The research output included book chapters, journal articles, conference proceedings, and few patents. Most articles were published in low to average impact factor journals, although some research articles were co-published in high-impact international journals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main research focuses of the Arable Research Division are in arable and horticultural production.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Botswana Vaccine Institute is responsible for genotyping foot and mouth disease virus, conducting research on the potency and safety tests of its flagship product (FMD vaccine) and others against blackleg, anthrax, and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), as well as virus identification and testing of diagnostic reagents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Botswana Innovation Hub is intended to be the nation’s center of excellence for innovation in biotechnology, ICT, energy/environment, and other areas. It aims to support new ventures and existing companies, universities, and research institutions to establish hubs, promoting a culture of innovation and transforming the country into a technology-driven and knowledge-based economy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The demographic characteristics show that more males are involved in the field of biotechnology than females. The majority of respondents are in the age category of 30–44 years, and most of the staff is within the experienced and below early retirement age of 45 years. Staff members are trained up to graduate levels in relevant fields of biotechnology and those that support it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>China, India, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Enhanced nutrition, increased yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and stress tolerance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>South Africa, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The University of Botswana (UB), Botswana College of Agriculture (BCA), National Food Technology Research Company (NFTRC), and Department of Agricultural Research (DAR)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Maize, sorghum, millet, pulses, sunflower, vegetables, and fruits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Low and unreliable rainfall, high temperatures, poor soils, and saline irrigation water.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Insect-resistant maize, cotton, canola, herbicide-tolerant soybean, cotton, maize, sugar beet, alfalfa, and virus-resistant fruits and vegetables.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Biotechnology has been used to develop drought-tolerant maize, tomatoes with longer shelf life, and to mitigate the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on crop production.</p> Signup and view all the answers