GMO Maize From Bayer Set For Commercial Rollout This Year

The commercialization of genetically modified maize in Ethiopia is slated to begin this year, marking the nation’s first transition toward a genetically engineered consumable food crop.

This milestone follows the approval of TELA maize, a variety specifically designed to withstand the dual threats of chronic drought and invasive pests like the fall armyworm.

Documents from the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) indicate that the government has authorized a 10-year permit for environmental release, starting with a trial batch of approximately 80 kilograms of seed from Bayer, the German biotech and pharmaceutical giant.

These seeds, which total roughly 181,000 units and will need to be purchased each farming cycle, are set for on-farm demonstrations across six key maize-growing ecological zones this year.

This regulatory progress is fueled by a sense of economic urgency, as research from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) suggests that Ethiopia could lose upwards of USD 700 million in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) if the rollout of this technology is delayed by even five years.

Conversely, the full adoption of these varieties is estimated to generate a long-term economic gain of 2.29 billion PPP dollars for the country.

The TELA maize project operates as a public-private partnership aimed at delivering royalty-free, high-yielding seeds to smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa.

The specific varieties approved for Ethiopia incorporate two “stacked” genetic traits: the MON 87460 event for drought tolerance and the MON 89034 event, which expresses insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

These proteins, Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2, provide a broad spectrum of protection against stem borers and the fall armyworm, the latter of which has caused devastating yield losses in regions like Ethio-Somali and Benishangul Gumuz since its arrival in 2017.

During confined field trials conducted between 2023 and 2024 at sites in Wondogenet, Melkassa, and Bako, these Bt hybrids demonstrated a significant productivity boost, yielding an average of 24.7 quintals per hectare more than conventional standard checks.

This increase is vital for a nation where maize is the second most important staple after teff, supporting the livelihoods of nearly 10 million households.

The intellectual property for these genetic materials is held by the Bayer Company, which acquired Monsanto in 2018 for a reported USD 63 billion, in coordination with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF).

While the technology is proprietary, the Biosafety Clearance House (BCH) confirms that the genetic materials are supplied to the EIAR under strict protocols to prevent the mixing of GM and non-GM crops and to manage insect resistance.

The EPA has emphasized that the EIAR remains strictly obliged to conduct post-release monitoring to address any unforeseen ecological impacts, though international assessments from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) suggest that horizontal gene transfer to other organisms is a negligible risk.

Beyond the immediate yield benefits, the adoption of GM maize is expected to lower the levels of harmful mycotoxins in corn kernels and significantly reduce the financial burden on farmers who currently spend millions of dollars annually on synthetic pesticides.

In other African countries, TELA maize has demonstrated substantial yield improvements and economic benefits, largely by mitigating the impact of drought and reducing pest-related crop damage.

In Nigeria, which commercially released four TELA hybrids in early 2024, first-season harvests reported by the AATF showed a yield advantage of up to 88 percent over conventional varieties. Nigerian farmers who took part in the trial reported a 137 percent increase in revenue driven by higher yields and significantly lower spending on insecticides.

South Africa, the first country on the continent to adopt the technology, has reported a similarly positive experience with the GMO maize.

However, South African researchers have noted that while the technology is highly effective, its long-term success depends on strict “insect resistance management” (IRM) plans, which require farmers to plant non-Bt maize “refuges” to prevent insects from developing resistance to the Bt proteins.

The regional momentum for TELA maize continues to grow, with Kenya also granting commercial approval following successful trials.

As Ethiopia moves toward full commercial cultivation in 2026, the success of TELA maize may pave the way for other biotechnological advancements currently in the pipeline, such as bacterial wilt-resistant enset and semi-dwarf, lodging-resistant teff.

A report from the US Department of Agriculture projects that the commercialization of GM maize in Ethiopia would provide substantial benefits, particularly for poorer households that spend a significant portion of their income on food by increasing maize yields, lowering food prices, and ultimately benefiting farmers and consumers alike in Ethiopia.

The report also notes the legal restrictions surrounding GMO crops, which are now beginning to change.

“Ethiopia’s legislation prohibits domestic production or importation of GE feed materials or ingredients containing growth-stimulating hormones, drugs, or medicinal products. The regulation requires attestation that imported feed products are free from ‘genetically modified or genetically altered living ingredients.’ Exceptions to this restriction are limited to feed products intended for scientific research, emergency relief, or pet food brought in by travelers or diplomatic missions. The regulation includes burdensome registration and testing requirements that may pose challenges for local producers and importers,” it reads.

Nonetheless, Bt cotton marked Ethiopia’s first commercial biotech adoption in 2018. Now, GM maize becomes the second commercialized item.

Reports indicate there are additional crop biotech projects in various stages of research and development. These include bacterial wilt-resistant false banana (“enset”) varieties, which are still in lab testing with field trials yet to commence.

Researchers are also working on genome-edited teff varieties that are semi-dwarf and resistant to lodging, as well as late blight resistant GM potatoes and sorghum resistant to striga weeds, although progress has stalled due to funding issues.

Biotechnology experts claim that these developments hold promise for improving agricultural productivity, increasing food security, and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.