QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
We get a lot of good questions as people learn about our technology and company. We'll try to address them here. Let us know if you need more clarifications!
Why just in Africa?
Why just in Africa?
Biocontrol has to start some place. We strongly believe bioherbicides will develop into a robust way to control weeds globally. We are launching on farms that have no other choice or hope. And, we are starting with farm systems that aren’t already betrothed to production agriculture trends (chemical inputs, precision mechanization, etc.). And we are starting with a crisis.
Weeds are a problem everywhere and chemical herbicides have encountered serious and recurrent obstacles of resistance, environmental and human exposure issues. We anticipate that success in Africa will lead to game changing adoption of bioherbicides elsewhere. We have dedicated over fifteen years of research in Africa, with successful proof-of-concept trials conducted in 2014-2015, regulatory trials from 2016-2021, and continued in-house and 3rd party trials every year. An estimated 40 million farmers suffer from this Striga problem. With the scientific infrastructure firmly in place in Africa, we'll have the ability to tackle other weeds and other continents.
Is this a permanent solution?
Change is constant and we would be fools to suggest our solution is a silver bullet. Our solution is a valuable piece to the puzzle.
Promisingly, we are seeing persistence of our treatment over time. In fact, at our original research plots (they've been untreated for over a decade), Striga is not longer present and crops are doing well. Our scientist couldn't even get Striga to grow there when he planted Striga seeds. We haven't conducted a longitudinal study yet but over the next five years we should have a better understanding of how farmers should schedule their treatments for the greatest benefit at the lowest cost. Our current recommendation is that farmers should use Kichawi Kill each season for four season to see if their Striga has been fully suppressed.
We suggest farmers use everything they can to fight Striga, including Striga-resistant seeds and boosting their soil fertility.
The emergence of wheat as a host for Striga emphasizes the importance of this control method not just in Africa. As far as we know, only wheat fields in Sudan have Striga – but if it spreads, we’ll have a huge problem on our hands.
We are also looking at scientific infrastructure's ability to address change. We aren’t patenting a glyphosate-type of solution and keeping it unchanged and in the system for decades. Updates are part of our vision and strategy.
Why didn’t we get Phase II funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation despite a successful Phase I?
Why didn’t we get Phase II funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation despite a successful Phase I?
We were tremendously disappointed we were not granted a Phase II from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It seems it was a wrong-place-wrong-time: “due to a misalignment with our evolved strategy, as well as the fact that Kenya is not currently a focus country for our Agriculture initiative.” To date, the Gates Foundation has invested $31 million in Striga research and ours is the only project with an effective practical application. If an organization is rejected for Phase II funding, they are not allowed to approach Gates again for the same project. The Sands Lab did get a second Gates Grand Challenges Exploration grant for a different idea: 2019 Plasmid Curing Ethiopian Barley for Antibiotic Resistance.
In our large proof-of-concept trials, all Striga farms saw an increase in yield when using our treatment. But, sometimes it is only 4%. And sometimes it is 1900%. One of our partner NGOs did their own small trial and the yield increased between 35-85%. One of the recent trials conducted by 3rd party implementers for regulatory approval in Kenya showed 20-300%. A distribution company conducted their own trials in 2023 and farmers had an average yield increase of 450kg. These variations can be attributed to a variety of factors: flooding, drought, poorly placed trials (partially shaded), aberrant implementers, the infestation rate of Striga, etc.
Can Fusarium species affect animals, water systems, fisheries, or immune-depressed people?
Can Fusarium species affect animals, water systems, fisheries, or immune-depressed people?
The first thing to remember is that Fusarium exist in the wild. In fact, we sourced the strains we are using from a field in Western Kenya. Fusarium are local and they are all around – not causing harm to people, water, or animals. We’ve conducted tox-ecotox tests at both Virginia Tech and University of Nairobi and have found no known toxins. As our technology expands, we will continue conducting DNA analysis which will tell us more about the genetics related to toxins and horizontal gene transference. The most common issue with a different kind of Fusarium is that it can cause eye infections in contact lens wearers, and some immunocompromised people get sinusitis allergies - most frequently caused by Fusarium solari (f. solari has the greatest association with toxins). Fusarium oxysporum has caused catheter-related infection in people with extremely compromised T-cell conditions (demonstrated with a Fusarium oxysporum specific to tomato plants). As you can read in this literature review, Fusarium oxysporum has caused concerns in extremely rare and limited cases documented (<24) over decades.
It is also important to understand that Fusarium oxsporum is host specific. This means it will only attack its host (eg. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae will only attack Striga. There isn't any indication that it will jump to a different host. This is a wonderful benefit. The downside of this specificity is that in the future, we'd need to have a different fusarium for every weed (unlike chemical application that have a broad kill effect).
How is this project sustainable?
How is this project sustainable?
Our project in Kenya is a social enterprise model. Fortunately, our product is inexpensive and farmers can see a good return on their investment. By keeping our purchase price at cost (including our manufacturing, lab management, marketing, and distribution costs), we can operate as a sustainable business once we reach scale (projected in 2025 in Kenya). This is a clear path.
Regarding ongoing research for new weeds and new approaches, we are hoping that funding agencies will start redirecting some of the funding requests to include bioherbicide research (currently, most RFPs focus on crop breeding, crop rotation strategies, soil fertility, and chemical applications).
How do we reach enough farmers?
How do we reach enough farmers?
We are reaching farmers through partnerships with established NGOs, distributors, CBOs (community-based organizations), government extension programs, and informal farmer groups. We are holding trainings through agri-business associations. We have demonstration plots in every country as well as field days, promoted in villages through established groups, radio, and posters. There is a viral social component at play: the word is spreading! Please contact us to learn how you can treat your farm in Western Kenya this season.
We are trying to be a healthy blend of ambition and reason. We don’t work in isolation. We rely on feedback from partners. If you are affiliate with any farmer groups in Striga regions, please email us so we can include you in our outreach.
What agreements do we have with
national and regional government, NGO, and local farmer groups?
What agreements do we have with
national and regional government, NGO, and local farmer groups?
Our project has had an agreement with Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). We have a mutual benefit and enjoy a Private:Public Partnership. There is a formal partnership and relationship between Welthungerhilfe and The Toothpick Company Ltd. (their Secretary General serves on our board and they hold a board seat). We are part of the United Nations World Food Program's Innovation Portfolio and are part of TAAT's Innovation Platform. We have cooperative agreements with our science team members from research centers in Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria. These research centers have signed commitment letters allowing their researcher to work with us in our shared goal to manage Striga.
What about intellectual property?
What about intellectual property?
Our active agent strain has been patented in every active country in Africa. The patent on the enhanced virulence selection technology expired this year. https://patents.justia.com/patent/6673746. We hold decades of experience and are sharing that with our science team. The name Kichawi Kill is trademarked.
What other impacts should be addressed in order to scale up this project?
What other impacts should be addressed in order to scale up this project?
There are many things to consider and integrate as we deploy this new technology – regions, crops, farming styles, climate change, fungus persistence, integrated pest management, etc. This is why we’ve built a team who brings diverse knowledge and experience to the table. There are evaluation points throughout – and benchmarks that include, for example, “are the strains we use on Striga in maize also as effective on Striga in sorghum or millet?” "What are the best ways to educate farmers?" We are also concerned with social impact which involves longitudinal evaluation on systemic change (women’s empowerment, education, adoption of more nutritious crops, etc.).
Our original product was expensive and had a short shelf life. Therefore, in 2023, we pivoted to a coated seed treatment. This has been an exciting development - and it dramatically expanded our distribution channels.
Is maize the greatest problem?
Is maize the greatest problem?
Maize is a problem. It doesn’t provide complete nutrition – and actually has very few essential vitamins/nutrients or high protein. Culturally, maize is served at every meal at the majority of homes across sub-Saharan Africa (a notable shift in popularity starting in the 1960s). It is one of the most produced cereal grains in the world. There are biofortification efforts to improve the nutritional quality…and there are drought-resistant varieties…but some say these are just band-aids on a gushing wound.
Predictions from CIMMYT and UN FAO are that maize production in Africa will be affected greatly by climate change. We see increasing crop failure related to climate change and there are great efforts to develop drought resistant crops. We recommend farmers use the crop seeds best suited for their climate conditions. Striga has been getting worse because there are no viable, adopted solutions, AND because it thrives in poor soil and drought. Therefore, we predict that mitigating Striga with a biological solution should actually flex with climate changes and other biological changes better than a chemical solution.
Where do we even start to address this dilemma? Our choice is to take a technology that is ready to launch right now to help farmers improve their maize production so they can grow the maize they need on less land…and then they can start growing more nutritious, valuable, and climate-suitable crops. We and our extension partners are applying an integrated approach - responding to new climate variables, improving nutrition, revitalizing soil, reducing pollutants, boosting economic opportunities, focusing on women as leaders.
Would irrigation and fertilizers be a better solution to reduce Striga and improve crop yield?
Would irrigation and fertilizers be a better solution to reduce Striga and improve crop yield?
Fertile soil reduces the impact of Striga. But, it doesn't fully restore the crop yield or address the Striga seed bank in the soil (Striga seeds can sit dormant for 50 years). Additionally, fertilizer is expensive (not to mention that soil testing is cost prohibitive...an important reason for local farmer groups to share knowledge on conditions and solutions). We recommend farmers build up their soil fertility using no-till/low-till, fertilizer, manure, compost, etc. However, we acknowledge that Striga is also the most immediate barrier for resource-poor farmers. Therefore, with limited resources that don't allow all options, our recommendation is to first treat the Striga and then invest in fertilizers, quality seeds, and irrigation. We are also aware of the concerns related to inappropriate fertilizer use, counterfeit fertilizers, and the environmental impact of sourcing fertilizer.
Irrigation is also cost prohibitive, particularly if a farmer has Striga. We've observed that if farmers are investing in this type of infrastructure, their first choice is actually a mechanized Jab planter or a manual rotary planter.
Using shared mechanized equipment, including tractors, increases the risk of spreading the fine Striga seeds from one farm to others.
What if small scale farmers focused on higher-value crops and let large production farms that have better access to chemical pesticides grow the maize?
What if small scale farmers focused on higher-value crops and let large production farms that have better access to chemical pesticides grow the maize?
This is an interesting idea and if farmers' number one priority wasn't to feed their family, it could be feasible. However, the very nature of subsistence farming is survival. Farming is already a risky career...which seems even riskier if you are growing a higher-value crop that requires a market position so that you can then purchase maize. What we have found with our farmers is that if they can get higher yield, they can then implement "Plan B" – introducing other crops that have higher nutritional advantages. We are trying to help farmers get back on their feet. Farmer NGOs have told us that they haven't focused on farmers with Striga-infested fields – because they are a poor investment due to their inability to turn inputs into subsistence. There is considerable research being put into improving the nutritional value of these staple crops (biofortification).
This question also brings up another challenge: the market. Small scale farmers don't have a lot of power in the commodity market and prices are dictated by seasons (a huge disadvantage to farmers who have to sell at a low price due to inability to safely store surplus grain...but then have to buy at the end of the hunger season when the price is high).
Do we know the long-term repercussions of adding new bacteria or fungi strains to the environment?
Do we know the long-term repercussions of adding new bacteria or fungi strains to the environment?
We are not adding new fungi strains. We are using locally-sourced fungi strains. Fusarium exists in the environment naturally and has for millions of years.
It is also important to remember that Striga is invasive. What we generally see with invasive weeds is that they are far more devastating in their migrated location because the natural inhibitors (fungi, insects, animals, climate) do not exist in the new location.
How do we control the quality of the fungal strains?
How do we control the quality of the fungal strains?
All of the primary inoculum is grown in our dedicated research and manufacturing lab in Kakamega, Kenya. Our dedicated scientist runs procedural checks on efficacy. We have a team of a lab tech to assist our lab manager and the team will grow as we near capacity. As we expand to other countries, each country will have their own in-house lab for efficacy testing and manufacturing. The fungal strain has been deposited in a strain storage bank in Germany.
Seriously, how long is this going to take?
OR,
why don’t you slow down...focus on Kenya?
Seriously, how long is this going to take?
OR,
why don’t you slow down...focus on Kenya?
Regulatory procedures are a greater barrier than the scientific selection or farmer adoption. We will need to register the locally-selected product in each country. In Kenya, these regulatory steps took six years. This is why (despite recommendations from business advisors who said we should succeed in Kenya before we try anywhere else) in 2018 we started training scientists to get the ball rolling in eleven other countries. Uganda will be the next country for expansion with regulatory trials launching in 2024. We are working with the East Africa Community Harmonized Biocontrol Regulations and anticipate gaining regulatory approval in Tanzania after Uganda, which will then grant approval in the other five EAC member states. As funding has allowed, we have started efforts to expand into Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria.
How could we get this to farmers faster?
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We are constantly working with stakeholders across the value chains for maize and sorghum. We will welcome introductions to organizations working with farmers in Striga-infested areas.
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Training more scientists will bring more brains to the game - allowing us to work through the regulatory protocol and expand the innovation platform.
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Regulatory harmonization in regional trade centers would allow us to register in 5 trade centers rather than 18 countries (this would provide a huge cost savings…which means less time needed to raise money).
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DNA analysis will validate other toxicology reports and gene transfer capacity.