Landmark research establishes Ghana’s first double haploid maize breeding facility

In a groundbreaking achievement for African agriculture, Dr. Pearl Abu, a renowned plant breeder and geneticist at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana, has established Ghana’s first double haploid (DH) maize breeding facility.

This cutting-edge initiative is poised to transform maize breeding strategies, significantly enhancing food security and agricultural productivity across West Africa.

Dr. Abu leads WACCI’s Maize Breeding Programme, which focuses on developing high-yielding maize varieties that are resilient to climate change challenges such as drought, high temperatures, and pests.

Through her work, she integrates innovative technologies like double haploid breeding and genomic selection to address Ghana’s pressing food security needs.

Double haploid (DH) technology is an advanced plant breeding method that allows breeders to produce genetically uniform plants in just two generations. In comparison, traditional methods require six to eight generations to achieve the same result. By significantly shortening the breeding cycle, DH technology reduces the time needed to develop new maize varieties from 8–10 years to just 3 years.

This efficiency makes DH a game-changer, allowing farmers quicker access to improved crop varieties that can adapt to changing climate conditions and agricultural challenges.

The establishment of this DH facility not only positions Ghana as a leader in advanced plant breeding techniques within West Africa but also opens the door to broader international collaboration. 

Dr. Abu has partnered with esteemed institutions such as Iowa State University and Khon Kaen University.

The introduction of DH technology into maize breeding programs in Ghana is anticipated to yield substantial benefits.

By accelerating the development of improved maize varieties, the facility promises higher yields and increased crop stability, which could lead to better food security and improved livelihoods for farmers not only in Ghana but potentially across the broader West African region.

“Farmers will have quicker access to high-yielding maize varieties, which could lead to increased incomes and better livelihoods in rural communities—key drivers of economic development,” Dr. Abu added.

Looking ahead, Dr. Abu’s long-term vision is to see similar facilities established across the continent, creating a network of breeding centres equipped to tackle Africa’s evolving agricultural needs.