The final review of their project to develop biofortified rapid-cooking beans in Africa has brought UWA researchers and collaborators within arm’s reach of a “substantial breakthrough for human health and welfare”.

Funded by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and led by The University of Western Australia and the Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), this ground-breaking $2.48 million project has reduced beans' cooking time by 24 per cent and increased iron and zinc content by 12 to 14 per cent and five to six per cent, respectively, in improved common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) populations.

Image: UWA project leader Professor Cowling examining beans during the annual review event.

Once grown by farmers, rapid-cooking and nutrient-rich varieties will alleviate the burden on women and children who no longer need to expend excessive time, fuel, and resources preparing beans.

The collaboration between researchers, farmers, policymakers, the private sector and other stakeholders has been instrumental in the projects’ success. A world-leading approach to plant breeding called BRÍO, developed by The UWA Institute of Agriculture Associate Director Professor Wallace Cowling, has been applied by African researchers to accelerate population improvement and, ultimately, release improved varieties.

The final review will assess the project's effectiveness, sustainability, and scalability, providing valuable insights for future agricultural development initiatives.

Image: The final review took place in May at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization.

“The project has taught African plant breeders that, if they learn new approaches to plant breeding, they can increasingly solve complex problems,” Professor Cowling said.

“UWA Research Associate Dr Renu Saradadevi and I have been training African breeders in new BRÍO methods, while developing BRÍO for African common bean breeding programs."

"We are trying our hardest to help our African colleagues achieve their goals of releasing a biofortified rapid cooking bean variety - this will improve the health and welfare of African women and children who currently suffer from iron and zinc deficiency and protein deficiency."

Professor Wallace Cowling

The Institute Director Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique said UWA was proud of its ongoing collaboration with ACIAR on various research and development projects worldwide over the decades.

“This highly collaborative project is a powerful vehicle to transfer superior bean varieties and capacity building to Africa,” Professor Siddique said.

This article was first published in the September 2024 edition of The UWA Institute of Agriculture newsletter. Read the full publication online.