A top South African scientist was in Grahamstown recently to present research so momentous that she has to fight off international companies offering her millions for her secret.
A top South African scientist was in Grahamstown recently to present research so momentous that she has to fight off international companies offering her millions for her secret.
The work of Professor Jill Farrant, of the University of Cape Town's Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology could not only see the face of crop farming as we know it changed forever, but could prove vital to global food security.
Against the background of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's prediction that climate change will force countries to abandon crop farming by 2050, Farrant told scientists assembled for the 37th annual conference of the South African Association of Botanists in Grahamstown last month that crops that can survive drought could soon become a reality.
The key to Farrant's research is the extraordinary "resurrection plant", so called because it can appear dead “for years”, but spring back to life within 24 to 48 hours of watering. The plant, which can withstand up to 95 percent water loss, could present a timely solution to dire predictions of the effects of global warming and climate change, Farrant told delegates at the conference, hosted by Rhodes University's Botany Department.
Mostly endemic to South Africa, Eragrostis nindensis avoids death by “switching on” specific genes during times of extreme stress caused by drought. As the plants dry out and lose most of their water content, a complex biochemical process produces two types of sugar molecules – sucrose and oligosaccharide – which together protect the plant's vegetative tissue during the state of suspended animation.
“So they shrivel up and appear dead, but can 'come back to life' with a bit of water,” Farrant said. “All plants have the ability to do it, because all plants have the gene, but so far only the resurrection variety actually utilises it.
“Resurrection plants are incredible; in the 15 years I've been researching them, I've never managed to kill a single one,” Farrant said. Farrant said creating drought-resistant crops was “only a matter of time”. This involved unpacking the specific triggers and pathways which might switch on the dormant genes and activate them in specific crops.
Although Farrant is not opposed to using genetic modification as a way of harnessing the drought-resistant gene, Farrant said she believed there were “more natural ways” of doing it. “The question is, how do we wake the gene up without going GMO? "Our experiments are ongoing. It could take time – or we could have a breakthrough tomorrow,” she said.
This pioneering research has earned Farrant, UCT's first woman A-rated scientist, international acclaim, as well as numerous accolades, including the Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award for 2009 and the Distinguished Woman Scientist in the Life Sciences in the South African Woman in Science Awards.
Funds from these awards have enabled Farrant to finance her continuing research. “This is a hugely important area of research. Can you imagine the implications for farming and food security?" Farrant said.
"Predictions for farming and food security are shocking, and this could be a solution to those problems,” she added.
In addition to their inherent drought resistance, resurrection plants are also highly nutritious. Eragrostis tef, a close relative of the resurrection grass Eragrostis nindensis, is a highly sought-after food staple in Ethiopia. It is known for its high protein content and is also gluten-free, thereby presenting a feasible alternative to conventional maize.
“People use it to make bread and all kinds of staple foods, such as rotis. I have tasted it and it's amazing. "Imagine a drought-resistant maize alternative. It is definitely on the cards,” she said.
With 90 percent of the 300 angiosperm species worldwide occurring naturally in southern Africa, Farrant said she was at a huge advantage researching the plants in South Africa.
“There is also a lot of demand for the plants, and especially the gene codes. I've been offered millions by international companies looking to develop drought-resistant crops but I am not budging," Farrant said.
"I know that if they are successful in creating a product they will sell it back to us at a hugely inflated price. Africa has enough challenges as it is. I would never give the secret away so we can be exploited.”
Farrant, who grew up on a farm near Waterberg in Limpopo, said while her job allowed her to see a lot of the world through travel, her heart remained close to home. “I love this country. I love the people and the environment. We face so many challenges and I've stayed because I feel I can make a difference here. Africa really needs this research,” she said.
Farrant first became interested in resurrection plants as a seven-year-old after she witnessed a plant apparently coming back to life. "I was sitting at the river one day and the plant next to me was dead. "The next day I came back and the same plant was alive. When I got home, I asked my dad why this had happened, and he wouldn't believe me,” she said.
Many years later, after completing her PhD, she decided to go back and investigate. "That's when I came across resurrection plants,” she said. While she says the implications of her research were “incredible” she took no personal praise. “The only reason I am where I am today is because of a lot of people," Farrant said. "That's the beauty of my work. I collaborate a lot with people all over the word and get an overall view of what's going on.”
While many botanists tend to get caught up in very specific areas of research, Farrant said she enjoyed being in a position where she worked with a lot of researchers from various fields. “It's easy to get stuck in your own very specific area of research. I'm lucky in that I get to hear about what is going on all over the place and see the bigger picture of all the little areas of research combined,” she said.
Farrant's top tip for researchers is to avoid professional jealousy, which she said could ruin good research. “Keep focused on what you love doing and be open and share your ideas," she said. "We will all benefit from more communication among researchers and academics,” she said.
