Introduction

    The Biotechnology Centre (BTC) was created from the former Department of Plant and Soil Sciences (DPSS) in the year 2013. BTC is currently one of the six centres of the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) It is made up of mainly the Tissue Culture and the Molecular Biology Laboratories.  The staff strength of the BTC currently stands at 26, comprising eleven Scientists (consisting of five PhD holders), five Technologists, one Technician, two Production Assistants, three Gardeners and two Administrative staff. Scientists and   Technical  staff  of BTC have impressive   expertise and years   of rich   experience in  the  following  research  areas; plant tissue  culture, molecular  biology, plant  virology, plant  physiology, molecular  and mutation breeding. The BTC focuses and undertakes research and commercialization activities in these fields to complement the use of nuclear science and   related   technologies   for   the   enhancement   of   sustainable agricultural production   and industrialization in Ghana towards the ultimate goal of achieving national prosperity and well-being. 

    Vision

    To be Ghana’s leading public institution that provides solutions to challenges in agriculture, health and industry through exploration and exploitation of scientific knowledge in biotechnology and nuclear science.

    Mission

    BNARI exists to carry out research and development activities on safe applications of biotechnology and nuclear science and transfer these technologies to end-users in order to enhance agricultural productivity, health delivery and industrialisation. In pursuit of these, BNARI will build strategic alliances and partnership with national, regional and international bodies to assist Ghana fulfil her obligations on the safe applications of biotechnology and nuclear science

    Mandate

    BTC is mandated to develop protocols for the micro-propagation of food crops, and medicinal and ornamental plants and use molecular, nuclear, and related techniques for crop improvement to enhance agricultural productivity.

    Research Activities

    • Plant Tissue Culture: Development of efficient in vitro protocols for mass production of clean planting materials of food (Plantain, Cocoyam, Pineapple, Sweet potato Sugarcane) medicinal (Aframomum melegueta, Capparis erythrocarpos, Phyllanthus niruri) and ornamental plants (Heliconia, Caladium, Bromeliard, Orchids).
    • Molecular Genetic Diversity Research: Research on plant genetic diversity among germplasm using molecular markers to provide opportunity for plant breeders to develop new and improved cultivars with desirable characteristics.
    • Plant Pathology Research: Plant Pathology research at the BTC focusses on pathogen identification and genetic diversity, disease surveillance and the development of plant disease management strategies.
    • Cassava improvement programme: Development of improved Pro-vitamin A as well as cassava mosaic disease resistance cassava varieties. Other traits of importance such as disease resistance and early maturing are being developed through tissue culture and molecular genetics-assisted techniques, mutation induction and hybrid development.
    • Plantain Improvement Programme: Improvement in methods of mass production of planting material and research to efficiently enhance various aspects of the production and utilization of the crop using mutagenesis and molecular genetics techniques.
    • Tree crop (Shea, Coconut and Cola) improvement research: Improvement in germination and development of efficient micro-propagation techniques for rapid mass production of planting materials.

    Commercialization Activities

    • Production of disease-free tissue culture planting materials
    • Diagnostics of plant disease-causing agents eg. Viruses

    Training/Consultancy

    Training in tissue culture techniques, basic molecular biology techniques, plant disease diagnostics, induced mutation and molecular breeding techniques.

    Achievements

    • BTC played a pivotal role in the introduction of the MD2 pineapple into  Ghana  through  mass  propagation  of  planting  materials  for pineapple growers.
    • Successful development of efficient in vitro protocols for the micropropagation of staple food crops (plantain, taro, sweet potato), tree (shea) and medicinal plants (Aframomum).
    • The BTC has trained over 1000 undergraduate and post graduate students and IAEA fellows from other African countries and the Caribbean.

    Partners/Collaborators

    • The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria
    • Public and Private Universities (University of Ghana, Legon, University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and University of Science and Technology)
    • Research Institutions (Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Center for Research into Plant Medicine, Mampong)
    • Farmer Associations

    Directory

    The Centre Manager,
    Biotechnology Centre (BTC)
    BNARI-GAEC
    P. O. Box AE 50, Atomic-Accra, Ghana
    P. O. Box LG 80, Legon-Accra, Ghana
    Email: btc.bnari@gaec.gov.gh