Tef
Global Market for Tef
The global market for a natural gluten free cereal with high protein and much medically desired macro/ micro nutrients, (high calcium content, significant levels of phosphorus, magnesium, aluminum, iron, copper, zinc, boron, barium, and thymine), is in billions of dollars. E. tef is endowed with such nutritional quality that could generate, if we transform
the seed, gigantic revenue and sustainable wheel of fortune for Ethiopia.
Moreover, Celiac disease is caused by aberrant T-cell responses to wheat and also gluten like proteins found in barley and rye. The prognosis for the disease is to stay away from gluten containing nutrients. Furthermore, the emerging global generation is health conscious when it comes to grocery shopping.
The demand for Tef in the USA is a small sample to see the larger picture. High demand for Tef and short supply has driven the market to sell Tef at a very expensive price in New York. One pound of Tef on sale at Trader Joe’s Supermarket in New York City at 6 USD compared to what it would sale 0.36 US cents in the current Ethiopian price. Similarly in London,
Planet Organic shop sells 1 kg of Tef at 7pound that is 11.62 USD. The overall emerging
trend shows, the global market demand for Tef is at a fast rate growth curve that could soon surpass that of Ethiopian coffee export if we transform the seed to high yielding variety.
Business Rational
Despite its economic significance, upgrading the quality and quantity of this important crop has been a problem for the Ethiopian plant breeders. E. tef is grown by an estimated 6.3 million famers, covering more than 20% of all the land under cultivation. Although Tef covers the greatest land space in Ethiopia, it has the lowest yield per hectare, an average of 910kg/ha. In 1996-1997, Tef covered 31% of the total landmass, as compared to 17% and 13% for corn and wheat respectively.
Seed Transformation Methodology
The business will use existing local varieties, (white, red, mixed red/brown ), and use Tissue Culture Biotechnology methods to transform the seed to have the desired traits.
Bio-T Square will employ tissue culture bio-technology to transform E.tef trait by use of Professor Belay’s protocol of pre-tested specific molecular precursors to regulate Tef gene for differential gene expression, (Belay, 1984), and Medelian cross-breeding –intra somatic protoplasmic fusion.
Complete Proposal is available for Investor and financial Grants Donors upon request.
TEF PUBLICATIONS BY PROF. SEIFU M. BELAY
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Tissue Culture in Forestry and Agriculture (Basic Life Sciences, Volume 32 ) edited by Randolph R. Henke, Karen W. Hughes, Milton J. Constantin, Alexander Hollaender, Claire M. WilsonPublished by New York: Plenum Press , 1985 ISBN 10: 030641919X / ISBN 13: 9780306419195
Content# 25) Seifu M. Belay: The Culture of Eragrostis tef in Vitro.
http://www.iberlibro.com/Tissue-Culture-Forestry-Agriculture-Basic-Life/3866502203/bd
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First Annual Conference of the Association for Advancement of Industrial Crops. P9,1989.Belay, S. The Hormonal and Nutritional Requirements’ for Cyto-differentiation of A Cereal Crop, Eragrostis Tef. Basic Life Science. Vol. 32, p.306 , 1984