Final Process Book_Design 10 Capstone Studio

Visioning Kamuzu University of Health Sciences Campus

Center of Excellence for Agricultural Biotechnology

by: Amanda Bracci

Project presented to the:

Faculty of the Department of Architecture

College of Architecture and the Built Environment

Thomas Jefferson University

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of:

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

Arch-508 / Design 10: Research and Design Faculty

Associate Professor Chris Harnish

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 2023

Thesis

This program proposal and design will be examining the techniques, practices, and opportunities of agricultural biotechnology on the KUHeS campus in northern Blantyre, Malawi. With an increasing population, Malawi is a country in need of reliable, inexpensive pharmaceuticals and yearround, nutritional food. Currently all biopharmaceuticals are being imported to the country, making them expensive and difficult for Malawians to trust them. Biopharming will allow Malawi to produce drugs in country and will increase awareness and education on biopharmaceuticals in Malawi. The introduction of genetically modified crops will provide food security to the campus and surrounding community that resists pests, adds nutritional value, and is stable during the drought season.

Introduction:

Rationale, Challenges, Intentions, & Goals

According to the 2022 IPC Chronic Food Insecurity Report, over 70% of the Malawian population is living below the international poverty line of $1.60 per day resulting in major health disparities for Malawians.1 These health disparities include food insecurity, malnutrition, and lack of access to pharmaceuticals.

“Approximately 5.4 million people in Malawi living in rural and secondary urban centers are facing Moderate or Severe chronic food insecurity.”2 The food insecurity is caused by poverty, the lack of quality soil and fertilizer, frequent pest infestations, and recurrent shocks such as the combination of flooding and droughts. Of the 70 percent of people living in poverty, “more than a quarter are unable to consume the recommended daily amount of food (Quantity) and with the adequate dietary diversity (Quality).” 3 According to Malawi’s National Nutrition Policy, there have been many cases of malnutrition especially with nutrient deficiencies like iron, vitamin A, and zinc.4 This project will analyze these disparities and determine sustainable solutions for nutritional, sustainable, and quality food production.

The ultimate goal is that both the biopharming and agricultural biotechnology prototype at the KUHeS campus will provide training and educational, social, and economic benefits to the community as well as be a framework for other farmers in sub-saharan Africa.

The intentions of this study are as follows: (1) Examine the health disparities regarding food and vaccines (malnutrition, food insecurity, lack of pharmaceutical manufacturing nearby, and vaccine uptake reluctance), (2) Evaluate sustainable practices and techniques to produce food and drugs, (3) Design a biocultivation center for food and drugs that becomes a framework for farmers in Malawi, (4) Determine how the center will educate the population on the importance of health and provide economic benefits to the community that was displaced.

The methods used in this study are as follows: (1) broad literature reviews, (2) analysis of case study projects, (3) quantification of data, and (4) design. Literature reviews will be used to determine rationale for the project, health disparities based on data, and the sustainable strategies used in biotech and bioprocessing. The analysis of case studies will be informative of other sustainable architectural structures used to produce and manufacture food or drugs, especially in sub-tropical climates. Quantification of data such as the amount of drugs or food produced or acreage of land needed are important steps in order to design a space. And lastly, physically designing the spaces needed to cultivate food and drugs is important to determine to achieve the goals of this study.

The expected goals and findings of this project are as follows: (1) Provide more health security (food & drug) to the campus and surrounding community, (2) Produce food and drug using sustainable strategies, (3) Provide educational, social, and economic benefits to the population regarding nutrition and drug importance (Increase trust in Ministry of Health), (4) Design a planned framework for farmers in Malawi to follow to produce their own crops or biopharmaceuticals. This project analysis is necessary in order to address the health disparities, food insecurity, malnutrition, and pharmaceutical uptake reluctance in Malawi.

Methodology:

Research on Regulations, Biotech, & Processes

- LUANAR’S DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY HELPS INCREASE FARMERS YIELD THREE FOLD & ENSURES THE COMMUNITY’S FOOD SECURITY

- RESEARCH OF TRANSGENIC PLANTS WITH STRAINS TO IMPROVE DROUGHT TOLERANCE, ANTIFUNGAL RESISTANCE, ETC

- FARMING TECHNIQUES USED TO CREATE HIGHER YIELD

REGIONAL EFFORTS HELP SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS & HEALTH SYSTEMS

- PROVIDE QUALITY, EQUITABLE, & AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE

- ENSURE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD

- BY 2063, MALAWI HOPES OF IMPROVING THE AVAILABILITY & QUALITY OF HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, MEDICINES & MEDICAL SUPPLIES

- ENSURE FOOD & NUTRITION SECURITY WITH THE PLANNING & EVALUATION OF LOCAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS

- MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS STRATEGIC PLANS IN PLACE FOR IMPROVING FOOD, DRUG, & NUTRITIONAL ACCESS

COMMON GOALS TO INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY & OVERALL HEALTH

ELIMINATE FOOD, DRUG, & NUTRITION INSECURITY

GLOBAL INITIATIVES STRENGTHEN & SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

LOCAL REGIONAL

-USAID HAS PROVIDED OVER �4 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

-CHAI SUPPORTS THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH BY DELIVERING VACCINES & OTHER VITAL MEDICINES TO THE COUNTRY

GLOBAL

Experiments with agricultural biotechnology in Malawi started in the early 2000s where there were local, regional, and global initiatives. The local initiatives came mostly from Lilongwe University’s Department of Biotechnology where they completed confined field trials and experiments to increase farmers’ yield.5 Regional initiatives mostly come from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture where Strategic Plans were put into place to provide food security for all, food with a high nutritional value, and medicines for all Malawians.6 One of the global efforts for the mitigation of food insecurity is Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). At CHAI they strive to improve access to quality medicines and food by financing efforts made by the Ministry of Health.7

Chitipa

TANZANIA

- Provide quality, equitable, and affordable health

- Ensure access to

- Improving the availability of health infrastructure, medicines and medical

- Ensure food and nutrition and enhance the planning local nutrition programs

ZAMBIA

CommercializedCotton

Mzuzu

MALAWI

Kasungu

MOZAMBIQUE

Lilongwe

4.5hr Mangochu

CROP TRIALS

ZIMBABWE

First Science & Technology Act in Malawi

To coordinate and promote the development of research.

First Biosafety Act Passed

Biosafety commission is established (10 members) to increase awareness of science & technology, formulate & revise policies, and issue licenses & permits.

1991 2002

The progress of agricultural biotechnology has vastly improved since the late 1990’s. The biotech movement started with the science and technology act which was mainly research based, then the first biosafety act was passed to increase awareness and create policies surrounding biotech, then additional biosafety regulations were passed to clarify licensing and consent to practice biotech, and finally regulations were passed in 2008 that approved the confined field trial process.8 The first Confined Field trials were conducted in 2011 with Cotton being the first genetically modified crop to be commercialized.9

Additional Biosafety Regulations Passed

National Biosafety Regulatory Committee uses applications to clarify who has consent to practice biotechnology.

National Biotechnology & Biosafety Policy Approved

2007

Regulation approved to conduct confined field trials for any genetically modified (GM) crops.

2008

The Malawi 2063 10-year implementation plan has goals and strategies in place regarding the future of agricultural biotechnology in Malawi.10 They hope to develop genetic improvement programs for growth, drought, and pest tolerance. Another goal is to provide a knowledge sharing platform that increases knowledge and trust in these biotech strategies, which will greatly increase the acceptance of this modern technology into the agrarian culture.11

Currently Malawi has three genetically modified crops and zero plant-based vaccines. The three crops are insect resistant cotton, insect resistant cowpea, and virus resistant banana. Cowpea and banana are still in field trials, but cotton was commercialized in 2019.12 Another genetic trait that could be helpful given Malawi’s climate is drought resistance, which is already used in Maize in other Sub-Saharan countries.

GM Banana

GM Cowpea

GM Cotton

SPEED

- Plant-based vaccines can be produced in just 6 weeks responding quickly to outbreaks.

- Genetically modified crops typically yield 40% more product.

SUSTAINABILITY

- No complex sterile media or bioreactor is needed for cell culture production of GM crops or plant-based vaccines.

- Plants act as the bioreactor and only require sunlight, water, and nutrients to grow.

SCALABILITY

- All you need to increase product is to grow more plants.

Plant- Based Vaccine Production Process

The plant-based vaccine process typically uses infiltrated recombinant proteins. The biopharming process starts with the growth of a plant and an agrobacterium. The agrobacterium is made up of a cloned DNA strand of a plant and the gene of interest which is inserted into the plant DNA. The plants are then grown to maturity where each plant produces large amounts of the protein of interest. The leaves are harvested and then the proteins are separated from contaminated plant proteins in multiple rounds of filtration to achieve a certain level of purity. The resulting vaccine is then tested in a series of quality control tests to determine purity, function, and performance.13

VACCINE PRODUCTION (BIOPHARMING)

Grow Plants

GM CROP PRODUCTION

Copy Insect Resistant

Gene Strand into Plant DNA

Infiltrate Plant with Agrobacterium

Insert Gene into the DNA of the Plant

Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt)

Genetically Modified Crop Process

Similarly, most genetically modified crops have a protein of interest such as pest resistance or drought resistance. That strand of DNA is then inserted into a select plant which will foster the production of the protein of interest and will then protect the plant from such hazards like pests and droughts.14

Grow Insect Resistant Cotton

EXTRACT & PURIFY

TESTING & RESEARCH

HUMID/WET

TESTING & RESEARCH

HARVESTING COOL/DRY

GROW SEEDLINGS

GROW CELLS

INFILTRATE PLANTS

PLANT & GROW IN GREENHOUSE

LAND PREPARATION

COOL/DRY

PLANT & FERTILIZE CROPS

HOT/DRY

UNCONFINED TRIALS GM CROPS)

COMMERCIALIZATION OF GM CROPS & PLANT-BASED VACCINES

CROP YIELD

Case Studies: Reference Programs & Projects in Africa

Case Studies: Lilongwe University (LUANAR)15

Cowpea Confined Field Trial – University Scale

Size: 1565.18 hectares (fenced area is 2 ha)

Soil type: deep red Ferruginous soils/sandy clay loam & sandy clay

Altitude: 1200 m above sea level

Topography: arable land surrounded by Brachystegia (miombo), Dambo (wetlands) & Mopane woodlands

Flora & Fauna: grass species including Hyparrhenia filipendula, Themeda triandra, Andropogon schirensis, Bewsia biflora and Andropogon amplectens. The grass is subjected to early control burning to reduce damage to vegetation in the mopane woodland and the areas

Climate: 1000 to1200mm of rainfall per year/December to April wind direction is variable, with an average speed of 7 kph. Cowpea is not wind-pollinated and its pollen is not subject to dispersal by wind.

Previous History of Trial Site: Cultivation of maize, soybean, cotton, and cowpea.

Distance from nearest human settlements: 3-5 km/1.5-3 km from Bunda College

Distance from nearest surface water: dambo catchment acts as a hydrological store about 600m from the site holding water and releasing it as base flow to its headwater stream during the dry season. Surface water: 1 km away

Distance from nearest environmental protected area: 2.5-4 km from the Bunda Forest Reserve

Case Studies

Case Studies: Cape Bio

Pharms 16

Biopharming - Commercial Scale (Field Trials done at University of Cape Town)

Biopharming Process

Design Conclusions:

Climate, Vernacular, & Materiality Considerations

The site is located on the southern edge of the campus. The contours determine a gradual slope down towards the southeast of the site. Water flow and irrigation methods for the agriculture were used in favor of the natural contours.

WATER FLOW & IRRIGATION

WIND CROSS CONTAMINATION

Wind cross contamination is a big factor with biotech agriculture, especially since there is a hospital in close proximity to the Agricultural Biotech site. The hospital is located to the north of the site. Since the primary winds are being directed from the north, there is no issue with contaminating the air of the hopital.

With the Hospital nearby, there needed to be a buffer of sorts between these two programs on the site. Ultimately, the use of informal plantings an trees created a buffer between these zones. Another key program adjacency is the solar farm that is located just west of the site, which will aid in the mechanical ventilation of the labs.

PROGRAM PROXIMITY

Sun is a big factor to consider as Malawi is incredibly hot most of the year. To mitigate the heat and energy needed to cool these spaces, shaded pathways were considered between areas of high activity, roof overhangs, and natural ventilation was used where possible.

SOLAR

Fractal geometry has been seen in many traditional African designs and has been used to organize spaces and create different types of relationships. Nature has shaped and informed many of the fractal designs that developed over time. Such features include the branching of circulation, scaling of different units, and a semi-similar repetition of elements.18 The design of the Center of Excellence is informed by the branching fractals, which have a close relationship with nature and have branching circulation around organic program spaces. The use of this traditional organization strategy is to create a relationship to the agricultural landscape that juxtaposes this modern biotech program.

One of the first considerations when going to design the site for the Agricultural Biotechnology Center of Excellence was creating a relationship between the buildings and the agriculture and nature on the site. Most of Malawian life happens outdoors and the primary economic driver is from agricultural production so the relationship to the nature especially from the staff perspective is incredibly important.

The branching circulation and relationship between program elements was also important in shaping the landscape. The campus will have a bike and foot path that extends through the entire campus and has a main road on the east side of the Biotech Center’s site.

Another important consideration was the irrigation of the crops and the reuse and collection of water. Water will be collected off the buildings and pumped up to the water tower using solar energy. The water tower will use a furrow irrigation system that opens and irrigates the crops through the trenches. The excess water will pool at the lowest point of the site, which results in a retention pond.

One of the key features of the vernacular fractal site is the relationship to nature. The site has both a relationship to formal and informal areas of nature. Each staff housing fractal has an adjacent crop field whether it be for research agriculture or commercialized agriculture. The research crop plots are towards the center of the site to provide more security over those plants, whereas the commercialized agriculture is located on the edges of the site.

The irrigation and natural water flows from the water tower down into the furrow irrigation canal and eventually into the retention pond at the lowest point on the site. Furrow irrigation is a technique used already in Malawi and uses rows of crops that are separated by trenches which are filled with water through a gate system. Once the gate is open, the trenches are filled with water providing quick absorbtion through the roots of the crops. The excess water ends up in the retention pond and is cleaned and pumped back up to the water tower using solar energy to eventually be reused again. Water is also captured on the roofs of labs and greenhouses.

In terms of circulation, the site has a main road on its eastern side which travels in the north south direction. If you head north you will reach the campus center, and if you go south you will exit the campus and eventually hit the airport. There will be a bike and foot path that extends to all parts of the campus. There are also service roads to the main center buildings on the site and that pass through to the staff housing fractals.

7

5

GM Crop Greenhouse

Shared Nursery

Biopharming Greenhouse Education Center

GM Crop Lab

Staff Housing

Biopharming Lab

The main goals for the GM Crop Lab were to create a connection to the agriculture adjacent with views, use local materials to aid in contruction, and create meaningful outdoor spaces. The large roof overhang guides people into the lobby which has a reception desk and a kitchen. Then you must enter the lab through the gowning area, which leads you into the Research and Development room, Quality Control, and Infiltration Lab. Products are brought in and out through the loading area which has an adjacent storage area. You must pass through an airlock room before entering or exiting the storage and loading areas.

The primary materials used for the building are rammed earth, glass, steel, and concrete. The building breaks planes to create more exquisite views out to the landscape. The butterfly roof also collects water in a water catchment pond, which is directed back up to the water tower so it can be reused for irrigation of crops.

Analysis & Reflection: Intent, Results & Future Development

Reflection of Final Review

The intent of this program proposal and design was meant to spark interest in the idea of GM crops and biopharming. It is a very bold and modern approach to solving the issues of food insecurity and lack of vaccines, but it could be something accepted within the culture if given enough willingness. The integration of a vernacular site and materiality was successful in that it created an incredible relationship with the landscape, which is common in Malawi. The use of vernacular elements was meant to offset the modernity of the program. However, the program might need more elements like this that are less intrusive to the cultural norms and are more supportive of the economy and education of the people. This could include things like providing jobs for people to construct these buildings on site, offering community education on these agricultural biotech methods and products, or viewing this as an economic opportunity to export the produce and vaccines to provide revenue for the country.

Further developments could be made in regard to the internal service circulation between buildings, the circulation routes and typologies being shaded or unshaded, solar strategies, and the amount of solar power necessary to mechanically ventilate the labs.

Overall, this program proposal and design will provide the KUHeS campus with an opportunity to mitigate food and drug insecurity, create more nutritional food, increase crop yield, produce and export their first vaccines, and educate the community about the value in biotech agriculture.

Endnotes

1. “Malawi IPC Chronic Food Insecurity Report - May 2022 in Malawi,” United Nations, accessed May 13, 2023, https://malawi.un.org/en/182748-malawi-ipc-chronic-food-insecurity-reportmay-2022, 7.

2. Ibid.

3. “Malawi IPC Chronic Food Insecurity Report - May 2022 in Malawi,” United Nations, accessed May 13, 2023, https://malawi.un.org/en/182748-malawi-ipc-chronic-food-insecurityreport-may-2022, 10.

4. “Malawi National Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy 2018-2022,” National Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy 2018–2022, accessed May 14, 2023, https://extranet.who.int/nutrition/gina/sites/default/ filesstore/MWI_2018_National-Multi-Sector-Nutrition-Policy.pdf, 4.

5. “Seeding Labs’ Instrumental Access 2016: Luanar,” Seeding Labs, September 12, 2018, https://seedinglabs.org/programs-and-impact/instrumental-access-old/instrumental-access-2016/ lilongwe-university/.

6. “Health Sector Strategic Plan II - Who/OMS Extranet Systems,” Health Sector Strategic Plan II (2017-2022), accessed May 14, 2023, https://extranet.who.int/countryplanningcycles/sites/ default/files/planning_cycle_repository/malawi/health_sector_strategic_plan_ii_030417_smt_dps.pdf.

7. “Malawi,” Clinton Health Access Initiative - Malawi, April 26, 2023, https://www. clintonhealthaccess.org/malawi/.

8. Olalekan Akinbo et al., “Commercial Release of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: Interface between Biosafety Regulatory Systems and Varietal Release Systems,” Frontiers in Plant Science 12 (2021), https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.605937.

9. Ibid. 10. “MW2063 Vision: United Nations Development Programme,” UNDP, accessed May 13, 2023, https://www.undp.org/malawi/publications/mw2063-vision.

11. Ibid.

12. Norman Muzhinji and Victor Ntuli, “Genetically Modified Organisms and Food Security in Southern Africa: Conundrum and Discourse,” GM Crops & Food 12, no. 1 (2020): 25–35, https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2020.1794489.

13. “Technology | Cape Biologix Technologies,” Cape Biologix, accessed May 14, 2023, https:// capebiologix.com/technology/.

14. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, “Science and History of Gmos and Other Food Modification Processes,” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, accessed May 13, 2023, https://www. fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/science-and-history-gmos-and-other-food-modificationprocesses.

15. Kingdom Kwapata, “Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) Bunda ...,” APPLICATION FOR CONFINED FIELD TRIAL (CFT) OF BtCOWPEA, accessed May 14, 2023, https://afsafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Bt-COW-PEA-CFT-Application-NBRC-2015.pdf.

16. “Home: Cape Bio Pharms,” Cape Bio Pharms, accessed May 13, 2023, https://www. capebiopharms.com/.

17. Ron Eglash, African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2005), https://monoskop.org/images/f/fc/Eglash_Ron_African_ Fractals_Modern_Computing_and_Indigenous_Design.pdf.

Bibliography

Akinbo, Olalekan, Silas Obukosia, Jeremy Ouedraogo, Woldeyesus Sinebo, Moussa Savadogo, Samuel Timpo, Ruth Mbabazi, Karim Maredia, Diran Makinde, and Aggrey Ambali. “Commercial Release of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: Interface between Biosafety Regulatory Systems and Varietal Release Systems.” Frontiers in Plant Science 12 (2021). https://doi. org/10.3389/fpls.2021.605937.

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Science and History of Gmos and Other Food Modification Processes.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed May 13, 2023. https:// www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/science-and-history-gmos-and-other-foodmodification-processes.

Eglash, Ron. African fractals: Modern Computing and indigenous design. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2005. https://monoskop.org/images/f/fc/Eglash_Ron_African_Fractals_ Modern_Computing_and_Indigenous_Design.pdf.

“Health Sector Strategic Plan II - Who/OMS Extranet Systems.” Health Sector Strategic Plan II (20172022). Accessed May 14, 2023. https://extranet.who.int/countryplanningcycles/sites/default/ files/planning_cycle_repository/malawi/health_sector_strategic_plan_ii_030417_smt_dps.pdf.

“Home: Cape Bio Pharms.” Cape Bio Pharms. Accessed May 13, 2023. https://www.capebiopharms. com/.

Kwapata, Kingdom. “Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) Bunda ...” APPLICATION FOR CONFINED FIELD TRIAL (CFT) OF BtCOWPEA. Accessed May 14, 2023. https://afsafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Bt-COW-PEA-CFT-Application-NBRC-2015. pdf.

“Malawi IPC Chronic Food Insecurity Report - May 2022 in Malawi.” United Nations. Accessed May 13, 2023. https://malawi.un.org/en/182748-malawi-ipc-chronic-food-insecurity-report-may-2022.

“Malawi National Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy 2018-2022.” National Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy 2018–2022. Accessed May 14, 2023. https://extranet.who.int/nutrition/gina/sites/default/ filesstore/MWI_2018_National-Multi-Sector-Nutrition-Policy.pdf.

“Malawi.” Clinton Health Access Initiative - Malawi, April 26, 2023. https://www.clintonhealthaccess. org/malawi/.

Muzhinji, Norman, and Victor Ntuli. “Genetically Modified Organisms and Food Security in Southern Africa: Conundrum and Discourse.” GM Crops & Food 12, no. 1 (2020): 25–35. https://doi.or g/10.1080/21645698.2020.1794489.

“MW2063 Vision: United Nations Development Programme.” UNDP. Accessed May 13, 2023. https:// www.undp.org/malawi/publications/mw2063-vision.

“Seeding Labs’ Instrumental Access 2016: Luanar.” Seeding Labs, September 12, 2018. https:// seedinglabs.org/programs-and-impact/instrumental-access-old/instrumental-access-2016/ lilongwe-university/.

“Technology | Cape Biologix Technologies.” Cape Biologix. Accessed May 14, 2023. https:// capebiologix.com/technology/.