Networking for biotechnology: existing and new avenues for Africa wide

collaboration

Charles Mugoya

AMASA –Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

11-13 November 2013

Introduction Biotechnology networks have provided:

An effective means for enhancing scientific co-operation and maximizing information exchange between advanced research centers and African institutions

A channel for building up reserves of skilled human resources and infrastructure capacity

An efficient mechanism to avail proprietary biotechnologies in Africa

A link for public-private sector research collaboration in biotechnology R&D initiatives

Outline

Attempt to categorize existing networks in biotechnology and biosafety in Africa

Discuss networking initiatives in biotechnology and biosafety in Africa

Appraise performance of past and current networks

Make recommendations for enhanced continental wide collaboration to advance biotechnology in Africa

First Generation Biotechnology Networks

Benefited from the support of UN agencies UNDP, UNEP GEF, UNIDO, UNESCO, UNECA, FAO, WHO and groupings like OECD

African Association for Biological Nitrogen Fixation (AABNF)

Founded in 1982 to promote the use of biological nitrogen fixation in Agriculture

Worked with multidisciplinary teams in East, North & West Africa to promote biological nitrogen fixation in Africa

A famous product out of this collaboration was a commercial inoculant known as Biofix

Biotechnology Education and Training Centre (BETCEN)

An Africa wide capacity building network established in 1995 by the Biotechnology Action Council (BAC) of UNESCO to provide short and medium term training and internships in plant biotechnology

Operated from the Roodeplaat Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in Pretoria, South Africa

Trained several hundred african scientists and technicians.

The African Biosciences Network (ABN) Active from 1983-1992 as a co-operative mechanism

between bio-scientists in sub-Saharan Africa and international scientific community

Commissioned and projects biotechnology projects in agro-forestry, medicinal plants and bio-control of insect pests and vectors and bilharzia

Credited for organizing major international conferences, symposia and training courses training over 1000 African scientists in biotechnology

Cassava Biotechnology Network (CBN)

Founded in 1988 by scientists at CIAT to maximize improvement of cassava in developing countries

The network has promoted farmer-managed low-cost tissue culture laboratories and stimulated local private sector in cassava farming

Network is dominated by stakeholders from developing countries

Continental and Sub-regional networks

Africa Biosciences Initiative (ABI)

ABI was established under NEPAD to harness the biological applications in the area of human health, agriculture and environment. The four regional networks are: Biosciences eastern and central Africa Network

(BecANet)

Southern African Network for Biosciences (SANBio)

West African Biosciences Network (WABNet)

North African Biosciences Network (NABNet).

BecANET

Established as part of the African Union/ New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) African Biosciences Initiative (ABI)

BecA Hub is a shared agricultural research and biosciences platform that works closely with nodes in 19 countries in the ECA

Hosts graduate MSc, PhD students and visiting scientists to use Hub facilities

SANBio Was also established as part of the African Union/

New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) African Biosciences Initiative (ABI)

Builds and strengthens capacity in biosciences so as to utilize natural resources sustainably and create wealth in 12 countries of the Southern African sub-region

Addresses disciplines in areas of Bioinformatics, HIV, IK and medicinal plants

WABNet WABNet was established to strengthen bioscience

capacity in West Africa.

Addresses identified priorities which include: Building inventories and characterization of west

African sorghum genetic resources; Using molecular diagnostics for animal and plant

diseases Using plant tissue/cell culture and micro propagation Using vaccines for livestock production and animal

reproduction technologies

NABNet NABNet covers 6 countries in North Africa with a

hub at the National Research Centre of Egypt

Started with a flagship projects on the production of biotic and abiotic stress tolerant (bio-fortified) barley varieties and protection of date palms against major pathogens and bio-insecticides for biological control

Now working on bio-fortified and drought tolerant transgenic plants are under green house tests

African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE)

Is a continent-wide service network established in 2008 to builds functional biosafety systems by empowering African regulators with science-based information

Operates with multidisciplinary expertise in bio-safety systems including food safety, environmental safety, socio-economic impact, intellectual property and legal issues

Publishes regular policy briefs on environmental, socio-economic, food safety, legal and policy issues

African Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy Platform (ABBPP)

Aims to harness Biotechnology for the advancement of African Agriculture by:

Promoting policy dialogues to stimulate local investment in biotechnology

Enhancing awareness of African stakeholders on issues of biotechnology and biosafety

Disseminating biotechnology information on biotechnology and biosafety for use

Strengthening capacity for safe biotechnology management in Sub-Sahara Africa” (SABIMA)

A FARA initiative that strengthens Africa’s capacity in sound biotechnology management at research and business levels

Developed to train stewardship leaders in FARA, SROs and scientists in stewardship 6 countries of Africa

Addresses quality management issues at laboratory, contained and confined field trials, seed multiplication and commercial level principles in value chain

Networks by Economic Regional Blocks

Regional Approach to Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy in Eastern and Southern Africa (RABESA)

Initiated by COMESA Ministers of Agriculture Trade and Environment with the broad objective of supporting harmonization of biosafety policies among its member states

Has developed and adopted a policy on biotechnology and biosafety

Encouraging member states to implement the policy through ACTESA

Independent International and Regional NGO Networks

AfricaBio Was established in South Africa in the

1990s to build capacity in all aspects of biotechnology and biosafety in Africa

Has distinguished itself as a strong voice that has stimulated development of new biotechnology products in southern Africa

Backstops many institutions in SADC region to comply with biotechnology and biosafety regulatory requirements

International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)

ISAAA AfriCenter was established in 1994 to enhance food security and reduce in Sub-Saharan Africa through appropriate biotechnological interventions.

ISAAA disseminates information on biotechnology

Facilitates testing and adaptation for CFTs Creates an enabling policy environment for

sound decision-making relating to biotech crops

Publishes the annual global trends of GMOs

The African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF)

Founded in the year 2000 by Kenyan scientists to create an enabling environment for biotechnology in a responsible and sustainable manner

Credited for establishing ABNETA - a platform that promotes communication and collaboration among stakeholders in biotechnology developments.

Biotechnology Trust Africa (BTA) and African Technology Policy Studies (ATPS)

BTA was establsihed in the 1980s to promote the application of Biotechnology through a bottom-up in Africa and facilitates Biotechnology research and development activities with a special focus on the resource-poor.

BTA works with the African Technology Policy studies on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) relating to Biotechnology

RAEIN-AFRICA

Network established in Zimbabwe in the late 90’s with to enhance capacity of stakeholders in biosafety for sustainable development in Africa

Africa Harvest Biotechnology Foundation International (AHBFI)

Africa Harvest is a non-profit organization with a global vision and an African focus prioritising Africa staple crops and trees typically grown by small-scale farmers for subsistence

Building technical expertise and institutional capacity so that Africa too can generate its own science and technology products

 Building awareness and knowledge among target audiences including the media, policy makers, farmers and other stakeholders

Biosciences for farming in Africa (B4FA) Promotes Science

communication and understanding in Africa

Works in 4 countries in Africa Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania where it offers basic training for media on genetics and plant breeding

Offers unique opportunity for scientists to showcase what they do how and why.

Development Partner led Networks

East African Regional Programme and Research Network for Biotechnology, Biosafety and Biotechnology Policy

Development (BIO-EARN) Created in late 90’s to develop

biotechnology human capital and infrastructure in eastern Africa so as to facilitate strategic biotechnology research in agriculture, environment and industry

Sponsored training of PhD students and MSc students and equipped many laboratories

Equipped senior scientists with capacity to carry out collaborative research, with advanced labs abroad

Stimulated biotechnology policy development

Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate)

Bio-Innovate builds on the achievements of the BIO-EARN program and was established to benefit a lot from the facilities at Beca Hub

Undertakes multidisciplinary competitive product orientated bioscience innovation activities in Eastern Africa.

Focus is on projects to improve crop productivity and resilience to climate change and for improve the efficiency of the agro-processing industry

Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSP II)

Is a USAID-funded consortium of public and private sector institutions supporting scientists, regulators, extension workers, farmers and the general public in agricultural biotechnology in 10 countries of Africa

Focuses on the safe and effective development and commercialization of bio-engineered crops as a complement to traditional and organic agricultural approaches

Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) Network managed IFPRI

working with African countries to promote science-based biosafety and biotechnology regulatory services, stakeholder outreach and communication strategies and legal analysis/advice

Supports partner countries at least 6 countries in the responsible development and use of biotechnology

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)

AATF was established to provide brokerage services for IP management, regulatory compliance, public awareness and management of public-private partnerships for delivery of productivity enhancing technologies to small holder farmers

The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) is one of AATF projects that creates awareness on biotechnology in seven countries of Africa

University led Networks

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)

RUFORUM is a consortium of 25 universities in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa established in 2004 to reinvigorate Agricultural research through M.Sc and Ph.D training

One of RUFORUM grant awards is dedicated towards MSc and PhD training and research in Agricultural biotechnology

BIOSAFE TRAIN

• Collaborative venture between East African and Danish Universities to build research capacity in biotechnology and biosafety in Universities in eastern Africa.

• Undertake capacity building activities in the area of biosafety with a focus on risk assessment and risk management

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Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM-AIST)

The Life Sciences and Bioengineering Program at the University has been set up for biosciences research

Collaborates closely with BecA on joint genomic research projects  

Placed students at BecA hub while BecA faculty give lectures at NM-AIST

BiONET Africa BiONET was established by ICIPE as a network of

African universities which sought to enhance capacity in biotechnology and biosafety

The network principal activity is the postgraduate fellowship programme for graduate students training in biotechnology

BiONET undertakes short term refresher course for university professors, to provide them with information on the latest research and policy developments in biotechnology and biosafety

National led networks

National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA)

Established by the Nigerian government to coordinate, promote and regulate the development of biotechnology in the country and promote indigenous competence in the development and application of biotechnology

Aims at developing viable and commercial biotechnology and technologies through strategic investments in biotechnology R & D to support innovation and economic development

Fosters national and international collaboration between government/agencies and all other stakeholders in development of biotechnology

Concluding Remarks

Networks have contributed to the training of a critical mass of research personnel and provision of infrastructure and equipment for biotechnology research in African countries

Networks have fostered linkages between African countries and advanced laboratories

Networks have facilitated multi-stakeholder dialogue on biotechnological activities of relevance to national and regional needs

Networks have also promoted cooperation between universities, research institutions, the private sector and government agencies

Key lesson

African countries need to establish a clear national biotechnology policies, regulatory and institutional frameworks for enhanced continental wide collaboration to advance biotechnology in Africa