When it comes to the application of modern biotechnology in agriculture, the Africa Union’s (AU) position is clear – the technology is one required to transform the continent’s agricultural sector.
This endorsement follows the African High-Level Panel of Experts on Emerging Technologies 2007 report that identified biotechnology as one of the good tools that is useful in supporting Africa’s agriculture.
The AU is of the view that such modern scientific tool can redeem Africa’s agriculture from the vagaries of pests and diseases as well as climatic conditions that are undesirable, and ensure there are seeds that resist drought, pest and diseases. “And that would lead us to solving our food insecurity challenges as a continent,” according to African Union Development Agency-NEPAD’s Senior Programme Officer for Legal and Policy on Biosafety Issues, Akile Sunday.
The 2024 2nd IBC Africa Forum in Accra
He was speaking on the topic: “AU Guidance for Emerging Biotechnologies in Africa,” to a group of scientists, regulators and science communicators in Accra at the 2nd Institutional Biosafety Committees’ Forum in Africa (IBC- Africa Forum 2024). The participants were mainly members of Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) in some scientific and regulatory institutions in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The forum was organised by the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium (AGBC) in collaboration with Ghana’s National Biosafety Authority (NBA) to firm up discussions and deliberations from the maiden IBC Forum held last year in Nairobi, Kenya. The purpose of these instituted annual Forums is to deepen participants’ understanding of regulatory frameworks governing IBCs and their roles within these frameworks, particularly in Africa.
The Ghana forum was also an occasion to enhance the professional growth of IBC members actively engaged in genetic biocontrol technologies, including gene drive, gene editing and synthetic biology projects.
Agenda 2063 – prioritising scientific innovation for Africa
Tracing the history of AU’s position on modern biotechnology, Akile said the stance was line with Africa’s 50-year strategic plan of action and blueprint for the continent’s development – “Agenda 2063.” It was adopted at the 24th Ordinary Assembly of the Heads of State and Governments of the AU in January 2015, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He noted that of the seven Aspirations of Agenda 2063, Aspiration 1, clearly captures the need for Africa to view science, technology, research and innovation as an important tool towards her socio-economic transformation.
“So, these four areas stand at the epicenter and is key towards bringing us to the point of appreciating the importance of science towards our socio-economic transformation as a continent,” Akile stated.
He said for this to be achieved, an enabling environment for member states to apply science, had to be created by having in place national policies, legislation and regulations that promote and drive forward science. To this end, the AU has over the years been facilitating the establishment of enabling environments for Africa to achieve her vision 2063 with science as the base for its transformation.
Akile touched on the role of AUDA-NEPAD in ensuring science serves as a base for Africa’s transformation, saying, the Agency serves as the technical interface providing advisory knowledge and technical expertise to assist all member states towards the attainment of the scientific aspiration of Agenda 2063.
He announced that the 10-year blueprint to achieve science and technology innovation in Africa, the “Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024” (STISA), a policy adopted for systematic implementation of activities from 2014 to 2024, has been extended for another 10-year period from 2024 to 2034.
Additionally, the AU has ensured the development of several guideline documents to enable member countries properly navigate the arena of modern biotechnology and its associated tools. The documents are: Guidelines for Institutional Biosafety Committees; Guidelines for Risks Analysis for the Testing and Deployment of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes; Guidelines for Compliance Monitoring and Inspection of Activities Involving Genetically Modified Mosquitoes; and Ethics Guidelines for the Use of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes.
The AUDU-NEPAD Officer commended the AGBC for moblising resources to build the capacity of IBC members, and thereby enhancing their expertise to adeptly handle related materials.
Enhancing IBCs capacity to handle diverse genetic technologies
The Founder and Head of the Secretariat of the AGBC, Willey Tonui, said the Consortium was formed in 2020 to build an informed local leadership to support the requirements for development, decision-making and on the utility of genetic biocontrol technologies for animal, public health and conservation in Africa.
Biocontrol is an ancient practice involving the use of beneficiary insects or animals to control unwanted and problematic ones. The concept of genetic biocontrol is simply, the use of genetically modified organisms through gene drives and gene editing to control other problematic organisms. Hence, the identification also of this concept by the High-Level Panel of Experts on Emerging Technologies and subsequent recommendation by the AU for its adoption in the continent’s fight against malaria for member states to consider.
In this wise, ongoing research is well advanced to genetically modify the genome of the female anopheles mosquito to render it incapable of spreading the positive agent plasmodium, which causes malaria in humans. Once released into the environment, they would mate with the conventional counterpart, change their system of operation, so they would be unable to spread the disease.
In an interview, the former CEO of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) and Facilitator of the Forum, Eric Okoree, said because genetic related research take place at the institutional level, the AGBC’s goal is to ensure that IBCs are well equipped to appreciate their assignment.
He explained that IBCs are responsible for ensuring that every genetically modified work going on at the institutional level follows the due procedure and are supervised by them.
Some Ghanaian scientists who participated in the forum described it as a timely event, especially for institutions like the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (BNARI-GAEC), whose IBCs, was set up recently.
A trained Plant Breeder and member of BNARI’s IBC, Elaine Azu, in an interview, expressed her satisfaction with the impact the training has on her. Following the interactions with experts and exposure to sample documents, she was confident that she has received the required skills to prepare and review project dossiers and application documents. Thereby, making Ms. Azu ready to contribute to her institute’s soon to start gene editing work on yam and rice.
Ghana’s NBC remains committed to biosafety processes in the country
In a related development, Ghana’s NBA Board Chairman, Prof. Yao Tettey, has reaffirmed the agency’s support for biosafety regulations and pledged to provide leadership, exceptional services, and guidance on emerging technologies.
He said the NBA’s focus “remains steadfast on fostering informed and transparent decision-making processes that support the responsible development and deployment of genetic biocontrol agents or products,” adding that, “the potential of emerging biotechnologies to improve Ghana’s agriculture, environment and healthcare is immense”.
Prof. Tettey was addressing a consultative meeting in Accra of partners and stakeholders jointly organised by the NBA and the AGBC as a sequel event to the 2nd IBC- Africa Forum 2024.
He commended the collaborative effort between the AGBC and the NBA as a crucial step forward in their shared commitment in Ghana to advancing biosafety and regulatory frameworks for emerging biotechnologies. Prof. Tettey urged the organisers to continue working together to ensure that regulatory frameworks developed are robust, adaptable, and aligned with global best practices.
By Ama Kudom-Agyemang
