The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the US Michigan State University have received a $1.5 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

The funding is designed to help develop Africa’s biosafety knowledge through the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE), which provides biotechnology regulators with up-to-date training, data and resources.

The aim is to allow African countries to take full advantage of advances in agricultural biotechnology, whilst simultaneously safeguarding consumers and the environment. The foundation plans to work with partners across the entire field of agriculture, combining work into seeds, soil and farm management.

The grant will support the first phase of the long-term project, helping fund research to benefit small farmers, many of whom are women, to increase their yields and develop sustainable agriculture.

The ABNE was developed under the Biosciences Initiative, part of a group of life science flagship programmes under Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, a scheme endorsed by the African Union (AU) heads of state and government.

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”Freedom to Innovate: Biotechnology in Africa’s Development”, commissioned by the AU heads of state and undertaken by the AU and NEPAD high- level panel on biotechnology, highlighted the importance of educating regulatory biotechnology measures. It concluded that Africa’s scientific capacity to assess risks of biotechnology via policies based on the best available research and information was essential for the continent.

Rajiv Shah, director for agricultural development for the BMGF, believes the work will play an important role to develop biotechnology in Africa. “Appropriate policies and regulations are critical to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of agricultural techniques – for farmers, consumers and the environment,” he notes.   “This effort will help African regulators develop the necessary frameworks so small scale farmers and consumers can make their own decisions about how to best improve their lives.”

The foundation also partners with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to help female farmers Photo: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Over the next ten months, MSU and the NEPAD plan to embark on a consultation process with African biosafety regulators to both assess and develop an information and resource network to provide training, peer-reviewed scientific information, expert assistance and study tours throughout Africa.

The NEPAD-MSU partnership will also conduct further work with the company, Development Alternatives, to ensure the projects meet both local and regional biotechnology needs.

By Rebecca Debens

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