AATF Holds Biosafety Retreat For Better Understanding, Regulations, Research

Africa Agricultural Technological Foundation and the African Research Council (ARC) of South Africa have hosted the second biosafety regulators retreat to engage regulators for enhanced biotechnology research across Africa.

 

The retreat, which held in Pretoria, South Africa was initiated by AATF’s Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Project in 2023 to provide a space for mutual learning and engagement among regulators.

 

The OFAB Project Manager, Vitumbiko Chinoko, noted that the retreat provides a platform for unbiased and open dialogue on biotechnology and biosafety regulation in Africa which is critical for biotechnology development in Africa.

 

“This retreat serves as a crucial opportunity for regulators to exchange experiences and insights, ultimately enhancing biosafety management and regulation to support biotechnology research, development and commercialization in Africa,” he said.

 

Mr. Chinoko noted that continuous learning and collaboration are essential, stating that the retreat focuses on topical issues of interest to regulators such as labeling, litigation, crisis communication and public participation.

 

He highlighted the importance of incorporating value-based messaging and simplifying biosafety concepts when communicating biosafety matters to generate trust and confidence of the people who are targeted end users of research outputs.

 

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Dr. Kingstone Mashingaidze of ARC noted that South Africa’s significant adoption of agricultural biotechnology, demonstrate its potential to enhance productivity.

 

‘‘South Africa stands out as the foremost adopter of agricultural biotechnology in Africa with over 85% of the maize produced being through genetic modification,’’

 

Dr. Mashingaidze also noted that utilization of agricultural biotechnology stands out as a top strategy towards combating persistent food shortages in Africa.

 

‘‘However, the slow uptake of biotechnology products primarily stems from insufficient awareness regarding the potential benefits of the crops,” said Dr Mashingaidze while urging for enhanced awareness creation to overcome existing barriers.

 

Dr. Mathurin Rouamba, CEO of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) of Burkina Faso, underscored the importance of stringent biosafety review processes to ensure safety in biotechnology practices.

 

He referenced the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which reinforces the need for the safe management and transfer of living modified organisms, safeguarding biodiversity, and protecting human health.

 

Also speaking at the event, the President of the Ethiopia Society of Biotechnology (ESoB) and Chairman of the National Variety Release Committee in Ethiopia, Professor Firew Mekbib, said the spread of disinformation and misinformation by those opposed to biotechnology has put regulators in a difficult position.

 

Professor   Mekbib added that the situation will persist until scientific knowledge becomes more widespread and understandable.

 

During the retreat, the regulators visited a GM maize farm in Randfontein, Gauteng province, South Africa, where the farmer, Mr. Simon Teffo who has been growing GM maize since 2012, shared his experience and highlighted the benefits of GM crops.

 

Mr. Teffo told regulators that he chose GM maize when extension officers offered him various varieties of seed options due to the benefits.

 

‘‘A farmer does not need to be told the benefits of GMOs, just give them access to both conventional and GM seeds, and with trials, a farmer will settle on what works for them, that is what I did.’’

 

The 2024 retreat included capacity building for upcoming policymakers and negotiators on United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity negotiations for eight countries of Madagascar, Angola, Namibia, DRC, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique.

 

Africa’s progress in biotechnology development has 11 countries now equipped with biosafety frameworks, up from 3 countries in 2003.

 

Recent achievements include Rwanda’s approval of a biosafety law enabling biotechnology research and commercialization, and Nigeria’s approval of three genetically modified crops, positioning the country as a leader in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

Oyenike Oyeniyi