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The 20-year African biotech plan

Nature Biotechnology volume 26, pages 272–274 (2008)Cite this article

To the editor:

Last January, the African Union summit in Ethiopia designated 2007 as Africa's “year of scientific innovation.” It also marked the adoption of a 20-year biotech plan for Africa1, and the endorsement of the African Seed and Biotechnology Program (ASBP) as a strategic framework for the development of the seed sector in Africa2. African leaders subsequently agreed to take a common continental approach on modern biotech and biosafety3 and have committed themselves to embracing the recommendations of the African Union's High Level Panel on Modern Biotechnology (APB). The significance of these promising developments must be weighed against the backdrop of negative sentiments on genetically modified (GM) food on the African continent in recent years. But the APB's designated mission, which we outline below, now provides the continent's nations with a body that can coordinate decision making, as well as recommendations and goals for biotech development. The question remains, however, whether Africa's political leaders will have the resolve and vision to capitalize on this opportunity to put biotech policy on a firm scientific footing.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Muffy Koch, Daniel Kamanga, Adrian Dubock and Andy Shoyer for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. J.A.S. and A.S.D. are supported by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAPRISA, Private Bag X7, Congella, Durban, 4013, South Africa

    Jerome Amir Singh

  2. Howard College School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George V Avenue, Durban, South Africa

    Jerome Amir Singh

  3. Department of Public Health Sciences and Joint Center for Bioethics, University of Toronto, 88 College Street, Toronto, Canada

    Jerome Amir Singh

  4. McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, Program on Life Sciences, Ethics and Policy, University Health Network; McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine at University of Toronto, MaRS Centre, South Tower, 101 College Street, Suite 406, Toronto, M5G 1L7, Ontario, Canada

    Abdallah S Daar

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  1. Jerome Amir Singh
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  2. Abdallah S Daar
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Singh, J., Daar, A. The 20-year African biotech plan. Nat Biotechnol 26, 272–274 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0308-272

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