Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology OFAB One Year On''

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Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology
(OFAB)One Year On..

• By
• OFAB Programming Committee (PC)
• Presented by Margaret Karembu
• (Chair, OFAB PC)

September 27th 2007, Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi
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About OFAB

• A platform that provides an opportunity for
  biotechnology stakeholders to network, share
  knowledge and experiences, and, explore new
  avenues of bringing the benefits of biotechnology
  to the African farmer and investor

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OFAB Management

• A collaborative initiative between African
  Agricultural Technology Foundation - AATF and
  International Service for the Acquisition of
  Agri-biotech Applications ISAAA Africenter
• Activities are organized and managed by a
  programming committee comprising volunteer
  scientists and communication experts from
  international, regional and national
  organizations

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OFAB PC Members

• Dr Margaret Karembu ISAAA (Chairperson)
• Dr Wilson Songa Ministry of Agriculture
• Dr Fred Kanampiu CIMMYT
• Dr Eucharia Kenya Kenyatta University
• Dr Simon Gichuki KARI-Biotech
• Dr Dan Kiambi ICRISAT
• Mrs Nancy Muchiri AATF
• Mr Daniel Otunge ISAAA (Secretary)

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Topics Covered in Year OneSeptember 2006-August
2007

• 10 OFAB Sessions were held covering various
  topics presented by both local and international
  experts in biotech-related fields

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OFAB 1
Official launch Dr Noah Wekesa, Minister for
Science and Technology
Other Speakers
Mr. Mark Cantley, UK Public Policy for
Biotechnology International lessons - European
Experience
Mr. Wellington Chadehumbe, RSA Truth, Freedom
and Economic Growth
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OFAB 2
OFAB 3
Mr. Lucas Sese - ABSF Intellectual Property
Rights and Agriculture Role and Implications on
Biotechnology Research, Development and
Innovation
Dr Charles N Waturu Center Director, KARI-Thika
The status of Confined Field Trials of Bt cotton
in Kenya
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OFAB 4
OFAB 5
Dr Kandeh Yumkella, UNIDO, DG The role of ST in
Africas development process
Prof. T J Higgins, Australia Status of Bt Cowpea
research and development
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OFAB 6
OFAB 7
Dr Edward Rege Director, Biotechnology Theme,
ILRI Status of the Biosciences Eastern and
Central Africa (BecA)
Prof Robert Paarlberg Professor of Political
Science, Wellesley College Examining GMOs concerns
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OFAB 8
OFAB 9
Mr Obongo Nyachae, CEO, STAK Secretary, Eastern
Africa Seed Committee of ASARECA Harmonization of
seed policies and regulations in Eastern Africa
Key Challenges and Results
Prof Crispus Kiamba PS Min ST and Dr Wilson
Songa Agriculture Secretary Stakeholders Dialogue
on Biosafety Bill 2007
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OFAB 10
Dr Francis Nangayo Regulatory Affairs
Specialist, AATF The Status of Biosafety
Regulations in Africa
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Sample Sessions with participants
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Analysis of participation Sept 2006- Sept 2007
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Ongoing/planned activities

• Ongoing activities
• Monthly luncheons Reports and proceedings are
  available to all participants
• 2. Official OFAB Website www.ofabafrica.org has
  been under construction and is ready for
  unveiling today
• 3. Annual Report Programming Committee working
  on it, to be ready by November 2007

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Ongoing/planned activities cont.

• 4. Biotechnology Resource Book An outline is
  ready and chapter writers will be commissioned
  soon Coordinator, Dr Dan Kiambi
• 5. African Biotechnology Symposium OFAB is
  planning to hold the first All African
  biotechnology symposium in Kenya in May 2009 -
  Coordinator Dr Fred Kanampiu

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Ongoing/Planned activities

• 5. Launch of BioAWARE OFAB to play an active
  role Link persons - Dr Simon Gichuki and
  Margaret Karembu
• 6. Field Visits OFAB plans to adopt different
  approaches including visit to labs, field trial
  sites, industrial sites
• 7. Developing a strategic plan OFAB plans to
  produce a strategic plan by end of 2007 to guide
  future plans
• 8. Opinion Survey Conducting a mini survey to
  understand and guide future growth. The survey
  targets participants and the general public
  through www.ofabafrica.org

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Survey resultsFrequency of attendance
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Usefulness for networking
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Relevance of OFAB objectives
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Quality of presentations
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Comprehensiveness of answers to questions
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Rating of OFAB time keeping
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Appropriateness of venue
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Suggested topics for future OFABs

• Status of GMOs in Kenya
• Awareness creation for small-holder farmers
• Status of Biosafety bill
• Biosafety frameworks
• Understanding of the CBD
• Biotech Business opportunities
• Cost/benefit analysis for adopting GMOs
• Chances of Africa benefiting from GMOs
• Capability of African countries to enforcing
  biosafety regulations

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Suggestions for improving OFAB

• Increase number of participants
• Need more time for debate
• Invite more international speakers
• Increase media coverage
• Start OFAB newsletter
• Increasing number of non-scientists
  participation
• Email presentations to participants
• Consider evening sessions as well

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Benefits from OFAB

• Got beneficial and relevant information
• Raised my level of awareness
• Made new contacts and business links
• Enlightened on GM debate and the issues
  surrounding it
• Closing gap between scientists and journalists

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Your Verdict

• YES OFAB!
• Proposals and Suggestions?

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• Thank you!