Charles Mkoka, Agenda 2063 Media Network

 Lilongwe, Malawi

The African Union Development Agency – NEPAD through its Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Innovation has capacitated Malawi to develop its first ever Genome Editing (GEd) National Communication and Advocacy Strategy. from 19th – 23rd June, 2023  that will scale up public awareness and build institutional capacity for research and development, technology transfer, resulting in an expanded portfolio and a more efficient utilization of innovation capacity to develop compelling products.

Genome Editing (GEd) initiative aims to foster a broader understanding of modern biotechnology focusing on GEd among different stakeholder groups through communication and advocacy for enhanced uptake of the tool to optimize agriculture in Africa in achieving part of Agenda 2063 aspiration.

The initiative builds on and complements ongoing AUDA-NEPAD efforts towards enhancing regulatory capacities on Biosafety through the AUDA-NEPAD African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE). While ABNE’s focus is on regulation to ensure biosafety, AUDA-NEPAD Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Innovation brings in a focus on innovation, research and development capacities towards the commercialization of genome edited agricultural products thus contributing to rapid industrialisation.

The move to develop National Communication Strategies and action plans is based on the recognition contained in Agenda 2063 that technological advancements from biotechnological innovations in plant and animal breeding have the potential to advance continental agricultural sustainability goals and transform African societies. Agenda 2063 is the 50 year vision of the African Union development blue print to spur social economic development on the continent.

Speaking at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe AUDA – NEPAD Professor Olalekan Akinbo, began by thanking government of Malawi for giving the opportunity to implement the initiative. Akinbo added that a key element of Agenda 2063 is zero hunger and the need for Africa to embrace emerging technology adding that GEdis just one of the many technologies towards achieving that dream.

“Bringing in an initiative to achieve one of the aspirations in Agenda 2063 capacitate local scientists and farmers to improve agriculture productivity. This will help small scale farmers to produce optimally for food and for commercial purpose,  in turn help to improve trade on the continent.” explained Akinbo.

He added that communication is key for an emerging technology that is new and have the potential to improve on the quality of seeds for the farmer. “Communicating to the different stakeholders on a new technology being developing is important, if there is no appropriate communication strategy to reach out to the constituency that need it most the high probability of technophobia cannot be ruled out. Take a quality seeds with improved yield potential and moderate inputs that benefits the farmers, that is communication. It is for this reason that we are doing it for us. Communicate the right messages to the right stakeholder increase the interest in the uptake of a new technology.”

Tawonga Mbale – Luka, Malawi’s Director of Environmental Affairs thanked AUDA – NEPAD for the GEd capacity building programme adding that the technology will help address the challenges facing the country in the sector of agriculture.

“I am happy to see that you have developed the communication strategy and implementation plans for GEd. Over and above that, I am also excited to see there is a budget planned which gives me the assurance that the activities will be implemented. Mbale- Luka summed it up.

AUDA-NEPAD has successfully conducted GEd sensitization exercises and engagement with high level officials towards the buy-in of the tool in the following countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Eswatini.

The development of the communication strategy and action plan will enhance public, government, private sector and media confidence in agricultural research and modern biotechnology. This is envisaged to help solidify the basis upon which the Government and other actors will effectively champion the upscaling of locally adapted genome editing and related products for commercialisation.