An official of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Olalekan Akinbo has called on the African governments to allocate resources to support local research institutions and universities developing genome-edited (GEd) crops tailored for the continent.
The AUDA-NEPAD official said this on Monday in Abuja and urged governments to establish enabling policies, legislation, regulations, and guidelines.
Mr Akinbo is the technical lead for the GEd Initiative at the AUDA-NEPAD Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Innovation.
GEd is a scientific technique that allows precise changes to an organism’s DNA, enabling scientists to add, remove, or alter genetic material at specific points in the genome.
Mr Akinbo explained that these enabling policies, legislation, regulations, and guidelines would facilitate the adoption of GEd across AU member states.
According to him, such measures will empower young scientists to play a significant role in advancing GEd as part of efforts to ensure sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems across Africa.
He stated the need for governments to draft and publish comprehensive guidelines that clearly outlined the regulatory framework for GEd technologies.
He noted that some countries, including Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa had already made commendable progress by publishing national biosafety guidelines, which could serve as models for others.
Mr Akinbo explained that Nigeria’s national biotechnology authority allowed GEd crops to be classified as conventional products provided they did not contain foreign genetic material.
“To support gifted young scientists working on GEd research projects, governments must invest in establishing incubation centres where they can develop their research ideas,” Mr Akinbo said.
He stressed the need for African governments to fund the construction of innovative laboratories equipped with modern tools at academic institutions to support GEd research.
The official said this should include equipment such as biolistic gene guns, PCR machines, nano drops, gel electrophoresis systems, gel documentation systems, and centrifuges.
Mr Akinbo also highlighted the importance of regional networks in promoting collaborative research projects that addressed shared agricultural challenges.
He said such collaborations would help young scientists develop their skills and ensure their active participation in the GEd field.
Mr Akinbo urged African countries to invest in mentorship programmes, financial support, and scholarship opportunities for young researchers engaged in genome editing.
