Open Forum for Agricultural Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB)Biotechnology (OFAB)

One Year On..One Year On..ByBy

OFAB Programming Committee (PC)OFAB Programming Committee (PC)Presented by Margaret Karembu Presented by Margaret Karembu

(Chair, OFAB PC)(Chair, OFAB PC)

September 27th 2007, Jacaranda Hotel, NairobiSeptember 27th 2007, Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi

About OFABAbout 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

OFAB ManagementOFAB 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

OFAB PC MembersOFAB PC Members

1. Dr Margaret Karembu ISAAA (Chairperson)

2. Dr Wilson Songa Ministry of Agriculture

3. Dr Fred Kanampiu CIMMYT

4. Dr Eucharia Kenya Kenyatta University

5. Dr Simon Gichuki KARI-Biotech

6. Dr Dan Kiambi ICRISAT

7. Mrs Nancy Muchiri AATF

8. Mr Daniel Otunge ISAAA (Secretary)

Topics Covered in Year OneTopics Covered in Year OneSeptember 2006-August 2007September 2006-August 2007

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

related fields

OFAB 1OFAB 1Official launch:

Dr Noah Wekesa, Minister for Science and Technology

Other Speakers

Mr. Mark Cantley, UKPublic Policy for Biotechnology: International lessons - European

Experience

Mr. Wellington Chadehumbe, RSA Truth, Freedom and Economic Growth

Dr Charles N WaturuDr Charles N WaturuCenter Director, KARI-Thika Center Director, KARI-Thika The status of Confined Field Trials The status of Confined Field Trials of Bt cotton in Kenyaof Bt cotton in Kenya

OFAB 2OFAB 2 OFAB 3OFAB 3

Mr. Lucas Sese - ABSFMr. Lucas Sese - ABSFIntellectual Property Rights and Agriculture: Role and Implications on Biotechnology Research, Development and Innovation

OFAB 4OFAB 4 OFAB 5OFAB 5

Dr Kandeh Yumkella, UNIDO, DGThe role of S&T in Africa’s development process

Prof. T J Higgins, AustraliaStatus of Bt Cowpea research and development

OFAB 6OFAB 6

Dr Edward RegeDirector, Biotechnology Theme, ILRI Status of the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA)

OFAB 7OFAB 7

Prof Robert Paarlberg Professor of Political Science, Wellesley CollegeExamining GMOs concerns

OFAB 8OFAB 8 OFAB 9OFAB 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 S&T and Dr Wilson Songa Agriculture SecretaryStakeholders Dialogue on Biosafety Bill 2007

Dr Francis Nang’ayo Regulatory Affairs Specialist, AATF

The Status of Biosafety Regulations in Africa

OFAB 10OFAB 10

Sample Sessions with participantsSample Sessions with participants

Analysis of participation Sept 2006- Sept 2007

Type. of participants

OFAB Sessions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 TOTAL

Scientist/research 41 30 27 30 31 30 35 32 50 42 348

Policy/gov’t. 3 5 3 - 2 2 3 3 21 3 44

Media 19 10 7 3 5 6 2 2 9 7 70

Regulators 2 5 10 3 4 2 6 3 11 4 50

Farmers - - 5 1 1 - 2 - 30 2 41

Others 7 5 8 3 6 5 13 5 40 4 96

TOTAL 72 55 60 40 49 45 61 45 162 62 650

Ongoing/planned activitiesOngoing/planned activitiesOngoing activities

1. 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

Ongoing/planned activities cont. 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

Ongoing/Planned activitiesOngoing/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

Survey resultsFrequency of attendance

7.14

57.14

21.42

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percentage

Always Regular Sometimes

Frequency

Frequency of Attendance

Series1

Usefulness for networking

21.42

78.57

00

20

40

60

80

Percentage

Very useful Useful Sometimes

Level of usefulness

Usefulness of OFAB to networking

Series1

Relevance of OFAB objectives

35.71

64.28

00

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Percentage

Very relevant Relevant Not relevant

Degree of relevance

Relevance of OFAB objectives

Series1

Quality of presentations

Rating of Quality of Presentations

00

28.57

71.42

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Very good

Good

Average

Poor

Per

cen

tag

e

Level of rating

Series1

Comprehensiveness of answers to questions

Comprehensiveness of Answers to Questions

0

42.85

57.14

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Verycomprehensive

Comprehensive

Notcomprehensive

Per

cen

tag

e

Level of comprehensiveness

Series1

Rating of OFAB time keeping

Rating of OFAB Time Keeping

0

28.57

64.28

7.14

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Very good

Good

Average

Poor

Per

cen

tag

e

Level of Rating

Series1

Appropriateness of venue

Appropriateness of the Venue

00

100

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Very Appropriate

Appropriate

Not Appropriate

Per

cen

tag

e

Rating of the Venue

Series1

Suggested topics for future OFABsSuggested 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

Suggestions for improving OFABSuggestions for improving OFAB

1. Increase number of participants2. Need more time for debate3. Invite more international speakers4. Increase media coverage5. Start OFAB newsletter6. Increasing number of non-scientists’ participation7. Email presentations to participants8. Consider evening sessions as well

Benefits from OFABBenefits 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

Your Verdict…Your Verdict…

YES OFAB!YES OFAB!

Proposals and Suggestions?Proposals and Suggestions?

Thank you!Thank you!