PRE SE N T E D BY

JULIUS ECURUUG ANDA NAT I O NAL C O UN C I L FO R SC I E N C E

AN D T E C HNO LO G Y, UNC ST

JOHN KOMENI FPR I PRO G RAM FO R B I O S AFE T Y SYST E M S,

PB S

WI T H I NPUT S FRO M B I O -E ARN PRO JE C T T E AM S

O ff ic i a l L au n ch o f th e B io - I n n ova te Pr ogr am Na i r ob i , M ar ch 1 6 , 20 11

Prospects for bioresources innovations development in

eastern Africa

Main messages

1) Rationale is clear: food, feed, fiber, fuel – what are the prospects?

2) Capacity building efforts are paying off – beyond applied research

3) Governments are responding – STI policies and investments

4) Moving R&D to innovations – role for BioInnovate

5) Ensuring policy coherence – role for BioInnovate

1. Bioscience research has high potential

Selected examples fromBIO-EARN innovation case studies:

Success stories: completed research, product development, dissemination cycle Malted beverages (bushera, togwa) from sorghum

and millet Bioenergy from sisal waste Constructed wetlands cleaning wastewater

Product development phase of innovation: Biotic and abiotic stress tolerant sorghum

varieties (MAS) Genetic improvement and clean planting

materials production for cassava and sweet potato

Ex ante socio-economic analysis

The analysis highlighted a number of important areas of impact:

Increased crop productivity: Improved sorghum lines, selected for tolerance to drought and other abiotic stresses, increased yields by around 25 per cent compared to the local base variety in Kenya. In Kenya and Uganda, local breweries showed strong interest in locally produced sorghum to substitute for imported barley.

Environmental gains: Biogas technologies to enhance production from fish processing waste and sisal waste contribute to agro-industrial waste management and reduce the need for firewood – a major cause of deforestation – and imported fuel.

Human health benefits: Constructed wetlands technology for the treatment of slaughterhouse and tannery effluents has been tested at the pilot scale in several BIO-EARN countries. Treatment of waste water results in a much reduced exposure to chemicals, heavy metals and pathogens. In Tanzania, it was demonstrated that the technology leads to significant cost reductions in treating common diseases such as diarrhoea.

2. Capacity building efforts paying off

Leadership role in advanced R&D international-national, public-private partnerships, e.g.o VIRCAo BioCassava+o WEMA – drought tolerant

maizeo Bacterial wilt resistant banana,

biofortified bananao ABS – biofortified sorghumo Insect-resistant maizeo Insect-resistant cotton

Essential support role for bioscience capacity development efforts under, e.g., BECA, AATF, DDPSC, CGIAR centers

3. Governments are responding

Reflecting NEPAD’s Consolidated Plan of Action - examples: Tanzania: Increase R&D spending to 1% of GDP.

USD 20 million fund for S&T rolled out in 2010/11 -- about three quarters of this fund is dedicated to R&D in bioresources

Uganda: (i) Millennium Science Initiative – USD 33 million competitive grants, for S&T-led economic growth. (ii)USD 4.8 million / year Presidential initiative to scientists for near market research products, e.g., banana industrial development, juice and wine processing

4. Moving R&D to innovation

From: “Fostering Innovation – Lessons from BIO-EARN”

Continued efforts are required, incl.: Analyze markets and economic viability of R&D results Encourage public-private cooperation, product

development Support product “champions” and broaden their base Address regulatory issues affecting IP and biosafety / food

safety Decrease reliance on external funding Ensure long-term perspective vs. short-term funding

opportunities

Key role for S&T councils / commissions in BioInnovate and other initiatives

5. Challenge = policy coherence

STI / biotech policies acknowledge the potential: Food security,

agricultural trade Increased rural

incomes and employment

Private sector development

Climate change mitigation - drought

Regulatory frameworks: Not based on

accumulated evidence Exclusive focus on risk Full EIA for field trials Strict liability clauses,

compensation, etc. Unclear decision

making procedures

“It is no secret that Africa’s history has been marked by a development narrative in which the benefits from science, technology and innovation have been enjoyed by few, instead of being seen as tools for the development of all citizens. Today this is changing and Africa’s leaders view science, technology and innovation as critical to human development, global competitiveness and ecological management.”

From: Juma, C. and I. Serageldin (Lead Authors). 2007. Freedom to Innovate: Biotechnology in Africa’s Development. A report of the High-Level African Panel on Modern Biotechnology

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION