Biotech Updates

African Ministers Endorse Agricultural Biotechnology

April 27, 2012

Government ministers representing 24 African countries have officially endorsed the use of biotechnology to address the persistent food insecurity and poverty across the continent. The landmark declaration was made during the 2nd Annual Dialogue of Ministers of Agriculture, Science and Technology held under the auspices of the Government of Ghana and Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), on 18-19 April, 2012. The forum is primarily convened to share ideas and agree on collective actions towards enhancing agricultural productivity in Africa.

The joint declaration was made through a joint communiqué signed by all delegates at the end of the meeting. Another significant resolution at the forum was the call for the establishment of an Innovation Fund for Agricultural Transformation (IFAT) to generate funds for all stakeholders within the agricultural value chain with an added advantage of insurance to the farmers.

Click on http://www.fara-africa.org/media/uploads/communique_2nd_annual_ministerial_dialogue.pdf to view the communique.