UNESCO Seeks Entrenchment of Biotech in Africa
March 13, 2013| |
The United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) wants African governments to commence popularization of biotechnology as the surest route to drive development in the continent.The recommendation came at an international seminar on biotechnology held to formally commission the International Centre for Biotechnology, UNESCO Category 2 at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
UNESCO Director of Basic Sciences Maciej Nalecz said biotechnology would enable Africa to leapfrog competition from other continents because "it already has its hubs, so it does not need to be started from zero." He added that advocacy for and popularization of biotechnology is needed in Africa in order to tackle agricultural-related issues such as food and nutrition safety, drought-resistance and plant diseases among others. To stimulate biotechnology development, Nalecz urged authorities to create physical infrastructure in critical platform technologies and use it to support education and training, create human directly suited to industry needs to drive research and development.
The biotechnology conference marked the official commencement of the International Centre for Biotechnology, UNESCO Category 2, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, following the signing of the MOU between Nigeria and UNESCO in October 2012. The Centre for Biotechnology at UNN was established to provide state of the art laboratory facilities to enhance research, develop research for food security, develop tropical disease research initiatives, and provide training for postgraduate students amongst others.
To read the full article, go to http://allafrica.com/stories/201302260333.html.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Three Countries Ratify Nagoya Protocol
- UNESCO Seeks Entrenchment of Biotech in Africa
- East African Farmers to Gain From Disease Resistant Banana
- Tanzanian Scientist Calls for Review of Country's Biosafety Law
- Researchers Explain Key Developmental Mechanism in Plants for the First Time
- Scientists to Improve Water Use Efficiency and Photosynthesis in Corn
- Hidden Layer of Genome Unveils how Plants may Adapt to Different Environments
- Disease Resistant Dwarf Raspberry Released in the USA
- Researchers Unveil Mechanism that Regulates Plant Reproduction
- Biotech Crop Breeding Industrialization Summit in Beijing
- Bio Kelantan 2013 to Spur Biotech Development
- Genetic Mechanism Allowing Potatoes to Grow in Northern Latitudes Discovered
- EFSA Announces Scientific Meetings that are Open to the Public
- Stakeholders Share Insights on EU's Impact on GM Crops
-
Research Highlights
- Yam Gene DB1 in Rice Confers Resistance to Sap-sucking Pest
- Evaluation of Anti-herbivory Genes using a Transient Expression System
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Scientists to Unveil Secrets of Carnivorous Plants
-
Announcements
- ISAAA Pocket K on Stacked Traits in Biotech Crops
- ISAAA Video: Biotech Crop Countries 1996-2012
- International Conference on Genomics 2013
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet