Biotech Updates

NARO-Uganda Launches Biosciences Information Center

September 18, 2013

Uganda's National Agricultural Research Organization has established a Biosciences Information Center. The center, launched on 12 September 2013 will serve as a designated reference center for biotechnology communication for the national agricultural research systems in Uganda. The Center will be hosted at the National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), Namulonge and will also be part of ISAAA's global network of biotechnology information centers spread across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

"This Center is going to ensure that Uganda and the whole world are aware of the significant steps the country is making in modern agricultural biotechnology," noted Dr. James Ogwang, the Director of NaCRRI when speaking during the launch. Currently, Uganda has several institutions working on various biotech crops. These include Universities and Public Agricultural Research Institutes (PARIs) including NaCRRI, where several biotech crops including bananas, cassava, maize, rice are being tested in confined field trials. The goal of the new Center is to become a hub for the dissemination of information, and provide a forum for discussing the priorities, benefits and concerns of using the biotechnology in Uganda.

Dr. Yona Baguma, the Head of the Biosciences facility at NaCRRI (center right) and Dr. Margaret Karembu, Director ISAAA AfriCenter (center left) officially unveil the Uganda Biotechnology Information Center flanked by Dr. Mariechel Navarro of ISAAA (left) and Dr. Barbara Mugwanya, UBIC Director (right).

For more information about UBIC, contact ubic.nacrri@gmail.com