2018 West Africa Workshop

July 23-25, 2018 - Dakar, Senegal

Organizing committee: Diane Wray-Cahen (USDA-FAS), Shoshana Griffith (USDA-FAS), Eric Hallerman (Virginia Tech, USA), Chantal Kaboré-Zoungrana (N, Burkina Faso), Mouhamadou Traoré (Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, Mali), Ousseynou Kassé (National Biosafety Authority, Senegal), Jeremy Ouedraogo (NEPAD, Burkina Faso)

Moderator: Ousseynou Kasse,
Introduction – Joshua Emmanuel Lagos (U.S. Embassy – Dakar)
Welcoming address – Tulinabo S. Mushingi, PhD. (U.S. Ambassador to Senegal)
Introduction – Ousseynou Kasse (National Biosafety Authority, Senegal)
Welcoming address – Amadou Lamine Guisse, Secrétaire Général du Ministère de l'Environnement et du Développement Durable (Government of Senegal)
Keynote address – The African Union High Level Panel Report on Gene Drives for Malaria Control and Elimination in Africa – Yaye Kene Gassama (Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal)

Moderator: Shoshana Griffith
Animal breeding systems: Structure of different animal breeding sectors in West Africa – Okeyo Mwai (ILRI, Kenya)
Genomic selection – Eric Hallerman (Virginia Tech University, USA)
Biotechnology opportunities and challenges in livestock production – Luiz Sergio Camargo (EMBRAPA, Brazil)
Insect biotechnology: Current uses and future developments – Paulo Andrade (Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil) and Max Scott (North Carolina State University, USA)
Breeding and biotechnology in aquaculture – Eric Hallerman (Virginia Tech, USA)

Moderator: Jeremy Ouedraogo
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches combining GE crops and GE insects – John McLean (Intrexon, USA)
GE cattle in Africa: Science and regulatory issues – Steve Kemp (ILRI, Kenya)
Understanding the psychology of risk perception – Andrew Binder (North Carolina State University, USA)
Challenges and opportunities in engaging stakeholders about genetically modified mosquitoes – Target Malaria Burkina – Lea Toe (Target Malaria)

Moderator: Moussa Savadogo
Overview of regulatory frameworks in different countries – Diane Wray-Cahen (U.S. Department of Agriculture – Foreign Agriculture Service, USA)
- Country updates:
  - Mali – Mouhammadou Traore (Point Focal Biosecurite)
  - Burkina Faso
  - Cote d’Ivoire – Augustin Kone (Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable)
  - Senegal
  - Niger – Gado Zaki (Ministère de de l’Environnement , de la Salubrité Urbaine et du Développement Durable)
Regional harmonization efforts in West Africa: UEMOA – Saidou Kina (UEMOA, Burkina Faso); ECOWAS
Strategies for building partnerships to strengthen capacity for animal biotechnology in West Africa – Appolinaire Djikeng (Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK)

Moderator: Paulo Andrade
Overview of risk assessment-management framework (Eric Hallerman, Virginia Tech, USA)
Objective, general principles and methodologies for food safety assessment of genetically modified organisms – Modupe Adeyemo (ABNE)
Risk assessment considerations for environmental release of animals developed via biotechnology – Paulo Andrade (Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil)
Risk assessment frameworks for gene drive – Target Malaria perspective – Geoff Turner, (Imperial College, UK and Target Malaria)
Risk assessment considerations for gene drives – Silas Obukosia (ABNE)

Moderator: Diane Wray-Cahen
Regulation of insect biotechnologies: an industry perspective – John McLean (Intrexon, USA)
Regulatory experiences with genetically engineered insects – Paulo Andrade (Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil)
Experience with GM mosquitoes regulation in Burkina Faso – Oumar Traore (National Biosafety Agency, Burkina Faso)
Public perceptions about releasing genetically engineered mosquitoes – Andrew Binder (North Carolina State University, USA)

Moderator: Eric Hallerman
Risk assessment case study – Nile tilapia - Eric Hallerman, Virginia Tech, USA

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety – Boniface Cacheu (Ministry of Environment, Senegal)
CODEX, OECD and the FAO – Modupe Adeyemo (ABNE)
Biotechnology in international trade – Shoshana Griffith (USDA-FAS, USA)
Regulating animal biotechnology in Africa, and lessons from crop biotechnology – Moussa Savodogo (ABNE)

Moderator: Scott Shore
Socioeconomic considerations in regulatory decision-making – Sam Timpo (ABNE)
Addressing concerns in a science-based and risk-based system – Andrew Binder (North Carolina State University, USA)
Breakout sessions/discussion groups: (Oumar Traore, moderator) Dialog on guidance gaps, needs and strategies.
- How to encourage the facilitation of research on animal biotechnology, challenges in communication
- Confinement/containment of genetically engineered animals and cross-border transport
- Obstacles to obtaining genetically engineered and gene edited animals

Hands-on communication activities – Andrew Binder (North Carolina State University, USA)
Workshop summary – Eric Hallerman
Next steps – Diane Wray-Cahen
Closing comments – Mousa Savodogo