Open Forum on Agricultural Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB)Biotechnology (OFAB)

Overview of 2008Overview of 2008

ByByOFAB Programming Committee (PC)OFAB Programming Committee (PC)

Presented by Margaret Karembu Presented by Margaret Karembu (Chair, OFAB PC)(Chair, OFAB PC)

About OFABAbout OFAB

A platform that provides an opportunity for A platform that provides an opportunity for biotechnology stakeholders to network, share biotechnology stakeholders to network, share knowledge, experiences, and, explore new knowledge, experiences, and, explore new avenues for collaboration in bringing the avenues for collaboration in bringing the benefits of biotechnology to Africabenefits of biotechnology to Africa

OFAB ManagementOFAB ManagementA collaborative initiative between the Africa Agricultural A collaborative initiative between the Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation Technology Foundation -- AATFAATF and International Service and International Service for the Acquisition of Agrifor the Acquisition of Agri--biotech Applications biotech Applications –– ISAAA ISAAA AfricenterAfricenter

Activities are organized and managed by a programming Activities are organized and managed by a programming committee committee (OFAB(OFAB--PC)PC) comprising volunteer scientists and comprising volunteer scientists and communication experts from international, regional and communication experts from international, regional and national organizationsnational organizations

OFAB PC MembersOFAB PC Members

1.1. Dr Margaret Karembu Dr Margaret Karembu ISAAA (Chairperson)ISAAA (Chairperson)2.2. Mrs Jane OtadohMrs Jane Otadoh Ministry of AgricultureMinistry of Agriculture3.3. Dr Fred Kanampiu Dr Fred Kanampiu CIMMYTCIMMYT4.4. Dr Eucharia Kenya Dr Eucharia Kenya Kenyatta UniversityKenyatta University5.5. Dr Simon Gichuki Dr Simon Gichuki KARIKARI--BiotechBiotech6.6. Dr Dan Kiambi Dr Dan Kiambi ICRISATICRISAT7.7. Mrs Nancy MuchiriMrs Nancy Muchiri AATFAATF8.8. Mr Daniel Otunge Mr Daniel Otunge ISAAA (Secretary)ISAAA (Secretary)

Topics CoveredTopics Covered

September 2006September 2006--November 2008November 2008

2222 OFAB Sessions held so far covering OFAB Sessions held so far covering various topics presented by both local various topics presented by both local and international experts in biotechand international experts in biotech--

related fieldsrelated fields

OFAB 1OFAB 1Official launch:

Dr Noah Wekesa, Minister for Science and Technology

Other Speakers

Mr. Mark Cantley, UKPublic Policy for Biotechnology: International lessons - European

Experience

Mr. Wellington Chadehumbe, RSATruth, Freedom and Economic Growth

Dr Charles N Dr Charles N WaturuWaturuCenter Director, KARICenter Director, KARI--Thika Thika The status of Confined Field Trials The status of Confined Field Trials of Bt cotton in Kenyaof Bt cotton in Kenya

OFAB 2OFAB 2 OFAB 3OFAB 3

Mr. Lucas Mr. Lucas SeseSese -- ABSFABSFIntellectual Property Rights and Agriculture: Role and Implications on Biotechnology Research, Development and Innovation

OFAB 4OFAB 4 OFAB 5OFAB 5

Dr Kandeh Yumkella, UNIDO, DG

The role of S&T in Africa’s development process

Prof. T J Higgins, AustraliaStatus of Bt Cowpea research and development

OFAB 6OFAB 6

Dr Edward RegeDirector, Biotechnology Theme, ILRIStatus of the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA)

OFAB 7OFAB 7

Prof Robert PaarlbergProfessor of Political Science, Wellesley CollegeExamining GMOs concerns

OFAB 8OFAB 8 OFAB 9OFAB 9

Mr Obongo Nyachae, CEO, STAK Secretary, Eastern Africa Seed Committee of ASARECA Harmonization of seed policies and regulations in Eastern Africa: Key Challenges and Results

Prof Crispus Kiamba PS Min S&T and Dr Wilson Songa Agriculture SecretaryStakeholders Dialogue on Biosafety Bill 2007

Dr Francis Nang’ayoRegulatory Affairs Specialist, AATF

The Status of Biosafety Regulations in Africa

OFAB 10OFAB 10

OFAB 11OFAB 11Launching of OFAB WebsiteLaunching of OFAB Website

Now operational and interactive Now operational and interactive –– Use it for Use it for feedback, followfeedback, follow--ups and VOTING..ups and VOTING..

Dr. Wilson SongaDr. Wilson SongaAgriculture Secretary, Agriculture Secretary,

Launching OFAB WebsiteLaunching OFAB Website

http://http://www.ofabafrica.orgwww.ofabafrica.org

OFAB 12OFAB 12OFAB 13 OFAB 13 ––

End of Year 2007 GetEnd of Year 2007 Get--togethertogether

Prof. Jenesio KinyamarioBiosafeTrain Coordinator

East Africa; Thematic Head, Ecology and

Environmental Sciences UON

Dr David HoisingtonApplications of Genomics in Cereal and Legume Improvement

OFAB 14OFAB 14 OFAB 15OFAB 15

Dr Margaret Karembu, Director, ISAAA AfriCenter, and Chair,OFAB PC. Past and Future of OFAB: An overview (Feb 25, 2008)

Dr Fred Kanampiu, CIMMYT Senior Scientist. Herbicide Seed Coating: Taming the Striga Witchweed(Mar 27, 2008)

OFAB 16OFAB 16

Ms Rachel Shibalira, Legal Counsel and Drafter, AG Chambers, KenyaThe Process of Drafting the Biosafety Bill 2008 (24th April 2008)

OFAB 17OFAB 17

Dr Clive James, Board Chair and Founder, ISAAA. Global Adoption, Impact and Future Prospects of Biotech/GM Crops (22nd May 2008)

OFAB 18OFAB 18

Ms. Betty Kiplagat , KARI Legal SecretaryReview of the COP-MOP 4 in meeting in Bonn, Germany, (26th June 2008)

OFAB 19OFAB 19

Dr Kwesi Atta-Krah, Deputy Director General of the Bioversity International.Agriculture, biodiversity and biotechnology - a triad of potential and challenges for food security in Africa.(31st July 2008)

OFAB 20OFAB 20

Prof. Calestous Juma , Director of the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project at Harvard Kennedy School of Government Science and innovation for Africa's development: The case for policy preparedness (28th August 2008)

OFAB 21OFAB 21

Prof Shaukat Ali Abdulrazak,Executive Secretary, NCST, The role of the National Council for Science and Technology in steering the country for realization of Vision 2030.(30th October 2008 )

OFAB 22OFAB 22

Dr Kerstin Kramer, Monsanto: Biotech Crops in EuropeChallenges, Successes and Next Steps (November 27, 2008)

Kerstin, Prof. Michieka and Dr Virginia cut OFAB cake to mark the end of 2008

OFAB participants’ Opinion survey•Questionnaire used to gather views

•25 respondents

•The results were as follows

100% of respondents found presentations to be relevant, with 52% ranking them as very relevant

Relevance of Presentations

52%48%

0%

Very relevantrelevantNot relevant

Majority of respondents (60%) attend OFAB regularly

Frequency of Attendance

16%

60%

24%

Always

Regular

Sometimes

Networking Usefulness

68%

32%

0%

Very usefulUsefulNot useful

68% found OFAB to be an ideal networking Forum

Quality of Presentations

38%

50%

12% 0%

Very goodGoodAveragePoor

Majority (88%) said presentations were of high quality

Quality of Answers to questions

28%

52%

20%

v. comprehensivecomprehensiveNot comprehensive

Quality of Time Keeping

27%

42%

27%

4%

Very goodGoodAveragePoor

Appropriateness of Venue

84%

12%4%

V. appropriateappropriateNot. appropriate

84% found venue to be the most appropriate

84% found venue to be the most appropriate

84% found venue to be the most appropriate

72% willing to support sustainability of OFAB by paying membership fee. Majority willing to pay between KES 1000-2000.

Willingness to pay Membership fee

72%

20%

8%

YesNoOther

Networking (30%) most important benefit of OFAB, followed by increased awareness (22%), acceptance (21%) and updates on projects (20%) respectively

OFAB Benefits

22%

30%20%

7%

21%

Increasedawareness/knowledge/understandingNetworking

Regular updates onprojects, products andtrendsAccess to IEC materials

Appreciation ofbiotechnology

Biosafety Act issues (22%)tops list of suggested topics for 2009 followed by Status of biotech awareness (17%) in the country

Majority (23 %) would like OFAB to produce DVDs on sessions as one way of improving OFAB followed by annual summary of presentations (17%) and sharing materials (16%)

Thank you!Thank you!