African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) ..a Biosafety Resource on Crop Biotechnology for Regulators Welcome to ABNE Website! The ABNE website was originally developed as a portal to obtain reliable biosafety information from other web sites. ABNE has now begun constructing its own material which will be made available over the coming months. The African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) is a continent-wide Africa-based initiative established by the NEPAD Office of Science and Technology under the African Biosciences Initiative (ABI) to provide expertise and networking facilities for biotechnology and biosafety. Establishment of ABNE is a contribution to Recommendation 14 as outline in the AU/NEPAD document, Freedom to Innovate, “The African Union Secretariat and NEPAD need to build further capacity in biotechnology regulation”. In addition to this recommendation, the Conference of African Union Ministers of Agriculture held in Gabon, 2006 took an African Position on GMOs in Agriculture also recommended the need for capacity building for biosafety and biotechnology. |
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NEPAD and Biotechnology In a drive to harness Science and Technology, African leaders adopted a Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA). One of the flagship programs of the CPA is the African Biosciences Initiative (ABI) which focuses on research and development (R&D) in the areas of biotechnology, biodiversity, indigenous knowledge systems and technology. |
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The Need for Biosafety Regulatory Systems In order to effectively advance the science of biotechnology in Africa, while at the same time safeguarding human health and the environment, the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST) resolved to develop a 20 year biotechnology strategy which guides the development of effective biosafety regulatory systems within the Member States. These systems aim to provide a balance between promoting learning and creativity in biotechnology, while protecting public interests. In November 2006, the African Union’s Directorate of Human Resources, Science and Technology published the African Strategy on Biosafety |
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