News
Hope, disquiet over gene drives for malaria control
Scientists say there is a knowledge gap about the social-cultural and ecological context in which the technology that has been considered a priority technology for the disease elimination will be tested and deployed in Africa. Read More
Scientists’ novel technology to conserve mosquitoes
As the world celebrates World Mosquito Day today, scientists have introduced a revolutionary technology that could conserve mosquitoes instead of killing them while eliminating some of the diseases transmitted by mosquitos. Known as gene drive technology, this innovative approach promises to eliminate malaria one of the diseases that is transmitted by mosquitos without harming the […]
Stakeholders deliberate on better ways to report Gene Drive
Stakeholders and science journalist in West Africa have converged on Abuja, Nigeria, to exchange ideas and deliberate on the challenges and opportunities of genetic bio-control technologies. The event, organized by African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, will provides a platform for interaction among African experts and institutions to enhance opportunities for technical capacity strengthening, knowledge exchange and […]
Scientists, editors meet in Tanzania
A GROUP of 20 scientists, science communicators and editors have converged here for a workshop to strengthen capacity in quality and balanced media reporting on genetic bio-control technologies and other science-related issues. The workshop which has drawn participants from east and southern Africa has been organised by the Kenya-headquartered African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium (AGBC) in […]
Genetic biocontrol: when scientists, communicators and journalists share critical challenges
“We hope that you will be wings and ambassadors (vigilants) for the responsible use of emerging biotechnologies” in Africa. Closing the three-day international workshop on “Increased awareness and understanding of genetic biocontrol in Africa,” Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, Director General of the National Biosafety Management Agency of Nigeria (NBMA), highlighted the critical role that is […]
Scientists, media professionals end Arusha meeting with commitment for enhanced relationship to improve science communication
African Union (AU)’s quest for member countries to embrace and apply modern scientific tools including biotechnology to redeem Africa’s agriculture from the vagaries of pests, diseases and undesirable climatic conditions, will require the commitment of all stakeholders especially scientists, science communicators and science journalists. This group of stakeholders include those who generate, translate, repackage and […]
AU confident over transformative impact modern biotechnology can have on Africa’s agric sector
Biocontrol is an ancient practice involving the use of beneficiary insects or animals to control unwanted and problematic ones. The concept of genetic biocontrol is simply, the use of genetically modified organisms through gene drives and gene editing to control other problematic organisms. Hence, the identification also of this concept by the High-Level Panel of […]
First ever African transgenic mosquito strain developed in response to global malaria resistance
Dr. Lwetoijera also highlighted the need for the development of collaborative frameworks to support the assessment of the dossiers submitted at the different stages of technology evaluation; the need to leverage on the existing ethics and governance guidelines on gene-editing for on-going trials; and the need to leverage on the existing technical platforms like the […]
Adopt Genetic Biocontrol technology to protect our food from pests – Media
Mrs. Ogbaki who is also a PhD candidate, Development Communications at the Nasarawa State university, was speaking to a team of science journalists at a Webinar organised by the Science Communication Forum of the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium under the theme: “To promote sustainable training and capacity building programmes on the science, development, use, and […]
Train Communicators to Bridge Research Gaps
African Union (AU)’s quest for member countries to embrace and apply modern scientific tools including biotechnology to redeem Africa’s agriculture from the vagaries of pests, diseases and undesirable climatic conditions, will require the commitment of all stakeholders especially scientists, science communicators and science journalists. Read More
Understanding Science
The African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium organized a consultative workshop with journalists, science communicators and scientists in Arusha, Tanzania. The aim of the workshop is to expand awareness and understanding of genetic biocontrol in Africa Read More
COP 15 Side Event: Capacity Strengthening for Risk Assessment of New Biotechnologies in Africa – Building on Experiences with Genetic Biocontrol Posted on December 16 2022
On 9th December 2022, the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium in collaboration with GeneConvene Global Collaborative at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) USA held a side event during the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in Montreal, Canada. The focus of this side event was on new and emerging technologies, which include advances in the fields of synthetic biology and biotechnology, have led to the development of a wide range of proposed applications of their resulting outputs. Some of these applications are in line with the UN Sustainable Goal, SDG-3 that ensures healthy living and promotes well-being for all at all ages. Read more
AFRICAN GENETIC BIOCONTROL CONSORTIUM HOLDS A TRAINING WORKSHOP ON NEW TOOLS FOR RISK ASSESSMENT AND THEIR APPLICATION IN DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR TESTING AND DEPLOYMENT OF NEW AND EMERGING GENETIC BIOCONTROL TECHNOLOGIES Posted on July 29, 2022
During a training workshop held from 16th to 18th July in Nairobi, Kenya, participants who were a select group of African biosafety regulators were taken through an introduction to risk assessment and associated methods (qualitative and quantitative), in the context of genetic bio-control. Read more
Genetically altered mosquitoes to close gaps in malaria fight Monday, April 25 , 2022
In 2020, nearly 6.9 million cases of malaria and about 742 deaths were confirmed in Kenya according to the Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey (KMIS) 2020. Although the number of reported infections declined from 10.9 million in 2018, the disease is still one of the main health issues in the country despite being a largely preventable and treatable disease…Read more