Dr. Florence Uwamahoro, Deputy Director General, the Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB), echoed the sentiments on the importance of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in maximizing agriculture’s potential for sustainable development.
“We need to continue to educate our farmers and communities on the scientific facts about technology and address myths and propaganda against technology. OFAB Rwanda will play a critical role in changing people’s perceptions”, Uwamahoo said.
“Depoliticizing research and development is crucial for harnessing STI, including modern biotechnology,” the researchers stated.
They cited countries like the USA, Brazil, Argentina, China, and South Africa, which have successfully utilized biotechnology for development. The researchers called for biotechnology research and development to be treated as a national priority for development and the need to ‘Africanize’ biotechnology.
Participants identified several critical issues, including the need for strengthened political goodwill, an enabling policy and regulatory environment, domestic investment in biotechnology, strengthened human capacities, and enhanced infrastructure and resources for advancing biotechnology research and development.
The meeting produced recommendations for advancing STI in Africa, urging governments to prioritize biotechnology to address the continent’s pressing agricultural challenges.
The meeting recommended strengthening research-industry linkages by enhancing collaboration between research institutions and industry by refocusing efforts on biotechnology commercialization.
Beyond the traditional Public-Private Partnerships, the meeting recommended the need for a framework that plows back benefits for further reinvestment in the national technology ecosystem. Additionally, there was a consensus on the need to support youth with interest in science because, “we cannot imagine a future, without science” investment in science, and technology is strategic for Africa.
To ensure sustainable investment in STI, there is need for political leadership to understand the role of STI in national development. African political leaders have a pivotal role in transforming the biotechnology landscape on the continent. To ensure that Africa leapfrogs biotechnology development the following recommendations were drawn from the convening:
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