The Africa Biennial Biosciences Communication Symposium (ABBC Symposium 2021) has today entered day two running on a hybrid mode – physical and virtual.
The 4th ABBC Symposium physical activities are being held at the Kampala Serena Hotel from September 20th to September 24th, 2021 under the theme – accelerating Africa’s Biotech Tipping Point: Taking Stock and Celebrating the Gains.
Case studies from six of the leading biotechnology countries (Nigeria, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Kenya) and two that are on the cusp of commercializing their first biotech crops (Uganda and Ghana) will be shared with the global community.
This hybrid symposium (in-person in each of the six countries; but internationally-linked virtually), will facilitate rich exchange of experiences and strategies for furthering progress in other countries among a wide range of stakeholder groups with an interest in investing in Africa’s biotechnology sector.
The ABBC is a platform for biosciences stakeholders to actively exchange experiences and best practices towards improving bioscience communications. The symposium, which provides an African-based and African-led platform, is the first of its kind in the region and plays a fundamental role in addressing pressing communication issues needed to propel biosciences innovations in Africa.
Over the past two years, the number of African countries planting biotech crops has more than doubled, from three in 2018 to seven in 2020 (Eswatini, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, and Kenya). This significant increase has positioned the continent for increased adoption of agricultural biotechnology.
The first ABBC, held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2015, and the second held in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2017, addressed biotechnology and biosafety communications issues, respectively. ABBC 2019, held in South Africa, initiated conscious conversations on genome editing in the region.
The symposium has attracted Policy and decision makers, Science communication experts, Scientists, Media practitioners with specific focus on editors,Technology developers and industry players, Regulators, Professional associations representing various end-users like farmers, consumers, and Development partners.
