| Welcome to OFAB |
| The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) is a platform that brings together stakeholders in biotechnology and enables interactions between scientists, journalists, the civil society, industrialists, lawmakers and policy makers. It is a monthly lunch meeting that provides an opportunity for key stakeholders to know one another, share knowledge and experiences, make new contacts and explore new avenues of bringing the benefits of biotechnology to the African agricultural sector. |
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| Mark Lynas' Lecture to Oxford Farming Conference, 3 January 2013 |
| Posted: February 10, 2013 |
| Mark Lynas - a British author, journalist and environmental activist who for several years has promoted ant-GMO crusade worldwide. He has completely changed his mind and he has said sorry for misleading the world. He now believes that GM technology is a critical tool to reduce hunger and improve humanity. - "I want to start with some apologies. For the record, here and upfront, I apologise for having spent several years ripping up GM crops. I am also sorry that I helped to start the anti-GM movement back in the mid 1990s, and that I thereby assisted in demonising an important technological option which can be used to benefit the environment.
As an environmentalist, and someone who believes that everyone in this world has a right to a healthy and nutritious diet of their choosing, I could not have chosen a more counter-productive path. I now regret it completely. ... Read full article ... |
| Sixth chapter of OFAB launched in Burkina Faso |
| Posted: December 3, 2012 |
| The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in October 2012 launched a sixth chapter in Burkina Faso. This is the first OFAB chapter in Francophone Africa and is a collaborative effort between the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the Institut de I’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA). The launch which was held in Ouagadougou, was presided over by Prof Gnissa Isaie Konate Burkina Faso’s Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, and Dr T Kyetere the AATF Executive Director. In his official remarks, Prof Konate said that biotechnology can be used as a powerful engine for agricultural growth. “These technologies can be used to overcome the challenges related to population growth, climate change, yield decrease, food insecurity and poverty” he added. ... Read full article ... |
| We must remove the landmines that limit access to biotechnology in Africa |
| Posted: November 22, 2012 |
| Back in the dark days of apartheid, many South African farmers like myself were forced to drive our tractors through fields full of landmines as we worked hard to grow maize and other vegetables. That’s now a part of history, thank goodness. Yet farmers in today’s Africa continue to face landmines of the metaphorical variety: As we try to obtain access to the latest agricultural technology, we see hazardous obstacles everywhere. They must be removed. If our continent is ever going to feed itself, we’re going to have to beat the odds–and adopt the same tools that are taken for granted in so much of the developed world. That means we must have access to seeds improved with biotechnology. I’ve seen the benefits of GM crops firsthand. Just south of Johannesburg, I own several acres of land and rent more. For the last eight years, I’ve grown genetically modified corn and soybeans. They are outstanding crops. My yields have improved by more than one-third, meaning that the economics of farming never have been better. Agriculture doesn’t have to be a subsistence occupation. ... Read full article ... |
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Kenya Chapter
Uganda Chapter
Nigeria Chapter
Tanzania Chapter
Ghana Chapter
Burkina Faso Chapter
