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Sharing Knowledge on Crop Biotechnology: ISAAA Afri Center

Sharing Knowledge on Crop Biotechnology: ISAAA Afri Center. Margaret Karembu, PhD Director, ISAAA Afri Center mkarembu@isaaa.org. ISAAA Global Status Report Launch Coordinators Meeting (East and North Africa) 26 th - 27 th February 2014. Presentation Outline. 1. About ISAAA

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Sharing Knowledge on Crop Biotechnology: ISAAA Afri Center

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  1. Sharing Knowledge on Crop Biotechnology: ISAAA AfriCenter Margaret Karembu, PhD Director, ISAAA AfriCenter mkarembu@isaaa.org ISAAA Global Status Report Launch Coordinators Meeting (East and North Africa) 26th - 27th February 2014

  2. Presentation Outline 1. About ISAAA 2. Knowledge-sharing strategies 3. Lessons Learnt 4. Moving Forward

  3. ISAAA –www.isaaa.org AfriCenter: www.africenter.isaaa.org • A Not-for-profit Charity, co-sponsored by public and private sector organizations • MISSION: Contribute to poverty alleviation by ensuring the global society has timely and credible information to enable harness the potential of new crop biotech applications • Pro-Choice organization - Coexistence

  4. ISAAA’s Global Knowledge Sharing Initiative Network of 26 Biotech Information Centers - BICs Russia ISAAA AmeriCenter Spain China Japan Italy Pakistan Bulgaria Bangladesh Egypt Mali India Vietnam Thailand Philippines ISAAA’s Global KC Sri Lanka Burkina Faso UBIC Malaysia EACBIC ISAAA AfriCenter Indonesia Brazil South Africa Dual Knowledge and Experience Sharing www.isaaa.org/subscribe/ke

  5. The Role of BICs • Respond to biotech information needs in respective countries and sub-regions • Promote and advance a broad public understanding of crop biotechnology through a wide range of modalities Note: BICs recognized as major sources of crop biotech information in countries of operation

  6. Knowledge Sharing Strategies

  7. 1. Report on the Global Status of Biotech/GM Crops Cultivation • Flagship publication • Updated annually • Gives a global analysis on progress with biotech crops

  8. Highlights of report translated into local languages Akan GHANA Dioula&Moore-BURKINA Kinyarwanda-RWANDA Kiswahili-KE,TZ,BURUNDI,DRC Yoruba&Igbo-NIGERIA Luganda&AtesoNIGERIA Amharic-ETHIOPIA Chichewa&Citumbuka MALAWI

  9. 2. Crop Biotech Update (CBU) • Weekly e-newsletter covering latest developments on biotech crops – policy, regulatory, products • Bi-weekly supplement on biofuels • Subscription is free and voluntary • Populating the CBU is among ISAAA’s key tasks • Note: BICs contribute by sending news from their countries/regions

  10. Subscription to the CBU Go to: www.isaaa.org/subscribe/ke You can subscribe your friends then ask them to confirm

  11. 3. PolicyOutreach Policy makers interest areas • Safety of biotech products to human health and the environment • Trade related impacts of biotech products • Ownership and control (IPRs) • Ethical issues and socio-economic concerns Parliamentarians Government Executive Judiciary senators Governors

  12. Outreach mechanisms for policy makers Study tours-high impact! Seminars/breakfast meetings and oral briefings with Ministers, MPs, etc. Written documents-fact sheets, message maps, policy briefs and posters for quick reference Documentaries on success stories e.g. Bt. cotton in Africa, China, India, Burkina Faso etc.

  13. 4. Seeing is believing study tours for diverse stakeholders

  14. 5. Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) • Kenya Chapter initiated by ISAAA and African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) (2006) • OFAB currentlyhas chapters in Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe; Egypt thro ISAAA

  15. 6. IEC materials Packing and Re-packaging

  16. 7. Mass Media Engagement • Sets the agenda on topical issues • Influences decision-making • Shapes public opinion Being pro-active with the media is one of the best strategies.

  17. Social media ISAAA AfriCenter @afri_isaaa

  18. 8. Capacity Building • Building capacity in Biotech/Biosafety communication for scientists, journalists, teachers, public communication officers and regulators among others.

  19. Lessons Learnt • Knowledge sharing is an essential component for agri-biotech acceptance in Africa – simplicity of language key! • Product-based communications is most effective (Products, Products, Products…..) 3. Pro-active communication as opposed to reactive communication is crucial 4. Credibility and primacy vital – hence report launches

  20. “People are always entitled to their OPINION but not their FACTS” Thank you!

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