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The 4 th OFAB Annual Review & Planning Meeting

The 4 th OFAB Annual Review & Planning Meeting . Brief Presentation on The Status of Biotech in Ethiopia April 22 – 26, 2014 Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja, Nigeria. Appreciation. First and foremost:

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The 4 th OFAB Annual Review & Planning Meeting

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  1. The 4th OFAB Annual Review & Planning Meeting Brief Presentation on The Status of Biotech in Ethiopia April 22 – 26, 2014 Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja, Nigeria

  2. Appreciation • First and foremost:  On behalf of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and the Ethiopian team, I really thank OFAB - AATF to invite and accept Ethiopia as the 8thOFAB Chapter.

  3. Signed Collaboration Agreement • EIAR and AATF signed a Collaboration Agreement for OFAB - Ethiopia in March, 2014.  OFAB -Ethiopia is now a one month old baby. • We are now in the process of appointing the Focal Person and the Programming Committee (PC).

  4. Status of Biotech in Ethiopia • Biotechnology in Ethiopia is at its infant stage, not because that scientists are not interested, but rather due to the very restrictive bio-safety law. • Currently the biosafety law is being revisedand it will soon be tabled to the Parliament for approval and the government is in full support of process.

  5. Con’t … • The Ethiopian governmentand the Academic Community highly value the contribution of biotechnology to society at large. • The government has put several facilities (biotechnology laboratories at Holetta, Melkassa & Jimma research centers) and is provided with special privilege for importing and purchasing supplies. • An Institute of Biotechnology (IOB) has been established to train Ethiopian Scientists at a PhD level (Addis Ababa University).

  6. Con’t … • The Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS), EIAR and ATA led a project on increasing the awareness of the general public on biotechnology through a series of lectures and one day workshop was held for Policy makers. • EAS eventually held an Africa-wide Biotechnology conference in which a Declaration favoring promotion of biotechnology was made.

  7. Con’t … • Ethiopia is planning to use Biotechnology to:- • Produce large quantities of clean planting materials using Tissue culture. • Speed up generation of varieties using biological engineering. • Take advantage of commercialized Biotechnology products such as Bt-cotton.

  8. Con’t … 4. Produce GMOs in a very safe manner without endangering the rich wealth of biodiversity Ethiopia has. • ATA (Agricultural Transformation Agency) invited ABNE (African Biotechnology Network of Expertise) to help Ethiopia in revising the bio-safety law.

  9. OFAB - Ethiopia Environment • Strong Foundation, closely connected with the, Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS), the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Science & Technology, Ethiopian Seed Association,and the Ethiopian Society for Appropriate Technology (ESAT) from whom Programming Committee Members shall be drawn.

  10. Acknowledgement • BMGF (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) has supported a biotechnology project to produce Enset varieties resistant to bacterial wilt, using GMOs, which is very much appreciated.

  11. Thank You!

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