Michigan State University has received a $1.5 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to bolster Africa’s biosafety expertise.
In partnership with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), MSU will develop the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) to help regulators access the most up-to-date training, data and resources needed to properly regulate biotechnologies, ensuring countries are able to take full advantage of advances while safeguarding consumers and the environment.
The ABNE will be developed under the Biosciences Initiative, a cluster of life sciences programs of the Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, an African-led plan endorsed by the African Union Heads of State and Government.
The grant will support the first phase of a long-term project. The NEPAD-MSU partnership will collaborate with Development Alternatives Inc. to ensure the network meets local and regional needs.
Over the next 10 months, MSU and NEPAD will consult with African biosafety regulators to assess needs and develop a responsive information and resource network to provide training, peer-reviewed scientific information, expert assistance, study tours to countries with established regulatory systems, and other services as required.
The grant is part of the Gates Foundation’s Agricultural Development initiative, which is focused on helping small farmers – most of whom are women – increase their yields and incomes so they can lift themselves and their families out of hunger and poverty.
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