Isaaa AfriCenter

10/06/2026

TODAY, at 1600hrs EAT (UTC+3), hundreds of stakeholders across the biotechnology and biosafety value chain will congregate for the launch of Biotech Africa.

For Africa, this is a very special moment. The platform that launches today connects players in Africa to trusted, accurate, relevant and up-to-date agricultural biotechnology information for accelerated decision making.

Too late to register? NO, still in good time for this one.

Kindly register for this event here: https://webinar.afriscidialogue.org/webinars/biotech-africa-launch-advancing-credible-agricultural-biotechnology-information-for-africa/

04/06/2026

"The ENVIRONMENT is the CRADLE that carries both animals and humans BUT because it doesn't speak or cry the way we think or see the others speak or cry, we consider it an afterthought..."

But this is ONE HEALTH, and as we ignore the environment aspect, we shoot ourselves in the foot, as observes Caroline Theka of 🇲🇼 here:

https://youtu.be/tBC2gKSu_yo?si=Hl_YC_Rm2G0u0j8D

01/06/2026

As there already exists a gap between science and society, it takes as little as discreet, sometimes unintentional, non verbal cues for people to misinterpret messages.

During Bt Cotton trials in Malawi 🇲🇼, trial managers wore red gloves to the field. Innocent, focused on the results, unaware that skeptical eyes would be looking askance.

To the untrained eye, red indicated danger. Like in traffic signals, it was a prominent STOP warning. To the public, it meant that Bt cotton was a ticking time bomb.

Word spread, and the fire razed many people's confidence before scientists could reverse the belief. It took long for progress to be noted.

It takes very little to inspire doubt especially in science. How to navigate that? Malawi's Carol Theka explains.

https://youtu.be/tBC2gKSu_yo?si=dlyzLT_AZauRxdOd

29/05/2026

Profound! Africa for Africa, as suggests Caroline Theka.

Full conversation here on The Africa Science Dialogue: https://youtu.be/tBC2gKSu_yo?si=fNtD9N_01ilYhv7M

29/05/2026

Profound! Africa for Africa, as suggests Caroline Theka.

Full conversation here on The Africa Science Dialogue:
https://youtu.be/tBC2gKSu_yo?si=thmzpcRpyn2qhHiZ

27/05/2026

DrumBeat 94, ladies and gentlemen, outlines communities' efforts to 'bring back' Africa's biodiversity, working relentlessly to rejuvenate nature where human efforts have, in the past, been responsible for destruction.

💡The video of the month features Carol Theka, Principal Environmental Officer in Malawi's Environmental Affairs Department. She narrates the story of Lake Chilwa, the second largest lake in 🇲🇼, whose troubled existence (it has disappeared in instances; it has also broken banks at other times) triggered deliberate action from local communities, a series of restoration efforts- and now the lake is back, teeming with fish and birds.

💡The story of the month looks at discussions at the Africa Forward Summit, which brought together over 30 heads of state in Nairobi, 🇰🇪. What were some of the most fascinating resolutions that will, actually, move Africa forward?

💡 In this issue, we also highlight the exciting launch of Kenya's Research Financing and Capacity Strengthening Masterplan (2026-2036), approval for field trials in Kenya of genome-edited banana developed to combat banana bacterial wilt (B*W) and a science communication workshop Isaaa AfriCenter recently organized for KALRO scientists.

🌟 We also share our Annual Report (2025) and Top 10 Facts about One Health in Africa in our publications section.

🫰🏽 There is nothing quite like the DrumBeat, your monthly dose of science inspiration and the finest way to catch up with trends in science in Africa. To get updates and to be part of this growing science community, please subscribe here free of charge: https://africenter.isaaa.org/.

Here, ladies and gentlemen, is DrumBeat 94. Enjoy!
https://africenter.isaaa.org/drumbeat/issue-94/

National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation National Research Fund Kenya Biosafety Kenya Hon Musalia W Mudavadi

ISAAA's AfriCenter is a not-for-profit organization established in 1994, that aims to share knowledge on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety.

26/05/2026

You're dumping your plastics through car windows. Next day, you don't find the plastics. Where did they go?

Streams. Into the ocean. Damage to marine life. Back to you as wee microplastics.

We are sabotaging ourselves, aren't we?

Join Carol Theka and as they discuss the environmental damage we are driving, and how humans can rally together to completely defeat this vice.

Thursday, May 28, at 1930hrs (EAT, UTC+3) here: youtube.com/

20/05/2026

When discussing Kenya's potential for industrialization and rapid technological advancement during The Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, President William Ruto said that the new education system in the country, the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum, has 60% of its pathways rooted in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

The goal is to give students a foothold in science from an early stage and to inspire, therefore, a generation of greatly inspired inventors, innovators, and champions of groundbreaking science.

Africa remains the richest continent in natural resources, boasting 30% of the world's mineral reserves according to the African Union (2024).
And as leaders repeatedly observed during the Summit, Africa does not optimally benefit out of this abundance of resources, sometimes depending on foreign expertise (and funding) against the continent's best interests.

Alongside development of favourable policies, the continent is in great need of a steady flow of talent to help in exploitation, and optimal utilization of, its resources.

STEM is the way to go.

20/05/2026

On the 10th of June, 2026, join us for the official launch of Biotech Africa – a regional platform improving access to credible biotechnology and biosafety information across Africa.

The platform provides country-specific information on:

• Genetically modified (GM) crop approvals
• Country-specific importation requirements for GM food, feed, or processing (FFP)
• Application processes for GM import permits

Biotech Africa aims to support informed decision-making, regulatory transparency, regional learning, and responsible deployment of agricultural biotechnology across the continent.

Key Platform Features:

✅ GM Crop Approval Status by Country
✅ Importation Regulatory Snapshots for GM FFP
✅ Application Procedures for GM Import Permits

Here is the registration link: https://bit.ly/BiotechAfricaLaunch

13/05/2026

When curtains finally fall on the Science, Technology, Research, And Innovation (STRI) week, happening between May 18 and 22 in Nairobi, 🇰🇪, a lot of topics will have been discussed in earnest:

🔑 Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the broader societal dimensions of technological advancement.
🔑 The STEM Mentorship Session, primarily for high school students to inspire and guide their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.
🔑 Exploration of how countries can sustain and strengthen science, technology, research, and innovation (STRI) systems in an evolving global financing landscape marked by declining traditional development assistance and increasing demand for locally driven solutions.
🔑Examination of how science, technology, research, and innovation can be effectively translated into market-ready solutions that address societal needs and contribute to Kenya’s innovation-driven economic growth
🔑 Establishing inclusive and impact-oriented national research and innovation systems.
🔑Science Communication and Public Trust in the Age of Misinformation.
Building the Future Workforce for Africa’s Knowledge Economy.
🔑The role of industry academia partnerships in driving STRI impact.
🔑 Technical and Vocational Education as a Catalyst for STEM Talent and Innovation.

Even more importantly, Kenya's President Dr William Samoei Ruto will launch The Research Financing and Capacity Building Masterplan (2026-2036).

Much more will be discussed in a series of high-level meetings for the benefit of science in, and for, society.

ISAAA AfriCenter will be playing key roles in various sessions across the event, including during the launch of the Research Financing and Capacity Building Masterplan, and a panel moderation by Dr Margaret Karembu on Science Communication and Public Trust in the Age of Misinformation.

This is yet Kenya’s best statement of intent towards making science more focused on addressing key societal concerns, and towards bringing together an array of stakeholders that will ensure the talent made in Kenya is well capacitated and has a real-world impact.

See you at the STRI week!!
Here: https://lnkd.in/d3wpri48