Isaaa AfriCenter

16/10/2026

➡Today, on World Food Day, we take time to appreciate millions of people from underprivileged communities who labour hard to ensure they are food secure, and to raise children in environments pummeled by challenges.

➡Also this being the International Year of The Woman Farmer, we remember the women across our continent who, tasked with primary care giving, work hard on barely enough land to ensure their families are well fed.

➡The official theme of the day: “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow", requiring our look into use of data, technology, and artificial intelligence to transform agrifood systems, combat global hunger, and make nutritious food affordable and sustainable, marries beautifully with a call we have had sustained here at ISAAA AfriCenter for ages: use of agricultural biotechnology to feed the world.

➡This day calls for a relook of policies, communication streams, and collaboration avenues among different players to ensure biotech crops, for example, which harbour beneficial characteristics such as drought tolerance, quick yielding and pest resistance, can be adopted by farmers across the continent without hassle.

➡We particularly give our flowers to women who are in pursuit of food security through use of tech an innovation in the continent, and for whom we have formed a community in the African Women for Biosciences (AWfB) (https://africenter.isaaa.org/awfb).

➡We equally appreciate the men who have battled hard to ensure women have a voice, once greatly suppressed by society. 🙏🏽

➡Next year, in June, we shall assemble in Dakar, Senegal 🇸🇳 for the (https://abbcsymposium.org/) to agree on, inter alia, how researchers, having developed quite useful technologies, can build trust among societies for easier adoption.

Our aim? To harness the tech we are building and effortlessly feed Africa.

Happy International World Food Day!!!!

10/10/2026

In 255 days only, Africa will be having one of the most important, candid conversations about its science, scientific innovations and adoption into society. This will be a follow-up to similar conversations we have had before, and which have yielded impressive results (https://abbcsymposium.org/symposia). The Africa Biennial Biosciences Communication (ABBC) symposium returns, this time in Western Africa, as the 7th edition, following in this chronology:
➡️The ABBC 2015, the first ever edition, was held in Nairobi, 🇰🇪, and aimed to assess the impact of agribiotech and biosafety communication.

➡️ABBC 2017 was in Entebbe, 🇺🇬, and focused on strengthening communication for improved biosafety management.

➡️ABBC 2019 was in Pretoria, 🇿🇦, under the theme: "Getting it Right: Communicating Genome Editing".

➡️ABBC 2021, the hybrid version during COVID-19, discussed accelerating of Africa's Biotech tipping point: taking stock and celebrating the gains.

➡️ABBC 2023 returned to Nairobi, 🇰🇪, under the theme: Evolution of Genetic Improvement Tools in Agriculture: Is Communication Matching Up?

➡️ABBC 2025 was in Lusaka, 🇿🇲, and discussed The War on Science: How can we overcome the burden of misinformation and disinformation?

➡️Now, in 2027, we are in DAKAR, 🇸🇳, to discuss From Evidence to Trust: Strengthening Communication Ecosystems for Bioscience Innovation in Africa.

See here the details: https://abbcsymposium.org/about

07/10/2026

🤔 Q: What is bigger than an individual driving positive change in their community?

A: A WOMAN, empowered and boldly clinging onto a vision, dedicating her time and skill towards societal betterment, and influencing many others to do the same.

It's 2026, and GIRLS run the WORLD 💃.

Mawazo Institute, when celebrating the completion of the 2025/2026 Mawazo Fellowship Programme, will bring together a host of inspirational African women PhD holders who are leading change in their respective fields. Three of our alumni will speak.

Mawazo Institute will also be looking back and reflecting on their achievements in 2025. The Mawazo Institute and its network of amazing women researchers, with the support of partners, achieved:

➡️ Increased number of Mawazo Fellows with PhDs to 55

➡️Release of the ecosystem-disrupting Status of African Women in Research report

➡️Launch of a new Policy and Advocacy department, which catalysed the research of 31 women to policy decisions across the continent

📅: Thursday, 8th October
⏰️: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm EAT
📍: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1G6I6Z1fT-61lEXCFF7Sog #/registration

Register to join tomorrow and make an impact by joining these great women of intellect and valour!

SEE YOU THERE!

30/09/2026

🥁🥁DRUMBEAT 98, our September 2026 issue, is themed around a well-established, trusted maxim of old: In Unity, More is Possible.

➡️Different people from different parts of Africa, and the world, have sayings to express this universal truth. DRUMBEAT 98 seeks to elucidate the benefits COMESA member countries will accrue from the harmonization of biotech and biosafety rules and regulations.

➡️It is a debate backed by facts, and not mere emotion. You see, Africa, faced with sporadic cases of drought, malnutrition, civil strife, disease outbreaks, rapid urbanization, and even overzealous land fragmentation, needs to promptly pick up all available armaments and go to war against whatever demoralise its socioeconomic wellbeing, and especially food insecurity.

➡️Agricultural biotechnology innovations have, for example, been tested for over 3 decades, and have proven important for food security. In drought resilient, pest resistant crops, we have something to rely on when the going gets tough, and especially in the face of climate change (and rapidly growing populations).

🤔Do different countries' laws, even within COMESA, prohibit seamless trade of these materials? Yes. Can there be lobbied for a streamlining of policies to allow COMESA benefit off biotech as a bloc, and will this be of value to Africa? See the Story of The Month and Video of The Month.

🍀We explore the ingenuity of two young women in tech who are solving food and health challenges in Africa, and we enter farms in Western Kenya 🇰🇪 to talk to farmers whose crop was devastated by a fierce drought in the year. What could have been done differently❓️

🎊We also congratulate Prof Vasey Mwaja who was recently appointed to chair the board of National Commission for Science and Technology (NACOSTI).

📍...and remind you that next year, The heads to Dakar, Senegal 🇨🇲, as Africa seeks to find out how best to establish trust between the scientific community and society for optimal absorption of key innovations. (https://abbcsymposium.org/about)

Here, the DRUMBEAT 98: https://africenter.isaaa.org/drumbeat/issue-98/

29/09/2026

How to end your September in style, you're asking yourself?

Here's how.

Tomorrow, BBC Media Action, in collaboration with the Africa Science Dialogue, Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA), UKAid Funded Project, IIED Europe and WWF meet to explore THE POWER OF RADIO IN PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE AND ACTION IN EAST AFRICA.

Pretty distinguished speakers, from media and industry, line up to have a deep dive into the intricacies of one of the most popular media platforms, and how it shapes communities interaction with their environment.

JOIN US!

⏰️1100hrs EAT
🗓 September 30, 2026
📍
https://webinar.afriscidialogue.org/webinars/the-power-of-radio-how-radio-supports-environmental-knowledge-and-action/

You listen to radio 📻, yeah? Beyond the music, the news, the ordinary, anything really, really educational- the discussions between experts on something like promotion of environmental knowledge in East Africa.

Join us for a webinar on THE POWER OF RADIO IN PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE AMD ACTION IN EAST AFRICA.

🗓: September 30, 2026
⏰️: 1100hrs-1230hrs (UTC+3)

WWF Tanzania, WWF-Kenya and BBC Media Action meet for an engaging webinar on and share findings from a cross-border study on how radio supports environmental knowledge and action in Kenya and Tanzania.

CLICK the link below to register:

https://webinar.afriscidialogue.org/webinars/the-power-of-radio-how-radio-supports-environmental-knowledge-and-action/

See you there!!

29/09/2026

"I believe that the land we are conserving is borrowed from our children," says Nashulai Maasai Conservancy Co-Founder and CEO Nelson Ole Reiyia.

And so the youth are mandated with protecting it!!

25/09/2026

You listen to radio 📻, yeah? Beyond the music, the news, the ordinary, anything really, really educational- the discussions between experts on something like promotion of environmental knowledge in East Africa.

Join us for a webinar on THE POWER OF RADIO IN PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE AMD ACTION IN EAST AFRICA.

🗓: September 30, 2026
⏰️: 1100hrs-1230hrs (UTC+3)

WWF Tanzania, WWF-Kenya and BBC Media Action meet for an engaging webinar on and share findings from a cross-border study on how radio supports environmental knowledge and action in Kenya and Tanzania.

CLICK the link below to register:

https://webinar.afriscidialogue.org/webinars/the-power-of-radio-how-radio-supports-environmental-knowledge-and-action/

See you there!!

22/09/2026

🌍 Dakar, Senegal 🇸🇳, 2027.

📗The Africa Biennial Biosciences Communication (ABBC) Symposium

📋From Evidence to Trust: Strengthening Communication Ecosystems for Bioscience Innovation in Africa

🗓: June 22-24, 2027

Link for registration: https://abbcsymposium.org/

22/09/2026

Traditionally, in many African societies, women sat back to observe. Talents suppressed, ambitions kept in check, targets short or missing altogether.

But then, a lot has changed over time. Women have taken over leadership roles and ran with them. They no longer sit back and let their ideas just fade away and not make an impact.

In the African Women for Biosciences (AWfB) community, top scientists, researchers, innovators, and other many women interested in science can network, amplify their voices, and drive progress together for the continent.

With a membership of over 100 in the more than a decade of impact, the AWfB has brought together starry-eyed women who are keen on making an impact in Africa.

See registration guidelines, impact stories, podcasts, and the values of the AWfB here: https://africenter.isaaa.org/awfb

15/09/2026

AARINENA will be, on the 29th of September, holding a webinar titled "Women in Value Chains and Agri-Food Systems Transformation".

👉 This webinar, organized as part of events to celebrate the International Year of Women Farmers 2026, will bring together distinguished speakers and experts from different regions to highlight the important role of women in agricultural value chains and agri-food systems transformation, while sharing experiences and perspectives from across regions.

👉 It aligns perfectly with the African Women for Bioeciences (AWfB), (https://africenter.isaaa.org/awfb), a network of women with interest and passion for Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I), women professionals, exploring the role of Biosciences in building a vibrant Bioeconomy in the continent.

👉 The network aims to play a significant role in empowering the African woman as a voice to impact policy and advocate for investments in biosciences for a healthy and prosperous society. Membership comprises the academia, researchers, farmer associations, private sector service providers, the media and professional groups that support gender equity.

✍️ Register for the webinar here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CisU-ZeARJWW70qXc_TjEA #/registration
..aaand, check out the AWfB here: https://africenter.isaaa.org/awfb