SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY STAKEHOLDERS’ WORKSHOP

Held virtually on 29th March 2021

Developing Nations are lagging behind in the adoption of Synthetic Biology technologies that could be useful in addressing challenges in the fields of health, agriculture and environmental sciences. It is very important to utilize the capacity of public-private partnership in adopting Synthetic Biology to our bioeconomy.

Workshop participants

Organizers

  • International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)
  • Kenyatta University (KU)
  • University of Nairobi (UON)
  • National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI)

Workshop Objectives

  • Introduce the synthetic biology research project to relevant stakeholders for synergized efforts.
  • Establish stakeholder’s perceptions and policy/regulatory requirements for advancement of synthetic biology in Kenya.
  • Draw a roadmap for infrastructural development in support synthetic biology research and development.
  • Equip project team with information for developing an effective communication strategy and policy recommendations for nurturing a conducive environment for synthetic biology; and,
  • Identify key actors within the synthetic biology landscape that will influence diffusion of research outputs

Workshop Outcomes

The key outcomes were outlined as follows:

  • Significant policy statement in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and biosciences should be generated to enable the advancement of science in the country.
  • The current project will contribute to the thinking about policy and regulatory framework. He also added that this project has the potential to merge research with commercialization of products e.g., Biosensor technology. The project will also come up with tangible products that would enhance scientific communication.
  • The importance of stakeholder engagement included the general public and the GOK. He also said that we need to position our self as a leader in Africa and one of the ways is to come up with a bio foundry.
  • A team of four experts to come up with a policy document/ science paper to be tabled in cabinet on matters Synthetic Biology and also Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). Those proposed are Dr Mugiira, Dr. Magenya, Dr. Mburu and Dr. Karembu.
  • The project implementers to organize a scientific workshop to discuss the different scientific components and aspects.