Image: Character House/ Science Photo Library
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Biotechnology
is recognized within the national
comprehensive development frameworks in all
the four BIO-EARN countries, as a strategic
area for research and development.
More specifically, within the
government’s poverty reduction strategies
with a target of increasing agricultural
productivity, ensuring food security;
improving human health and preventing
environmental degradation. This
recognition is also reflected in the National
Science and Technology Policies which
acknowledges the vital role and enormous
opportunities presented by biotechnology in
revolutionizing the social-economic
development of the nationals.
Despite this recognition, the
application of modern biotechnology in the
region is still far from being a reality as it
is constrained by lack of an
enabling policy environment.
Creating
an enabling policy environment for
biotechnology application encompasses a range
of actions, institutions and policy
instruments, which will influence the
application and management of innovations
within a given country.
Different actors have different roles
in the development and formulation of policy.
The role of
governments (and its associated agencies)
is to formulate, adopt and implement national
biotechnology policies (which include IPR and
bio-safety components).
Over
the past few years the four Eastern African
countries of
Ethiopia
,
Kenya
,
Tanzania
and
Uganda
have been developing their national
biotechnology policies and are now at
different stages of implementation.
In Phase I and II of the program,
BIO-EARN supported efforts to enhance policy
makers’ knowledge and awareness on relevant
issues, and encouraged the development of
national policies.
Generally,
a coherent biotechnology policy covers,
inter alia,
-
Mainstreaming
biotechnology into national development
plans and strategies, such as poverty
reduction strategies and plans;
-
Defining
priority areas for biotechnology research;
-
Investing
in strategic biotechnology research
including human resources and
infrastructure at public institutions;
-
Where
appropriate, providing incentives for
public-private sector partnerships in the
development and dissemination of
biotechnology;
-
Facilitating
product development and technology
transfer;
and
-
Providing
a clear regulatory framework and ensuring
that regulations are enforced.
The
Science and Technology Councils and
Commissions in
Eastern Africa
have played, and will continue to play a key
role in the development and implementation of
national biotechnology policies. Increasingly,
partly as a result of their lead role in the
BIO-EARN programme, they function as
technology policy “think-tanks” in their
countries. The councils also have an important
role to play in serving national R&D
institutions with policy advice and management
guidelines.
The
role of the scientific community (both individual scientists and their
universities or research institutions) with
respect to biotechnology policy is,
inter alia
-
To
be aware of the specific policy
environment in which they function;
national, regional and international;
-
As
appropriate, to stimulate awareness of
their research efforts by communicating
with different constituencies (government
ministries/agencies, private companies,
NGOs, media) which will influence policy;
-
Where
appropriate, to contribute actively to the
formulation and implementation of national
biotechnology polices; and
-
Develop
institutional biotechnology policies
(including IP and bio-safety policies)
that foster R&D and collaboration with
appropriate partners in critical areas of
development (e.g. improving agricultural
and industrial productivity).
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