Zambia unveils US$40m biotechnology strategy
IN just over six months since Zambia rejected genetically modified foods, the
country has retired its most vocal anti-biotech scientists and at the same time
unveiled a National Biosafety and Biotechnology Strategy Plan which will cost
about US$40 million to develop and implement.
Meanwhile, Dr. Paul Zambezi, the Director of Science and Technology in the
Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training, says a national
biosafety and biotechnology policy has also been developed, pending approval and
adoption by the Zambian Cabinet.
Unveiling the National Biosafety and Biotechnology Strategy Plan, the Chair
of the Drafting Committee, Dr. Wilson Mwenya, said about 45% of the funds would
go to human and infrastructure resource development. Dr. Mwenya, who is also
director of the National Science and Technology Council, said the five-year plan
ending 2007 sets the pace for Zambia to develop biosafety regulations.
And the Director of Science and Technology in the Ministry of Science,
Technology and Vocational Training, Dr. Zambezi says the country learned bitter
lessons during the debate over genetically modified foods, which prompted the
government to design its own mechanisms for the handling of biosafety and
biotechnology matters.
“It was good in that we realized our weaknesses in addressing GMOs. Our
minds were opened. We now need to build capacity in biosafety and
biotechnology," said Dr. Zambezi during a national consultative workshop in
Lusaka to discuss the National Biosafety and Biotechnology Strategy Plan (NBBSP).
The new biosafety and biotechnogy framework identifies seven core program
areas. These include environment and biodiversity, which aims at conserving the
genetic diversity of Zambia's crops. Other program areas are livestock, fish and
the control of environmental pollution.
The plan also aims at enacting legislation that will govern the research,
development, and utilization of genetically modified organisms. One area of
research and development is aimed at protecting the population against diseases
such as HIV/AIDS and Malaria. - A Harvest.
Article by A Harvest http://www.ahbfi.org
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