Accra, Feb.02, GNA – Africa is rapidly emerging as a global contender in genome editing innovation, with a new report revealing that 57 projects are already completed or underway across 16 countries to tackle the continent’s most urgent agricultural challenges.
The study, conducted by Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International and AGTECH Consulting Ltd and commissioned by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA‑NEPAD), shows that the projects focus on improving crops, livestock, forestry, and fisheries by addressing issues such as climate stress, pests, diseases, and low yields.
Professor Olalekan Akinbo, Head of the Genome Editing Programme at AUDA‑NEPAD, said many of the initiatives were at the proof‑of‑concept and early product development stages.
Genome editing enables scientists to make precise modifications to an organism’s DNA without necessarily introducing foreign genes.
Kenya leads the continent with 13 projects — nine crop-based and four livestock-related — driven largely by strong public–private partnerships that support research, regulation, and investment. Egypt follows with eight projects, all in crops, while South Africa has seven, including one in forestry.
The came to light at a three-day validation workshop on the Landscape Analyis on Genome Editing in Nairobi, Kenya.
The workshop, attended by experts from the 16 countries, validated their various
country reports, made inputs, and requested that the report be amended by the changes as requested.
Nigeria has six projects, while Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda each have four projects running. Mozambique has three; Morocco has two; and Burkina Faso and Mauritius have one apiece, signaling continent‑wide investment in science-driven agriculture.
The report shows that 11 of the 16 surveyed countries have biosafety laws, while five operate under ministerial decrees. Six nations — Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso — have published genome editing guidelines, positioning them to fully commercialise genome-edited products.
Mozambique and Zimbabwe have drafted guidelines awaiting validation.
Prof. Akinbo called on African leaders to strengthen policy and regulatory systems to support responsible scientific advancement and prevent the continent from lagging behind global biotechnology trends.
The study provides an evidence-based analysis of genome editing progress in the selected countries while identifying opportunities for the technology to enhance productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, improve nutrition, and support climate adaptation within Africa’s food systems.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei