The challenge

A growing body of literature confirms the significant benefits of adopting agricultural biotechnology in terms of increasing agricultural productivity in the face of a diminishing natural resource base, escalating population pressures, and an increasingly complex, technology-sensitive international trade environment. Efforts to foster an enabling environment for agricultural biotechnology support the objectives of the Global Food Security Strategy for inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led growth, strengthened resilience among people and systems, and well-nourished populations.

The response

This online training program is part of an integrated package of coordinated technical assistance that aims to foster an environment that enables the development and application of agricultural biotechnology to address global food security concerns. It aims to develop national capacity at every stage of the lifecycle of biotech-derived seeds—from their inception to their ultimate use.

The objectives

Specifically, it aims to foster an enabling environment that will (1) increase the availability of improved biotech-derived seeds and farmers’ access to them; (2) upgrade human and institutional capacity to design and implement national and regional policies and regulations related to biotech products; and (3) strengthen agricultural platforms that can facilitate variety release, seed certification, and technology transfer.

The audience

This training program was designed to reach members of national seed and biosafety advisory and regulatory committees, members of their legal teams, officials of seed and biosafety authorities, researchers and scientists, and other stakeholders in the member-states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

Sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, this online training project is being implemented by the Seed Science Center at Iowa State University through a sub-award from the International Food Policy Research Institute titled “Biotechnology Innovations for Food Security: An Enabling Policy Platform” (RA No. 2021X221.ISU; AWD-025336).