Biosafety education relevant to genetically engineered crops for academic and non-academic stakeholders in East Africa

 Theresa Sengooba*
Program for Biosafety Systems, East Africa
International Food Policy Research Institute-Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256 41 285060/285064 Ext. 221
Fax: 256 414 285079
E-mail: t.sengooba@ifpri.or.ug

Rebecca Grumet
Department of Horticulture
Graduate Program in Genetics
Plant and Soil Science Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824
Tel: 517 355-5191 Ext. 1431
E-mail: grumet@msu.edu

James Hancock
Department of Horticulture
Graduate Program in Genetics
Plant and Soil Science Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824
Tel: 517 355 5191 Ext. 1431
E-mail: hancock@msu.edu

Barbara Zawedde
Program for Biosafety Systems, East Africa
International Food Policy Research Institute
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256 414 285060/285064 Ext. 208
Fax: 256 414 28
E-mail: b.zawedde@ifpri.or.ug

Lazaro Kitandu
Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives
Plant Health Services, Lake Zone
Shinyanga -Tanzania
Tel: 255 754 673 154
Fax 255 28 276 2731
E-mail: lazkitandu@hotmail.com

Cholani Weebadde
Institute of International Agriculture 266
Plant and Soil Sciences Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Tel: 517 355 0271 Ext. 1159
Fax: 517 432 1982
E-mail: weebadde@anr.msu.edu

Margaret Karembu
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications AfriCenter
C/o International Potato Centre
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254 20 4223618/5
Fax: 254 20 4223600
E-mail: m.karembu@cgiar.org 

Eucharia Kenya
School of Pure and Applied Science
Kenyatta University Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254 020 810901 12
Fax: 254 020 811575
E-mail: ukunomakenya@yahoo.com

Karim Meredia
Institute of International Agriculture
Plant and Soil Science Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Tel: 517 353 526
Fax: 517 432 198
E-mail: kmaredia@msu.edu

Paul Nampala
Uganda National Academy of Science
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256 414 533044
Fax: 256 414 533044
E-mail: paulnampala@unas.or.ug

James . O. Ochanda
Department of Biochemistry
University of Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254 020 4442841
Fax: 254 020 4442841
E-mail: jochanda@uonbi.ac.ke

Hector Quemada
Biotechnology and Biodiversity Interface Grant Program
Biology Department
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA
Tel: 616 387 5869
Fax: 616 387 5609
E-mail: hdq2@calvin.edu

Mugassa Rubindamayugi
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Faculty of Science
University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania
Tel: 255 22 2410223
Fax: 255 22 2410078/2410514
E-mail: mugassa@amu.udsm.ac.tz

*Corresponding author

Financial support: The work included in this publication was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development through the Program for Biosafety Systems implemented by the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Keywords: biotechnology, environmental safety, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.

Development and deployment of genetically engineered crops requires effective environmental and food safety assessment capacity. In-country expertise is needed to make locally appropriate decisions. In April 2007, biosafety and biotechnology scientists, regulators, educators, and communicators from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, met to examine the status and needs of biosafety training and educational programs in East Africa. Workshop participants emphasized the importance of developing biosafety capacity within their countries and regionally. Key recommendations included identification of key biosafety curricular components for university students; collaboration among institutions and countries; development of informational materials for non-academic stakeholders and media; and organization of study tours for decision makers. It was emphasized that biosafety knowledge is important for all aspects of environmental health, food safety, and human and animal hygiene. Thus, development of biosafety expertise, policies and procedures can be a stepping stone to facilitate improved biosafety for all aspects of society and the environment.