Alliance for Science Ghana and the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana have announced that the just-ended International Symposium on Agricultural Transformation and Biotech Crops in Africa (ISATBCA) will henceforth become an annual event.

The founding director of WACCI Prof. Eric Danquah says the symposium will on an annual basis bring together various scientists working on the latest biotech crop projects for the benefit of Africa, to share experiences and discuss progress.

The symposium will be held to coincide with World Hunger Day which falls on 28th May every year.

“This WACCI – Alliance for Science Ghana partnership will be instituted into an annual convening at WACCI for a conversation on new technologies, tools, and methods for transforming agriculture in Africa,” he said.

“I propose that this should coincide with World Hunger Day…We will create a new platform that will bring the best from all over the world to convene at the one and only WACCI,” he added.

Prof. Danquah was speaking at the maiden edition of the symposium on Friday 2nd June 2023 at the University of Ghana.

He said it is about time that ideas that will transform Africa’s agriculture are birthed on the African continent.

The symposium deliberated on what agricultural sector stakeholders need to do differently to ensure expanded farmer access to crops produced using New Breeding Techniques (NBTs).

Participants deliberated on how genetically modified organism (GMO) technology has been deployed on the African continent for the benefit of farmers, its impact so far, and its prospects.

Also, participants deliberated on the yet-to-be-realised potential that genome editing holds for the ongoing efforts to ensure Africa feeds itself.

Scientists shed light on the latest promising new breeding techniques and other scientific innovations in crop improvement.

Twenty-five speakers from about 20 different countries spoke at the maiden edition including Prof. Eric Danquah who is the founding director of WACCI; Dr Sheila Ochugboju, Executive Director of Alliance for Science; Dr Leena Tripathi, Eastern Africa Director of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Kenya; Prof. Giles Oldroyd, Director of Cambridge Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, UK; Dr Michael Osae, Director, Biotechnology & Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana; among others.

Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture Yaw Frimpong Addo also spoke at the symposium.

Beyond the African continent, there were guest speakers from Latin America, the USA, the UK, and the Philippines.

Hundreds of other scientists participated in person including Prof. Ronnie Coffman of Cornell University and Prof. Rita Mumm of the University of Illinois.

Symposium organisers said a communique on ‘Pathways To Making Africa Food Sufficient’ will be issued after the symposium, detailing the recommendations on the changes that African governments, state agencies, donor partners, universities, research institutions, industry, farmers, consumers, and other agricultural sector stakeholders, should institute to help enhance access to ‘made in Africa biotech crops.’

The country lead of Alliance for Science Ghana Joseph Opoku Gakpo said planning processes have begun for the next edition of ISATBCA in 2024.

He said the organisers have started scouting for additional partners to help make the 2024 edition a success.

He encouraged universities, research institutions, civil society groups, industry actors, and other players in the agricultural space to partner with the organisers to make next year’s event a success.

He expressed gratitude to the Alliance for Science Global South Hub for its support which made the 2023 edition possible.