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The Role of African Universities in Training and Mentorship of Biotechnology Scientists to Embark on Future Challenges in Africa

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Biotechnology in Africa

Part of the book series: Science Policy Reports ((SCIPOLICY,volume 7))

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Abstract

This paper reviews the role of African Universities in postgraduate training of biotechnology scientists in agriculture. It highlights examples of various graduate programs that have been established, and the impact they have had so far. The paper also highlights the role and impact of various development partners. It also discusses various initiatives in agricultural biotechnology that have been established on the African continent, and their impact on capacity-building. It concludes by showcasing the Masters degree program in Biotechnology at the University of Zimbabwe, which trained 82 postgraduate students, over 2 decades, and is currently being revived.

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Abbreviations

AATF:

African Agricultural Technology Foundation

ABI:

African Biotechnology Initiative

ABSPII:

Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II

ACCI:

African Center for Crop Improvement (South Africa)

AGERI:

Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (Egypt)

AGRA:

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

ARC:

Agricultural Research Council (South Africa)

ASBMB:

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

AU/NEPAD/ABNE:

African Union African Biosafety Network of Expertise (Burkina Faso)

BeCA:

Biosciences East and Central Africa (Kenya)

Bio FISA:

Finnish Southern Africa Partnership Programme to Strengthen NEPAD/SANBio Network

BMGF:

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

BNARI:

Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (Ghana)

BTZ:

Biotechnology Trust of Zimbabwe

CARP:

Community Action Research Program

CBSV:

Cassava brown streak virus

CFT:

Confined field trial

CIAT:

International Center for Tropical Agriculture

CMV:

Cassava African mosaic virus

COP:

Conference of Parties

CSIR:

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

CYMMIT:

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre

DDPSC:

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

DFID:

UK Department for International Development

DST:

Department of Science and Technology (South Africa)

FARA:

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

GTZ:

Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit

HGBF:

Howard G. Buffet Foundation

IAR:

Institute for Agricultural Research (Nigeria)

ICGEB:

International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (South Africa)

IFPRI/PBS:

International Food Policy Research Institute Program for Biosafety Systems

IITA:

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

ILRI:

International Livestock Research Institute (Kenya)

IPBO:

Institute for Plant Biotechnology Outreach (Belgium)

ISAAA:

International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications

KARI:

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

MARI:

Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (Tanzania)

MOP:

Meeting of the Parties

MSU:

Michigan State University

NABNET:

North Africa Biosciences Network (Egypt)

NARO:

National Agricultural Research Organisation (Uganda)

NARS:

National Agricultural Research Systems

NEPAD:

African Union New Partnership for Africa’s Development

NEWEST:

Nitrogen-use efficiency, water-use efficiency and salt tolerance

NGICA:

Network for the Genetic Improvement of Cowpea for Africa

NRCRI:

National Root Crops Research Institute (Nigeria)

PBS:

Program for Biosafety Systems

PRRI:

Public Research and Regulations Initiative

QUT:

Queensland University of Technology

RAEIN–Africa:

Regional Agriculture and Environment Initiatives Network–Africa

RF:

Replicative form

RUFORUM:

Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture

SABIMA:

Strengthening Capacity for Safe Biotechnology Management in sub-Saharan Africa

SADC:

Southern African Development Community

SANBio:

Southern African Network for Biosciences

SANGL:

Southern African GM Detection Laboratories

SCARDA:

Strengthening Capacity for Agricultural Research and Development in Africa

SFSD:

Sustainable Farming Systems Database

SRO:

Sub-regional organization

TWAS:

The World Academy of the Sciences

UCB:

University of California Berkeley

USAID:

United States Agency for International Development

WABNET:

West African Biosciences Network (Senegal)

WACCI:

West African Crop Improvement Center (Ghana)

WARDA:

West Africa Rice Development Association (Benin)

ZIMBAC:

Zimbabwe Biotechnology Advisory Council

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, MP 167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Idah Sithole-Niang

Authors
  1. Idah Sithole-Niang
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Correspondence to Idah Sithole-Niang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya

    Florence Wambugu

  2. Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya

    Daniel Kamanga

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Sithole-Niang, I. (2014). The Role of African Universities in Training and Mentorship of Biotechnology Scientists to Embark on Future Challenges in Africa. In: Wambugu, F., Kamanga, D. (eds) Biotechnology in Africa. Science Policy Reports, vol 7. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04001-1_10

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