OUR MISSION

ABSF’s Mission is to create an innovative and enabling Biotechnology Environment in Africa through Education, Enhanced Understanding and Awareness creation on all aspects of Biotechnology, Biosafety and Intellectual Property Rights.

OVERALL OBJECTIVES

• To provide a forum for sharing and exchanging experiences and practices in biotechnology with a view of strengthening its application for increased food security, health improvement, poverty alleviation, industrialization and environmental conservation in Africa.
• To improve public understanding of biotechnology through provision of accurate and balanced information to consumers, media and policy makers to ensure that biotechnology is accurately represented at all levels of society.
• To explore innovative and appropriate biotechnology applications and facilitate their adoption and use in sustainable development and poverty alleviation in Africa.
• To create capacity for information generation, dissemination and wise use of biotechnology.
• To facilitate research, development, education and training on biotechnology as well as policy and infrastructure development for meeting Africa’s needs in biotechnology.
• To build capacity of relevant stakeholders in various biotechnology programmes including but not limited to: Biotechnology Networking; Biosecurity; Biotechnology for Secondary Schools; Capacity Building for Scientists as Communicators; Capacity Building of Educators;  Farmer Capacity Building in Tissue Culture Banana Cultivation; Development of National Biosafety Frameworks; National Biotechnology Policy Development; Capacity Building in Genetically Modified Crops and Food;  Intellectual Property Rights; Biotechnology Risk Assessment; Biosafety and Biotechnology; and Capacity Building for the Seed Industry.

WHAT WE DO

• ABSF provides a forum that brings together all groups and individuals with a stake in biotechnology to debate and dialogue issues surrounding biotechnology.
• Our primary focus is Africa but because of the global character of biotechnology, we also represent Africa’s views and activities in worldwide fora.
• ABSF through its member groups fosters dialogue with and a steady flow of information about biotechnology to African policy makers, governments, scientists, farmers, consumers, manufacturers, mass media and institutions of learning. We are actively engaged in creating linkages and networking throughout Africa and facilitating outreach on biotechnology in the region.

WHAT DO WE OFFER

• Accurate and balanced information to decision makers, media, producers and consumers on national and international biotechnology and biosafety developments and application.
• Opportunities to participate in ABSF working groups and task forces activities
• Platform for interacting with governments and other stakeholders and voicing views on biotechnology
• Forum for linking and interacting on behalf of its members, with international biotechnology fora.
• Mechanisms of facilitating identification and development of new biotechnological products and services in Africa.