DELI MEALS

NBA holds workshop to discuss Genome editing as a tool to increase agriculture productivity

THE National Biosafety Authority have held a technical experts’ workshop to discuss the genome editing as a tool to increase agriculture productivity.

Genome editing is the alteration of the genetic material of a living organism by inserting, replacing, or deleting a DNA sequence, typically with the aim of improving some characteristic of a crop or farm animal or modifying a genetic disorder.

The purpose of the technical experts meeting was to identify institutions in Zambia that are engaged in science technology and innovation and create a platform that will serve as a community of practice.

Speaking in a speech read by Director, Science, Jane Chinkusu, minister of Science and Technology Felix Mutati said Government had put technology and science at the centre of national development as firmly endorsed in the 8th National Development Plan (8NDP) 2020-2026.

Mr Mutati said the government would promote science and technology and innovation as well as applied research and development in pursuit of the economic transformation through industrialisation and diversification.

“Government would also reform the institutional and coordination arrangements in research and development to enhance investments and the commercialisation of innovations because the slogan which says innovation today, tomorrow prosperity will only have meaning when science, technology and innovation are used to transform the world into better livelihood for the people,” Mr Mutati said.

It was pleasing to learn that AUDA-NEPAD was focusing not only on enhancing the continent’s knowledge capitalisation capabilities towards productive economies, he said but also help fostering science-backed learning and knowledge economies to accelerate industrialisation through value-addition in extractives, agriculture and all critical sectors of Africa’s economies.

He said the government is in this endeavour working with the knowledge triangles, hence the importance of the role of a social contract involving industry scientific institutions and government for sustainable development towards poverty alleviation.

And AUDA-NEPAD Director, Florence Nazare, said iy was important for Africa to intensify technology as the continent risks being a market for Europe if this is not done.

Ms Nazare said technology that is science driven was key in supporting productive sectors of the economy such as the agriculture sector.