AUDA-NEPAD and the National Biosafety Agency in Burkina Faso (ANB) organized an information sharing workshop focused on potential applications of the emerging Genome Editing technology and its related regulatory implications, on 27 November, in Ouagadougou. Participants were drawn from key decision-making bodies representatives including the National Biosafety Agency which is the National Biosafety Competent Authority, the National Scientific Biosafety Advisory Committee, the Ministry of Environment and various research institutes representing the scientific community.

A view of participants to the meeting

The main objectives of this meeting were to share up-to-date information on the status of genome editing applications including experiments ongoing in the country, improve understanding and knowledge on the fundamentals of gene editing technology and elucidate the connection between gene editing and gene drive. The meeting also aimed to facilitate discussion on the regulatory challenges associated with applications review and decision making on gene edited products and to introduce participants to ongoing preparatory work for the international COP-MOP negotiations on emerging technologies such as synthetic biology, gene editing, and living modified (LM) fish. 

Several presentations were made during the meeting, mainly on the science behind genome editing, the regulatory principles and practices in relation with genome editing, governance considerations related to genome editing, and a review of national regulations in line with fast advancing biotechnology. The presentations received high attention and appreciation from participants and several recommendations were made to keep improving the regulatory governance on emerging technology products. The key recommendations include continuing to share up-to-date information on innovative technologies development and relating regulatory governance implications, fostering interactions at the regional level between regulatory agencies and dedicating awareness raising and information sharing interventions to other national departments, with priority to be given  to the Ministry of Environment which hosts national focal points for  the United Nations’  Convention on Biological Diversity  (CBD) and its protocols such as  the Nagoya  protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and many other multilateral agreements.

AUDA-NEPAD will continue to support Burkina Faso to safely harness relevant scientific and technical tools to adequately address some of the most critical agricultural challenges that are still impeding the sustainable development of the country.