We continue to bring you absorbing stories on Africa's latest bioscience development and cutting-edge scientific innovations, as well as expert views on how to optimize science and technology to steer the continent forward. In this month's issue, we bring you exclusive coverage on the just concluded Africa Biennial Biosciences Communication (ABBC2021) Symposium. The Symposium, held from 20th to 24th September 2021, provided an opportunity for African countries to concretize progress made in crop biotechnology on the continent, define the next steps, document successes and share lessons learned for synergy and inspiration.

The Video of the Month, showcased at ABBC2021, captures inspiring lessons from research and commercialization of pod borer resistant (PBR) Bt cowpea in Nigeria. Farmers in the country have for decades battled Maruca vitrata pod-borer, the most destructive cowpea pest. To address this challenge, Nigerian scientists have since 2007 been researching on cowpea with resistance to this pest. These research efforts have borne fruit with the Federal Government of Nigeria approving commercialization of the biotech cowpea under a variety named SAMPEA 20-T.

In the Story of the Month, we share key highlights and recommendations from ABBC2021. In addition, the 'Story of the Month' vividly describes how a new initiative – the African Coalition for Communicating about Genome Editing – will elevate genome editing agenda to the national dialogue and position Africa in pole position to embrace cutting-edge bio-innovations.

For these and more stories about ABBC2021, read your copy of this issue's DrumBeat.

Happy reading!