Dear reader,

As the world steadily recovers from over two years of socio-economic standstill caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the global society is still faced with serious challenges bearing far-reaching implications. Key among them include food insecurity and undernourishment, climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. These are global challenges affecting people, ecosystems, and economies from all regions. Some more than others.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 597 million people across 89 countries do not have sufficient food. This is indeed a sad state of affairs that requires immediate attention. At the same time, the global population continues to grow, further increasing the demand for food. This situation calls for a paradigm shift in the way we produce, store, process, and distribute our food. It calls for sustainable food systems.

One key element to integrate in these systems is harnessing the power of science, technology and innovation in producing enough food from less resources. The farming tools used to feed 2.5 billion people in 1950 will hardly be sufficient to feed the projected 9.7 billion people in 2050. At OFAB Kenya, we believe that agricultural biotechnology will play an increasingly crucial role in the toolbox for sustainable agriculture and food production.

In this issue, we bring you exciting stories on the progress Africa is making in the agri-biotech front. The video of the month features key milestones the continent has made in animal biotechnology, including research, regulations and communication efforts. We ask our readers to spare a moment to participate in a quick survey on the same. The story of the month takes us to Ghana where Dr. Jerry Nboyne, a senior research scientist at the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), recounts the journey towards approval for environmental release of pod borer-resistant (PBR) Bt cowpea in the country.

Enjoy your read!