From 2nd – 6th November 2025, the Ghent ICC in Belgium hosted the 17th International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR) Symposium under the theme “Cultivating Bio-Innovation for a Sustainable Future.” The in-person meeting convened scientists, regulators, policy actors and communicators from around the world to examine how biosafety research can keep pace with rapidly evolving biotechnology and support sustainable development.
Across plenary, parallel and workshop sessions, several global trends in biosafety research were evident. First was the consolidation of biosafety as an integrated discipline, bringing together robust scientific assessment with transparent dialogue and proportionate governance to enable responsible innovation. A second trend was the mainstreaming of genome editing, gene drives and other new genomic techniques in both plant and animal applications, with strong emphasis on data transportability, problem formulation and coherence of regulatory approaches across jurisdictions. A third was the promotion of science communication and capacity strengthening as core enablers of public confidence, particularly in regions where food security, climate resilience and biodiversity objectives intersect.
ISAAA AfriCenter played a catalytic role in ensuring African perspectives were visible in these conversations. The Center led a delegation of biosafety regulators from Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and Uganda, alongside representatives from the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), to participate in 17-ISBR and in the 6th International Workshop on Regulatory Approaches for Agricultural Applications of Animal Biotechnologies (6-IWRAAAAB), which followed immediately after in Ghent. Their participation built on continental initiatives on genome editing, animal biotechnology and harmonized biosafety frameworks, and provided a platform to showcase Africa’s rapidly maturing policy and regulatory landscape.
A notable feature of the African presence in Ghent was the visibility of early-career professionals in bioscience. Young researchers, regulators, and communicators contributed to formal sessions and side-events, demonstrating how a new generation is anchoring bioscience R&D in African priorities while also engaging in science communication and science diplomacy. Through their participation in panel discussions, poster sessions and informal dialogues, African youth helped articulate evidence-based positions on emerging technologies, and are increasingly contributing to preparations for international negotiations where biosafety, biodiversity and trade intersect. Their engagement signals a growing pipeline of African expertise that can sustain sound policy development over the long term.
A clear message emerging from Ghent is that Africa has established itself as a thought leader in this space. African scientists and regulators used the ISBR and IWRAAAAB platforms to present emerging guidelines on genome editing, share experiences with coordinated decision-making, and explore opportunities for convergent, science-based approaches that still respect national development priorities. Rather than being passive adopters of external norms, African institutions are increasingly co-shaping global conversations on how to govern bio-innovation in ways that are equitable, inclusive and development-oriented.
The symposium closed on a forward-looking note with the announcement that the 18th ISBR Symposium will be held in 2027 in Bali, Indonesia. As the ISBR community turns its attention to Bali, ISAAA AfriCenter and its African partners are well positioned to deepen their contributions – bringing empirical evidence, regulatory experience, youth perspectives and communication innovations that will help translate biosafety research into enabling frameworks for safe, timely and socially responsive bio-innovation worldwide.