The Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialized agency of COMESA, successfully conducted an induction for 11 nominated members of the COMESA Biosafety Panel of Experts drawn from across the COMESA region. The induction was held from 29th – 30th July 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Convened in partnership with ISAAA AfriCenter, the session strengthened the Panel’s capacity to undertake regional biosafety risk assessments and provide science-based technical advice to support informed decision-making on modern biotechnology, emerging breeding technologies and their adoption to advance food and feed security across COMESA.
Beyond regulatory assessment, the Panel is mandated to provide technical opinions on regional trade in biotech products and guide Member States in responding to emerging food security challenges. This includes assessing the safety and suitability of biotech products for use during emergencies such as droughts, floods and food shortages, enabling timely decisions that enhance regional resilience and access to safe food and feed.
Recognizing the huge opportunity that modern biotechnology presents in promoting Africa’s food security, COMESA Member States adopted the COMESA Biotech and Biosafety Policy to provide a harmonized, regular regional framework that supports informed, science-based decision-making on this technology.
It was against this backdrop that the COMESA Biosafety Panel of Experts was established. The Panel is an independent body comprising highly qualified scientists from across Member States.
ACTESA CEO John Mukuka acknowledged the diversity of expertise within the Panel. “I challenge the experts to remain guided by scientific integrity, regional solidarity and a shared commitment to improving food security, agricultural competitiveness and sustainable development across COMESA Member States,” said Dr. Mukuka
ISAAA AfriCenter Director Dr. Margaret Karembu commended COMESA-ACTESA for its leadership in revitalizing the COMESA Biotechnology and Biosafety Implementation Plan (COMBIP), as well as all partners working to strengthen biosafety capacity across Africa.
“At ISAAA AfriCenter, we remain committed to working with governments, regulators and development partners to strengthen biosafety systems, enhance evidence-based decision-making and support the implementation of COMBIP through capacity building, regulatory strengthening, science communication and regional collaboration,” Dr. Karembu remarked.
The newly inducted COMESA Panel of Experts is now better equipped to transform science into policy, innovation into solutions, and evidence into action that contributes to regional agricultural transformation and zero hunger.
