By Caroline Ndegwa
The early 21st century has witnessed Africa adopt agricultural technology enormously. From mechanization to genetic modification. In fact, more than 70 countries have adopted and commercialized genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Genome editing and synthetic biology are other exciting bioscience innovations that offer viable solutions to contemporary challenges in agriculture, human health and environmental sustainability especially in the midst of the harsh reality if climate change. My country Kenya, cannot afford to be left behind in this revolution.
Amidst the cloud of Covid19, a team of Kenyan scientists bagged a government grant to develop low-cost diagnostic tools and biosensors for rapid detection of crop and human pathogens in Kenya’, the first-ever project on synthetic biology in the country. The project aims at employing synthetic biology to address the most pressing issues in the country: Food security and healthcare. Scientist have the opportunity to detect and control crop diseases in a timely manner. Furthermore, this technology provides a venue to design vaccines against diseases. This will hasten the process of disease surveillance, therefore enabling effective interventions in addressing these challenges.
Synthetic biology enables scientists to design and improve life. It is the integration of biology and engineering to create new biological functions with novel properties. The effects of climate change are estimated to cause about 20% to 49% fluctuations in crop yields in the near future. India and Canada have lost massive loss in crop yields as a result of heat waves. In Europe, canola varieties with the ability to tolerate high temperatures are being developed. This has been made possible by designing promoters which are expressed in the reproductive structures in response to heat stress. With increased allergic reactions to pollen causing human asthma, Australia has developed vaccines against asthmatic reactions caused by plant pollen. These are a few examples of the utilization of synbio in increasing crop yields and improving human health.
Kenya has a rich biodiversity running from the savannahs in Tsavo, the forests of the Mau and the vast life within its lakes. This provides a great source for genetic resources in life manipulation. Synthetic biology has great potential in agriculture, a key sector that contributes to our national economic growth. This technology offers a great opportunity to address issues in soil health, malnutrition and crop yield. This ultimately leads to improved crop productivity, improving the economic status of every stakeholder in the value chain.
Kenya has a firm institutional mechanism in its regulatory framework in matters modern biotechnology. As a member state of the United Nations, it employs the benefits of use of such technologies from the Convention on Biological Diversity through the Cartagena protocol and enactment of the Biosafety Act in 2009. This followed the establishment of the National Biosafety Authority. Clearly the country boasts of a favourable biotech policy and a robust regulatory framework for the research, development and utilization of synthetic biology innovations.
This positive progress notwithstanding, there still exists fundamental challenges in actualizing the potential of synbio. Despite the numerous intakes of students in biotechnology courses countrywide, innovative projects in biotechnology are very few. In Kenya, collaboration between product developers (researchers) and industry players is weak – the industry provides a linkage to market. Lack of a strong researcher-industry collaboration significantly impairs transition of research projects to market. The high costs of reagents required is also a limiting factor for universities. Addressing these issues will propel synbio research in Kenya. Inclusion of a strong multisectoral science communication strategy not only ensures knowledge dispersion but also allows for opinions to be laid out and implemented for the greater good.
Synthetic biology has great potential in agricultural -development. However, to create tangible success, no stone should be left unturned.
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Caroline Ndegwa is a post-graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology. She is also a research assistant at the University of Eldoret’s biotechnology laboratory.