Africa Harvest was born at a time when Africa was trying to define its role in the global GM debate. Dr. Florence Wambugu, a Kenyan scientist, was concerned that the continent continued to lag behind while the rest of the world powered ahead, adopting GM techniques to improve their agriculture.
“There were many people speaking for Africa,” recalls Dr. Wambugu. “Part of Africa Harvest’s initial goal was to strengthen the African voice”.
Africa Harvest Biotechnology Foundation International (AHBFI) was founded in 2002 and incorporated in the USA as a non-profit foundation. Its African-focus made Nairobi, Kenya a natural headquarter. The foundation has regional offices in Washington DC, USA and Johannesburg, South Africa.
“The birth of Africa Harvest confirmed the need for a stronger African voice on the continent and internationally,” recalls Dr. Wambugu. “Those who were saying that Africa lacked capacity wanted to continue to continue speaking on our behalf. But together with our colleagues in other partner organizations, we remain adamant that although Africa has limited capacity, it none-the-less has some capacity”.
Africa Harvest has contributed biotech expertise to the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and to the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). Together with others, Africa Harvest has been helping to change perceptions about GM crops on the continent by providing data and information to empower different groups of people make sound, scientific and informed decisions. It is encouraging that the debate has shifted from whether-Africa-needs-the-technology to the development of biosafety regulations and putting in place infrastructural and human capacity to enable Africa benefit from biotechnology and GM crops technologies.
Africa Harvest’s strategy is to deliver proven technologies to local farmers to enable them to meet the urgent and immediate need of feeding their families and communities, as well as, increase their incomes through the selling of crops in the marketplace. As a result, this new wealth has enabled farmers to effectively participate in the mainstream economy, which in turn leads to increased adoption of high-yielding, high-value agricultural crops and products.
Africa Harvest also supports strategic and applied research to develop new biotechnologies in the medium to longer term. Africa harvest is involved in three main forms of biotechnology namely; Tissue Culture, market-assisted selection and genetic modification. Africa Harvest works throughout the food chain, emphasizing the integration of biotechnology within national R&D systems and the development of the support services needed to ensure impact.
Through our programs we have been able to deliver especially in the area of Tissue Culture Banana, afforestation and now the super sorghum project Sustainable Growth through Science 2005 Annual Review.
Africa Harvest’s plan is to implement needs-driven programs and provide practical solutions to challenges facing resource-poor smallholder farmers in rural communities. The Foundation believes in undertaking projects that focus on the Whole Value Chain (WVC) Strategy.
Africa Harvest is also involved in tree farming, targeting small scale farmers in Kenya Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. The ABS Project brings together nine globally-respected institutions under the leadership and co-ordination of the Africa Harvest. The Project’s goal is to develop a nutritionally enhanced sorghum variety.
