By Milliam Murigi | milliammurigi@gmail.com
Africa is ready for genome editing, a new report has revealed.
The study reveals that 57 genome editing (GEd) projects are either already concluded or underway in 16 African countries aimed at addressing some of Africa’s most pressing agricultural challenges.
The projects, notes the report, are focused on improving productivity across crops, livestock, forestry, and fisheries. They directly target key production challenges such as climate stress, pests, diseases, and low yields, signaling a clear shift toward science-driven agricultural solutions.
The study was conducted by Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International and AGTECH Consulting Ltd, and commissioned by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
“These projects are at different stages and most of them are at the proof-of-concept and early product development stages,” said Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, Head, and Genome Editing Programme at African Union Development Agency-NEPAD.
Genome editing (GEd) also referred to as gene editing allows scientists to make precise, targeted changes to an organism’s DNA without necessarily introducing a foreign gene.
According to the report, Kenya is leading the continent, recording the highest number of projects at 13, with nine focused on crops and four on livestock. Egypt has eight projects, all concentrated on crops, while South Africa follows with seven, including six crop projects and one in forestry.
“Kenya is leading in genome editing largely due to strong Public–Private Partnerships that bring together government institutions and the private sector. These collaborations have accelerated research, strengthened regulatory preparedness, mobilized investment, and supported the translation of scientific innovation into practical agricultural solutions,” said Prof. Olalekan Akinbo.
Nigeria has six projects. Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda have four projects each. Mozambique has three, Morocco has two, and Burkina Faso and Mauritius have one project each. The spread of projects across multiple regions suggests that Africa is not only experimenting with genome editing but actively investing in it.
Apart from the completed and the ongoing projects out of the 16 countries, eleven (11) have Biosafety Acts (Laws), and five (5) have Ministerial Decrees. Some countries have regulations to regulate the laws and decrees, whereas others have yet to develop and publish their regulations or guidelines.
Six countries namely Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso have gone further to develop and publish their GEd Guidelines. Mozambique and Zimbabwe have developed GEd Guidelines and are yet to be validated and published and the rest have none.
From the findings, six (6) countries, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, and Ethiopia are ready with conducive regulatory frameworks to fully embrace GEd technology in agricultural R&D towards product development, deployment and commercialization. Mozambique and Zimbabwe with GEd Guidelines will join this group once their GEd Guidelines are validated and published.
“While a few countries have begun creating enabling environments, many still lack the policy frameworks, regulatory clarity, and institutional coordination needed to support responsible innovation. Without deliberate leadership, Africa risks falling behind in a fast-evolving global biotechnology landscape,” said Prof. Olalekan Akinbo.
The study was conducted to provide an evidence-based description and analysis of the status of modern biotechnology and GEd in 16 selected African countries, highlighting key trends, intervening factors and areas for attention, as well as fundamental aspects such as science/technical, political, geo-political, social, human, culture and traditions, etc. that support or hinder advances in the application of genome editing in agriculture and food systems.
Apart from that, the study also sought to identify the emerging needs in these countries that GEd can readily address, especially those which require rapid responses at scale. These needs will focus on food systems i.e., agricultural productivity, reduction of postharvest losses, climate adaptation, food and nutrition security, diversified and healthy diets.
