The document discusses the creation of modern bio-economies in Africa, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bioscience innovation systems and the role of universities and communities. It highlights Africa's aspirations for middle-income status and the challenges faced, such as inclusive growth and agricultural productivity. Key solutions include leveraging Africa's genetic resources, enhancing education in modern biosciences, and developing responsive policies and financing to foster competitiveness and innovation.

1. Creating Modern Bio-economies in
Africa
Julius Ecuru
UNCST/BecA-ILRI Hub
At the SEI Bio-economy Workshop
3rd December 2014
Stockholm, Sweden

2. Key message
• Building and/or strengthening bioscience
innovation systems is a precursor to creating
modern bio-economies in Africa;
• Universities (&PRO) and communities are critical
actors this innovation system;
• But they collaborate regionally & globally in
bioscience, taking advantage of regional
economic blocks.

3. Africa’s vision
• Countries in Africa
have a common
aspiration & vision:
– i.e. to achieve middle
income country status as
soon as possible (before
2030?)
– implies moving towards
knowledge based
economy
• Challenge is, how to
get there!
“An integrated, prosperous and peaceful
Africa, driven by its own citizens and
representing a dynamic force in the
global arena” The AU

4. Africa today
• About 12 million people
entering the labour market
annually;-rising middle
class
• 60% of the global arable
land --- increasing
opportunities for
agribusiness dev’t;
• Opportunities for intra-
Africa trade, currently only
15% of total trade;
• Africa fastest growing
region in the world;
• High popn growth rates:
>50% of people <15yrs---
US Senator Chris Coons, 2013

5. The Challenge
 Maintaining higher growth
rates, & making it
inclusive & sustainable;
• Addressing constraints to
agricultural productivity, e.g.
biotic & abiotic stresses;
• But increasing household
incomes key to eradicating
poverty;
• It means diversifying sources of
growth---value addition, agro-
processing, agri-businesses;
• Ensuring environmental
sustainability

6. Creating modern bio-economies is
part of the solution...
• Why?
– Africa has a rich genetic
resource base;
– A rising demand for
renewable bio-resources
brought about by rapid
globalization & climatic
changes;
– Modern bioscience tools
increasingly available;
– Critical mass of scientists
available in some
countries to start with;
Calestous Juma’s optimism:
“This opportunity offers Africa another
opportunity for technological leapfrogging.”
Juma (2011)

7. Building functional bioscience innovation
systems is the foundation for a bio-economy
• i.e. a network of people &
organizations interacting and
learning from each other in
developing, adding value and
processing local crops & other
bio-resources.
• Interaction being facilitated by
enabling institutions (norms,
traditions, standards, etc)
frameworks;

8. Universities’ role is critical, linking
with the community
• If well facilitated,
universities (& public
research organizations)
can catalyse a rapid
evolution of an African
bioscience innovation
systems, and specifically
support the creation of
new bio-based
enterprises/firms, or
significantly enhance the
competitiveness of the
existing ones.
• E.g. in East Africa alone:
– >700,000 students enrolled in
over 170 universities (IUCEA
sources, 2014);
– >70% of population in rural
areas, small-scale farmers;

9. Regional collaboration is key: E.g.
BecA, Bio-innovate, ANAFE
• Translating research products
to innovations through value
addition & incubation;
• Capacity building &
research modern
biosciences
• Enhancing ag-
education, esp.
curriculum dev
…and of course, many other important actors…

10. Going forward
1. Responsive policies
• Policies should be enabling policies---clear
goals with incentives-specific bio-economy
strategies are important
• IP management, taxation regimes, etc.
2. Innovative financing;
• Innovative financing for knowledge based
bio-economies,
3. Competitive products & firms
• Encourage scientists to get into business;
• Support them through active “business”
incubation

11. Conclusion
“ Africa’s economic transformation is starting in the new
age of biology—both as a scientific endevour and as a
metaphor on how we view the world.”
- Calestous Juma, 2013

12. • “There’s a huge
shortage of skilled
people at all levels. We
need bright young
people with new
technological ideas to
solve our environmental
problems”
– (Andre Kuipers, in Holland Herald,
December 2014; p 39)
Source: en.wikipedia.org
https://www.google.se/url?sa=i&rct=j&q
=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&

13. THANK YOU