Transnational innovation systems for bioeconomy: insights from cassava value chains in East Africa

In this study, we analyze the purpose, challenges, and opportunities of transnational innovation systems using cassava as the case study crop in the East Africa region. Cassava scientifically referred to as Manihot esculenta Crantz, is an important food security crop for the poor and vulnerable and a potential building block for advancing the bioeconomy in Africa and the global South. Semi-structured interviews with researchers, government official, and small and medium enterprise representatives from the region were done to determine their level of collaborations with other partners across the region and the opportunities and challenges for transnational innovation systems along the cassava value chain. The selection of interviewees followed a purposive sampling technique according to their knowledge on transnational innovation in the cassava value chain. This was corroborated by a focused literature review on innovation systems concepts gathered from scholarly literature. The findings show that transnational collaborations and innovations in the East African region offer opportunities for expansion of biomass production, bioprocessing, and value addition to the rich bioresources available. Collaboration across borders and transnational innovation systems were found to play an important role for advancing and/or upscaling cassava breeding, growing, value-adding products and novel processing methods and contributing to a growing East African bioeconomy. Other than the regional policy challenges, organizational and cultural barriers were more prominent in venturing, participation, and involvement of parties and users in transnational innovations. These findings draw attention to the often unnoticed, but vital, role that institutional and policy frameworks play in initiating as well as supporting transnational innovation systems that address issues of current and future global concern. Therefore, appropriate policy environment and partnerships that offer opportunities for synergy and complementarity are vital for building effective transnational innovation systems that enhance the sustainability of production, value addition and end-uses of biobased cassava products

Field Testing and Commercialisation of Genetically Modified Plants in Developing Countries - Biosafety Aspects

The application of biotechnology research in developing countries has to a large extent occurred in the agricultural sector. In many of these countries traditional agriculture and plant breeding programmes are now being supplemented by genetic engineering techniques. These include tissue culture techniques to produce disease free seedlings, new formulations for animal vaccines, and more recently the development of transgenic plants. An often used benchmark for the progress of agricultural biotechnology is the number of field tests done to date. World-wide more than 3600 official field trials of genetically modified plants were conducted between 1986 and end of 1995 in more than 30 countries. More than ninety per cent of the field trials have been performed in North America and Europe. Many developing countries have to a large extent served as winter nurseries for various international seed companies. However, a larger number of developing countries are now building significant capacities in biotechnology. As a result, more and more of these countries will test transgenic crops constructed in their own national laboratories and in collaboration with research institutes in the North or International Agricultural Centres. Judging from the current development these will be crops with transgenic traits which to a greater extent address specific national needs. While the large majority of industrialized countries have biosafety regulatory procedures in place, the situation in developing countries is dramatically different. The results of a 1995 Biotechnology Advisory Center survey showed that only roughly ten percent of the developing countries had any established biosafety regulations. The situation is improving and the establishment of an international biosafety protocol under the Convention on Biological Diversity will probably increase the pressure on developing countries to establish biosafety regulatory procedures. However, it is important to note that neither an international biosafety protocol nor national regulations will of themselves facilitate the safe development of biotechnology. There must also be the national capacity to implement the regulations. THus, the capacity to regulate biotechnology through risk assessment and management is as important as the regulations themselves. Even though much of the work in building a biosafety regulatory capacity has to be done by the developing countries themselves, there is a clear need for continued assistance from international organisations

Memoria del Taller Regional Riesgos Ambientales de las Plantas Transgénicas en Centros de Diversidad: La Papa como un Modelo Parque Nacional Iguazú

Posee edición en español e inglés.Las memorias del taller se ocupan de los interrogantes e inquietudes sobre los posibles riesgos ambientales relacionados con la introducción en pequeña y gran escala, de papas transgénicas en su centro de origen. Proveen un punto de partida para el diálogo entre las autoridades reguladoras nacionales y los científicos de la Región, en la medida que ellos trabajan hacia una introducción seguras de las papas transgénicas en Latinoamérica. Más allá de este objetivo limitado, las consideraciones e ideas expresadas en este taller, deberán contribuir también a la deliberaciones sobre la aplicación segura de otros cultivos transgénicos en sus centros de origen

Presentation_1_Transnational innovation systems for bioeconomy: insights from cassava value chains in East Africa.pdf

In this study, we analyze the purpose, challenges, and opportunities of transnational innovation systems using cassava as the case study crop in the East Africa region. Cassava scientifically referred to as Manihot esculenta Crantz, is an important food security crop for the poor and vulnerable and a potential building block for advancing the bioeconomy in Africa and the global South. Semi-structured interviews with researchers, government official, and small and medium enterprise representatives from the region were done to determine their level of collaborations with other partners across the region and the opportunities and challenges for transnational innovation systems along the cassava value chain. The selection of interviewees followed a purposive sampling technique according to their knowledge on transnational innovation in the cassava value chain. This was corroborated by a focused literature review on innovation systems concepts gathered from scholarly literature. The findings show that transnational collaborations and innovations in the East African region offer opportunities for expansion of biomass production, bioprocessing, and value addition to the rich bioresources available. Collaboration across borders and transnational innovation systems were found to play an important role for advancing and/or upscaling cassava breeding, growing, value-adding products and novel processing methods and contributing to a growing East African bioeconomy. Other than the regional policy challenges, organizational and cultural barriers were more prominent in venturing, participation, and involvement of parties and users in transnational innovations. These findings draw attention to the often unnoticed, but vital, role that institutional and policy frameworks play in initiating as well as supporting transnational innovation systems that address issues of current and future global concern. Therefore, appropriate policy environment and partnerships that offer opportunities for synergy and complementarity are vital for building effective transnational innovation systems that enhance the sustainability of production, value addition and end-uses of biobased cassava products.</p

One Planet - Bioeconomy Solutions for Global Challenges

To deal successfully with the global crisis affecting the planet the current economic models based on the fossil economy need to be substantially transformed as soon as possible. We are on the brink of a new era that offers related solutions for society and economy, recognizing the planet as home for all human beings alongside animals, plants and microorganisms, respecting and preserving (or re-establishing) their habitats.Bioeconomy, is a key solution enabling a transformed fossil-free, sustainable, regenerative and circular global economy. Technologies and social innovations are significant drivers of the bioeconomy which relies on bioresources and science, while building on the responsible use of nature’s tools and services. Local and global adoption of the bioeconomy is necessary to enable achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.This statement developed by the IACGB, results from an international workshop supported by the Volkswagen Foundation held in Hannover, Germany, June 26-27, 2023, and builds upon previous Communiqués of the Global Bioeconomy Summits (GBS) in 2020, 2018 and 2015 (https://www.iacgb.net/)