SynBio Africa's story from the grassroots, the present, and the future

Abstract

SynBio Africa is a forum for researchers, students, citizen scientists, policymakers and the public to convene and develop successful pathways for the propagation of synthetic biology technologies, products, and services throughout Africa. Our vision is to have a healthy, safe, and sustainable world through synthetic biology. In Africa, synthetic biology has the potential to greatly contribute to national development agenda through the following ways: i) by anchoring a sustainable bioeconomy; ii) by helping develop innovative medicines; iii) by reducing pollution, and iv) by increasing crop production to reduce hunger. However, there is little to no information on synthetic biology and its regulatory policies in Africa. Across the continent, scientists, policy makers, researchers and others are still working in silos—only partaking in consultative meetings to try and develop a set of unified policy guidelines. SynBio Africa is therefore proposing to establish the first Center of Excellence in Synthetic Biology in Africa with six themes, namely: research, capacity development, innovation hub, biosafety and biosecurity, and bioinformatics and data science, and one-health. Accordingly, SynBio Africa will work with collaborators from government and non-governmental organizations, the public and private sectors, and educational institutions from Uganda, Africa, and around the world to implement these six themes.