At the 2007 African Union Summit, science and technology were seen as key drivers of future development in Africa. As a result, a highlevel biotechnology panel was established at the summit to consider a strategy for the advancement of biotechnology. This suggests that many policy-makers accept that the life sciences can provide solutions for fundamental challenges to development such as food security, vaccine production and even environmental conservation. While such investment is generally welcomed, international experience has shown that research in biotechnology is not without concern. 'Biosafety' has emerged in some quarters of Africa as an important topic, though often in relation to the specific issues of trialling and trading agricultural crops.

However, laboratory biosafety pertaining to scientific experimentation has received less attention.Biosecurity on the other hand is even less well developed within Africa as a whole compared to any aspects of biosafety. Although some African states, most notably South Africa, have played an active role in discussions at the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention (BWC), it is clear that a stronger and more coherent position on institutional oversight and regulation issues would be welcomed. This would not only address the need for an 'African voice' on biosecurity issues, but would also strengthen the negotiating position of those states whose interest is to ensure that development and the sharing of knowledge and technology are placed firmly on the agenda. Download full details....