Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory Training Workshop and the UK-Africa Food Security Symposium
Build capacity and establish practical strategies and effective partnerships that can improve agricultural productivity and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Idea
1. Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory Training Workshop
The overall purpose of this workshop is to build capacity of early- and mid-African agricultural researchers and academics who can help advance innovative research and contribute to food security in Africa. It aims to teach the fundamental principles, techniques and applications of molecular and synthetic biology in crop agricultural research in Africa. The workshop will provide our trainees, practical experience that will help to improve the quality of their research and teaching. It will also promote knowledge exchange and research collaborations that can foster innovation in the field of agricultural research in Africa.
The workshop will take place in the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge from 3rd-11th September 2018. Twenty agricultural research scientists, lecturers and PhD students from Universities and Research Institutes across Africa will be selected to participate in the workshop. The workshop will be taught by research experts from the UK.
2. UK-Africa Food Security Symposium
We are working with the Cambridge Global Food Security Initiative to co-organise a UK-Africa Food Security Symposium, which will take place on the last day of the workshop (11th September 2018). The symposium provides a global platform for research and other professionals from Africa and the UK to come together, and establish practical strategies and effective partnerships that can improve agricultural productivity and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.
The theme for the symposium is ‘Building effective regional and international partnerships to boost food security in Africa’. It will aim to do the following (listed below) in line the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture:
I. Facilitate discussion about the social and scientific aspects of the issues surrounding food security in Africa.
II. Provide an avenue for researchers from Africa and the UK to learn about the wide range of exciting agricultural research conducted in both continents.
III. Foster knowledge exchange and new regional and international research collaborations that can enhance agricultural productivity and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.
Seventy delegates will attend the Symposium. This will include early- and mid-career professionals from Cambridge and the UK, our trainees from Africa, delegates from African diaspora communities in the UK and EU, policy makers and business leaders from multi-national organizations.
The Team
Carol Ibe, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge
Email: cni21@cam.ac.uk
Carol leads this capacity building initiative which was developed to support Africa-based agricultural research scientists and academics.
Chloé Orland, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge
Email: co353@cam.ac.uk
Chloé plays a major role in coordinating the workshop and symposium. She is mainly involved with recruiting trainees from Africa, fund raising and other logistical support.
Greg Reeves, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge
Email: gr360@cam.ac.uk
Trisna Tungadi, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge
Email: tdt24@cam.ac.uk
Trisna and Greg are involved with designing, planning and teaching wet lab experiments for our workshop trainees from Africa.
