Gene editing, gene drives and synthetic biology are being developed for better food production, healthcare and sustainable environment conservation. Africa stands to gain much from these developments.

African countries are at various levels of establishing, implementing, and strengthening biosafety frameworks with laws and regulations to ensure responsible use of these new technologies.

Implementing robust biosafety measures is as required by the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of the Conventional of Biological Diversity (CBD), which all African countries except Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, and South Sudan have ratified, is essential to prevent unintended consequences and to manage potential risks associated with gene technologies.

Use the interactive map below to explore the status of regulatory governance, from research and development to open-release applications for consumer products and health care such as malaria control.