Browse Data and Analysis

This is a regional report on West Africa that primarily covers Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali, but also provides brief overviews in certain sections for Niger, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania.

In January 2024, Nigeria became the second country in Africa to approve the commercial release of four biotech (TELA) maize varieties.

In January 2024, Nigeria approved the commercial release of four TELA maize varieties, which have been genetically engineered for improved insect-resistance and drought-tolerance. In addition to South Africa, Nigeria has become the second country in...

In July 2023, President Tinubu declared an "immediate state of emergency on food insecurity" to address high food prices and lackluster agricultural production. Nigeria is considered by some in Africa to be a leader in agricultural biotechnology as it has researched, tested, evaluated, and commercialized several biotech products, including cowpea, a staple crop for smallholder farmers across West Africa.

This is a regional report on West Africa that primarily covers Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali, but also provides brief overviews in certain sections for Niger, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania.

Nigeria has taken an increasingly active role in biotechnology research and development in Africa – spurred by the solid support of the Government of Nigeria (GON). In September 2022, Nigeria hosted regulators from Mozambique and Ethiopia to learn more about Nigeria’s biotechnology regulatory experience.

This is a regional report on West Africa that primarily covers Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali, but also provides brief overviews in certain sections for Niger, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania. Senegal and Mauritania passed new biosafety laws on June 14, 2022, and August 4, 2022, respectively.

Nigeria continues to deliver notable achievements in biotechnology research and development – spurred by strong support of the Government of Nigeria (GON).

The Government of Senegal is still reviewing and revising its new biosafety law which may include language for an expedited approval process for certain genetically engineered (GE) products.

Mali ratified the majority of Multilateral Agreements on the Environment (MEAs), in particular the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 1994, the Kyoto Protocol in March 2002, the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol in December 2015, and the Paris Agreement in September 2016.

In December 2020, the Government of Nigeria through the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) authorized guidelines on gene editing.

Since the commercial release of Bt Cowpea in January 2019, Nigeria biotech regulatory authorities are forging ahead with other approvals.