Zélia Menete, professor and director-general of the Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique (IIAM), was recently named the African Champion of Agricultural Biotechnology 2024 in Mombasa, Kenya.
The recognition took place during the fourth edition of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) Day. The event brought together scientists, legal experts, farmers, policymakers, and other specialists committed to advancing biotechnology and agricultural research on the continent.
Under the theme “Harnessing Biotechnological Innovations for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in Africa,” the meeting emphasized the importance of collaboration in the fight against food insecurity in Africa.
Zélia Menete was among nine individuals recognized by OFAB for their significant contributions to the promotion and adoption of modern biotechnological solutions in their respective countries, alongside representatives from Tanzania, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.
These distinctions highlight efforts in advocacy, dissemination, approval, and implementation of innovative results in the field of biotechnology.
Zélia Menete dedicated the award to all those involved in advancing food security in Africa, including farmers, policymakers, researchers, and legal experts.
“I would like to dedicate this recognition to the researchers at IIAM. This award is for you! It is the result of 16 years of research, particularly in maize, but it can be extended to other crops in the future,” she stated.
She also emphasized the complementarity of biotechnology with other agricultural technologies, stressing the importance of providing farmers with technological options suited to the agroecological conditions of their regions.
Since assuming leadership of IIAM in August 2023, Zélia Menete has worked to place agricultural research at the center of the strategic transformation of Mozambique’s agricultural sector, strengthening regional and international partnerships. Her dedication has solidified her as one of the most prominent figures in biotechnology on the continent, culminating in her recognition as the African Champion of Agricultural Biotechnology 2024.
The event was organized by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in partnership with the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) to celebrate the champions of biotechnology in OFAB member countries. Mozambique has been a member of the AATF since 2009 and of OFAB since 2022, represented by IIAM.
(By Renaldo Manhice)
