The Chamber of Deputies adopted a law approving the accession of Rwanda to the statutes of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) on Tuesday, July 19.
ICGEB is dedicated to advanced research and training in molecular biology and biotechnology and advancing knowledge, applying the latest techniques in the fields of: biomedicine, crop improvement, environmental protection/remediation, biopharmaceuticals, biopesticide and biofuel production.
The center, according to Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Vincent Biruta, comes as a very important development to the country.
While explaining the relevance of the bill, Biruta said that Rwanda expects to benefit from its membership to the centre through biotechnology use in the health sector such as for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.
Also, through agriculture biotechnology, the country could get expertise to use crops that withstand pests and diseases, as well as climate change effects such as drought, hence achieving food production sustainability.
"Going forward, we are going to use advanced knowledge to conduct research such that we can develop crop varieties that can be resistant to fall armyworm [destructive crop pest], or resistant to prolonged dry spell,” Biruta said, indicating that genetic engineering and biotechnology are the enablers for that.
The ICGEB is a unique intergovernmental organisation initially established as a special project of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Autonomous since 1994, it runs over 45 state-of-the-art laboratories, in Trieste, Italy, New Delhi, India and Cape Town, South Africa and forms an interactive network with almost 70 member states, with operations aligned to those of the United Nations System.
The statutory objective of the ICGEB is "to promote international co-operation in developing and applying peaceful uses of genetic engineering and biotechnology in particular for developing countries.”
It is also mandated "to assist developing countries in strengthening their scientific and technological capabilities in the field of genetic engineering and biotechnology” and "to develop and promote the application of genetic engineering and biotechnology for solving problems of development, particularly in developing countries.”
Biruta observed that the objectives of the centre are aligned with the objective of the Government of Rwanda to shift from an agrarian to a knowledge-based economy, especially through its affiliated scientific research institutions.
MP John Ruku-Rwabyoma said that building capacities in solving community problems through biotechnology is the way to go.
"For some of us, in our communities, there are crop diseases such as fall armyworm. Why can’t we grow crops that are resistant to it? Some crops wither even during the dry season. Why can’t we plant crops that are resistant to drought,” he wondered.
"This centre comes at the right time. For some of us, it is music to our ears,” he said.
Scholarship opportunities
Minister Biruta said that Rwanda could gain in many ways, including sending its students to carry out research in the centre’s laboratories which are in different parts of the world.
Again, he told lawmakers that Rwandan students will get funding opportunities to study advanced education in genetic engineering and biotechnology, as well as attending conferences and training in this regard.
The ICGEB says it champions scientific cooperation and advanced education (PhD and postdoctoral fellowships, international scientific meetings, and competitive grants), technology transfer to industry, regulatory science, projects, and partnerships for the attainment of the sustainable development agenda.