The Role of Academic Institutions in Tanzania and Mozambique

1.0 Background and Rationale
Application of biotechnology provide new and promising opportunities for achieving greater food security, reducing poverty and improving the quality and standard of living of marginalized people in the developing world. The number and scope of biotechnology applications are expanding not only in the developed countries but also in poor countries such as African countries.

Although Tanzania and Mozambique see biotechnology as a promising tool, which could rapidly enhance their socio-economic development, the level of biotechnology research, development and utilization in both countries is still in its infancy. The progress in the adoption and utilization of this technology in both Tanzania and Mozambique has remained rather slow. However the two countries are picking up quickly, with the agricultural sector being the most active. Currently, there are several public, private and non governmental institutions that are involved in biotechnology research at different levels in both Tanzania and Mozambique.

Of the various biotechnology techniques, tissue culture and micropropagation are the most widely applied in the two countries. Tissue culture techniques have been employed in various applications including mass propagation of virus-free planting material and in germplasm conservation and exchange, particularly of vegetatively propagated crops. In Tanzania, tissue and micropropagation activities are being carried out in a number of laboratories. These include: Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI) in Dar es Salaam for various crops such as coconut, cashew, banana, pineapple, cassava sweet potato and coffee; Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) Mlingano in Tanga, for sisal; Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) for banana and other horticultural crops; Kizimbani Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) for banana and cassava; and the National Plant Genetic Resource Centre (NPGRC), at Tropical Pesticide Research Institute (TPRI) for long-term in vitro storage of plant genetic resources. In Mozambique, it is mainly applied on cassava and potatoes but also, to a smaller extent, on other crops.

Other biotechnology researches carried out in Tanzania and Mozambique are explained in the following paragraphs:
 genetic characterization and diversity studies crops, livestock and wildlife species
 Molecular detection of virus diseases in both plants and livestock
 Development of biopesticides, biofertilizers
 bio prospecting for micro organisms with potential applications in food processing and beverage industry.

Although several sectorial studies on the status of biotechnology in both Tanzania and Mozambique have been conducted, a comprehensive review is still needed as a support database for the development of a national biotechnology strategy.

Biotechnology has a promising future, but there is lack of clear roadmaps for getting the biotechnology from the laboratory to the farmer or other end users. This problem is acerbated by the lack of a dynamic private sector to invest in biotechnology products.

Although private sector involvement in biotechnology in Tanzania and Mozambique has been very limited, there are few private institutions that have shown interest in participating in biotechnology through partnership with the public sector. This is particularly evident in crops such as coffee, pyrethrum, sisal, cotton, cashew and tobacco. Specific examples in public-private partnerships in the appropriation of biotech in Tanzania include:

 KATANI Ltd (private) collaborating with Mlingano Agricultural Research Institute (Public) on micropropagation of sisal planting material through tissue culture for rehabilitation of the sisal industry in the country;
 Mbegu Technologies Limited for promotion of quality seed and cassava seedling production through partnership with government institution; and
 Tobacco, tea and the sugar cane sectors interested in the R&D collaboration with the public agricultural research sector in the development of new improved varieties and seed dissemination systems.

The above examples show that there is a great potential in application of biotechnology for socio-economic development through public-private partnerships; and a rapid rise in the incidence of research partnership (Public-Private, Private- Civil society, Public-Private-civic society and many other forms of partnership) has stimulated a policy debate regarding their effectiveness and whether these relationships enhance overall economic performance in the developing countries. Research partnerships have become an increasingly important means of creating and diffusing scientific and technical knowledge. This is of great importance, particularly in biotechnology-related activities. The partnerships may be complex (combining all activities in the product development chain such as research, product/technology development, marketing dissemination) and may require involvement of multiple players such as:
o individual innovators,
o research organisations,
o universities,
o small to medium scale private companies,
o resource poor farmers etc.

2.0 Major Objective
The major objective of this research proposal is to review the status of biotechnology and examine how partnerships in biotechnology can be enhanced and sustained to improve efficiency and effectiveness of putting research outcomes into use, especially for the poor. Information is scarce, particularly as regards to what incentives drive successful partnership in product development, technology transfer and in product delivery. Of particular importance here is the role played by academic institutions such as the universities and other research and development organizations since these are currently the major actors in biotechnology research.

2.1 Specific Objectives of the Study
Basing on the above general objective, following are the specific objectives:
• Study and analyse baseline status of biotechnology research, product development and dissemination mechanisms in Tanzania and Mozambique
• Review and examine the range and characteristics of existing R& D partnerships in Biotechnology
• Examine how Product-Development-Partnerships (PDP) are managed- analyse the influence of these partnership in terms of enhancing scientific and technological capacities, stimulating collaboration and promoting technology transfer for socio-economic development.
• Assess the extent to which partnerships engage the participation and interest of a range of stakeholders, including the resource poor farmers and other technology user groups
• Determine the role of universities and other R&D organization engaged in biotechnology research in stimulating those partnerships that facilitate research in, and dissemination of biotechnology products that are appropriate for socio-economic development.
• Draw up policy options for creation of profitable and sustainable partnerships, resource mobilisation and linkages for biotechnology product development and dissemination.

3.0 Methodology
The study will be based on some selected organisations from the Public, Private and civil societies that are involved in Biotechnology R&D. It will also include few donors and actual/potential end users of biotechnology products. Primary data will be solicited through open ended questions and interviews, while for secondary data sources, relevant documents and databases from selected organizations will be consulted.