Biosciences for Farming in Africa project

A case-study in science communication/understanding

Dr Bernie Jones11/11/2013

B4FA project outline

• 3 years long• To encourage dialogue and understanding

– Biosciences– Farming– Africa

• Principal funder: John Templeton Foundation– science & the big questions; how major advances in genetics might

serve to empower; …

Big Questions…

Our Big Question evolution

• “Can GM crops feed the world?”• “Can GM crops help feed the world?”• “Can GM crops help feed Africa?”• Genetics for Farming in Africa• Biosciences for Farming in Africa

B4FA activity

• Book for policymakers, educators, leaders etc• Dialogue and development for media• Scoping for implementation barriers– Innovation Farm concept for Africa– Farmer uptake of new technology– Use of e-training tools for agric innovation

“Insights”

• Essays on different aspects of agricultural biotech, research, and uptake.

• No advocacy, aim to stimulate informed debate and discussion

• Free distribution – ACADEMIES, PLEASE TAKE SEVERAL COPIES BACK HOME!

• Also available online (www.b4fa.org)

B4FA media programme

• To encourage more reporting, and more informed reporting, of genetics and agricultural biotechnology

• To network local scientists and the media• To improve quality of reporting• To improve knowledge and visibility of local

research

Why target the media?

• Where the public gets its information• Where policy-makers and leaders get their

information• Where policy-makers get the “pulse of public

opinion”• Where farmers get their information

Initial research showed

• Different standards of journalistic practice• Difficulties in getting articles published outside

business/politics environment• Difficulties in travelling to research stories• Low level of technical knowledge …..makes it hard to critically engage with issue

What do they see?

Programme outline

• Basic training on genetics and plant breeding• Long term fellowships rather than short• Field trips, mentoring, repeat training

throughout fellowship period• Networking with scientists• Across four focus countries

In practice, since Sep 12

• 8 training & dialogue workshops delivered in Africa• > 160 journalists selected as fellows• > 40 local scientists from > 30 African research institutions

presenting on the courses • 17 field trips during the courses• > 20 organised field trips/events since training• > 400 articles published/broadcast on genetics, biosciences

and plant breeding

Training Content

• Technical training components– History of agriculture– Fundamentals of plant breeding– Basics of genetics– F1 hybridisation– Marker assisted selection– Tissue culture– Gene banks– Genetic modification

Content cont.

• Professional presentations

– Regulatory environment– Commercial environment– Science journalism skills– Pitching a story and creating a lead– Discussion sessions on public acceptability and other issues– Ethics– Keynote addresses

Content cont.

• Practicals/Games/Exercises

– DNA extraction– Dominance/Recessives– Saving F1 hybrid seed– MAS– Writing practical pieces

Participants

• Media fellows (and alumni)• At least 4 national scientists presenting case studies• Senior international and national scientists for training components• High profile international journalism mentors• Local journalism mentors• National regulatory experts• Regional IP and commercial experts• High profile invited speakers• B4FA staff

Presentations

Practicals

Field trips

Interaction

And also…

“Farmer journalists”

• Understand issues and challenges• Able to apply training to explain traditional

practices and methods• Implementing what they have learnt and seen• Encouraging media to start farming

Feedback

• Highly regarded and competitive for journalists • Field trips & farmer visits invaluable• Unique opportunity for scientists to showcase what they do,

how and why• Improved understanding and respect between media and

scientific communities• Made our B4FA fellows the biotech “experts” in their media

houses

Opportunity for Academies

• Engage with media, over the long term• If you want to influence policy, the media are

your allies• Don‘t expect good coverage of something

technical unless you are prepared to explain it AT AN ACCESSIBLE LEVEL

• Create a relationship, and follow up

Practical actions?

• Use “Insights” creatively• Academies in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania: we have

160 trained and enthusiastic media professionals for you to interact with

• Academies in other countries: we have many resources to share with you should you want to engage yourselves with the media

• Consider working with your J-schools• Make some resources freely available to media

And now, before Q&A…

• ….over to B4FA’s REAL experts

THE MEDIA