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Research consortium to continue engagement with South African government in efforts to proceed with sorghum greenhouse
South Africa
February 2, 2007

The African Biofortified Sorghum (ABS) project, an international research collaboration aimed at improving the nutritional value of sorghum, will continue to engage with the South African government in efforts to proceed with contained greenhouse trials on sorghum with improved nutritional value.

The announcement follows a January 30 decision by South Africa’s Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Executive Council that the application by the Council for Scientific and Indstrial Research (CSIR) to conduct contained greenhouse experiments on genetically modified sorghum had been rejected.

ABS Project Coordinator, Dr. Florence Wambugu said "the permit decision is a temporary setback, but we have our hands full and we will continue with the other aspects of the project while we seek to resolve issues raised by the authorities".

CSIR Biosciences Executive Director, Dr Gatsha Mazithulela said: "We are extremely disappointed, as we have an obligation to do research to improve the lives of the people of this country and continent. The CSIR remains committed to the safe and responsible development and application of biotechnology in South Africa and on the African continent. We will investigate every avenue possible to continue with this research because this research is crucial from the perspective of an African nutrition crisis".

The African Biofortified Sorghum (ABS) Project is part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative, a major effort to achieve scientific breakthroughs against diseases that kill millions of people each year in the world’s poorest countries. Announced in mid 2005, the grants totaling US$436.6 million covered a broad range of innovative research projects involving scientists in 33 countries. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to create "deliverable technologies" health tools that are not only effective, but also inexpensive to produce, easy to distribute, and simple to use in developing countries".

At the time of the initiative’s launch, Bill Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said: "It’s shocking how little research is directed toward the diseases of the world’s poorest countries. By harnessing the world’s capacity for scientific innovation, I believe we can transform health in the developing world and save millions of lives".

The African Biofortified Sorghum (ABS) Project is part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative which focuses on harnessing the power of science and technology to dramatically improve health in the world's poorest countries. The goal of the ABS Project is to improve the nutrition of sorghum in order to promote the health of millions of people who rely on it as the main food source. For additional information, please visit www.supersorghum.org.

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