China boosts Africa's ecological research

First continent-wide facility of its kind, advancing science, technology and conservation, will be financed by Beijing

China is fully financing the development of Africa's first continent-wide ecological research facility, based in Kenya, cementing the cooperation framework advanced by Premier Li Keqiang during his visit early this year.

"Sino-Africa Joint Research Center is indeed a significant component of the '461' cooperation framework," said Tian Lin, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Kenya. The premier's "461" proposal refers to four principals for deepening cooperation, six areas to promote new projects and one platform for collaboration.

Tian spoke during a Dec 4 groundbreaking held at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi. He noted that the 1.15 billion Kenyan shillings ($16.67 million) in financing would advance science, technology, ecological conservation and environmental protection in Africa. It would also build a professional technology and management team for both China and Africa.

In attendance was Kenyan Vice-President William Ruto, Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi, Vice-Chancellor of JKUAT Mabel Imbuga and Qiu Huasheng, deputy director-general of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The project is a joint venture between JKUAT and the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese academy. The Kenyan institute has contributed 40 acres of land for the facility.

Hailing it as a groundbreaking project, Tian said that the research facility would solidify cooperation with African countries in various areas such as biodiversity conservation, resource remote sensing, combating desertification, epidemic control and modern agriculture demonstration zones.

He said last year the incipient center initiated 31 joint studies, and that results have been achieved in biodiversity investigations of East Africa, the studies of protective agriculture and high-yield crop technology in semi-arid regions of Kenya. "The center also has carried out training and exchanges with international experts in scientific discussions of climate change, disaster reduction, conservation of water resources and many more," Tian said in his speech.

Qiu, in his remarks, noted that 22 Kenyan students are studying in China under scholarships with six undertaking studies in climate change, water and sanitation.

"Let us try to make the center an important and unique platform for promoting scientific cooperation between China, Kenya and the rest of the continent," Qiu said.

Imbuga, the university's vice-chancellor, emphasized that research and innovation would influence the students' abilities to become job creators. She noted that once completed, there would be a recreational center that will be open to the public and eight labs for research. "This is going to be in key areas of research," Imbuga says.

Calling the venture brilliant, Kaimenyi said that having a botanical garden is the only way to further research plant-based alternative medicines because in that way, indigenous plants will be conserved.

There has been a rising concern over the extinction due to deforestation of trees and shrubs with medicinal properties. Research for cures to some of the continent's perennial diseases like malaria is impeded unless there are deliberate moves to conserve them.

The event coincided with the launch of the university's fifth tech expo, which saw the presentation of a locally assembled and branded laptop among other projects. Kaimenyi noted that this complemented the government's drive to provide a laptop for each university student.

The education secretary also announced plans to establish a national commission of science, innovation and technology.

"This would nurture the culture of research and innovation. A national fund will also be established that will grow to 2 percent of the nation's gross domestic product," Kaimenyi said.

Ruto, in his keynote address, noted that the Sino-Africa research facility was going to be a continental body and a first in Africa.

Noting that research and innovation is a key component for the country to achieve its Vision 2030 plan, Ruto said that social transformation and paradigm shifts in civilization always have been triggered by technology and innovation.

lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 12/12/2014 page22)