DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The regional bio-economy strategy approved recently by the East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers will be a key factor in promoting food security and sustainable agriculture in the region, the EAC said in a statement late Thursday.
The statement, issued by the EAC headquarters in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha, said the bio-economy strategy will increase opportunities for the EAC member states to deepen their cooperation in developing a sustainable and resilient bio-economy.
"Through the strategy, EAC member states will scale up their bio-innovations, share scientific knowledge, and harmonize policies, standards and regulations for bio-manufacturing and regional trade," said Peter Mathuki, the EAC secretary general.
Mathuki said the east Africa region has a comparative advantage in bio-manufacturing and bio-based products, given its rich diversity in biological resources and a large proportion of arable land.
"The strategy is aligned with commitments to environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and changing of unsustainable practices by countries in the region," said Mathuki.
The development of the East African Regional Bio-economy Strategy began in 2019 through a national and regional consultative process spearheaded by the East African Science and Technology Commission and the national councils and commissions of science and technology, said the statement.
The EAC member states are Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. ■
