Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology

The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) Open Institute has published a paper capturing its ambitious effort to advance genomics and bioinformatics capacity across Africa, while promoting sustainable bioeconomy strategies and biodiversity conservation. The paper, published in npj Biodiversity (a Nature Portfolio journal) and titled Unlocking the African Bioeconomy and Strengthening Biodiversity Conservation through Genomics and Bioinformatics (https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-025-00102-9) captures the continued growth and ambition of the AfricaBP Open Institute to advance biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics capacity and innovations across Africa, while promoting sustainable bioeconomy strategies and biodiversity conservation.

Overall, the design and scale of AfricaBP Open Institute’s workshop and collaboration model has created widespread impact involving at least 40 African and international organisations. The 2024 regional workshops were carried out over a period of five  (5) days, across the five African geographical regions  (North, East and Central, West and Southern Africa) (Figure 1). The first two (2) days of the regional workshops were conducted as a symposium and attracted over 3590 registrants. Following this, the remainder of the workshops were conducted as a three (3) day hands-on practical session occurring across multiple sites in 11 African countries. The successes of the 2024 AfricaBP Open Institute regional workshops include:

• Participations from across 50 African countries (Figure 1 and 2)
• Thirty-one (31) workshops delivered through public-private partnerships (Figure 2 and 3)
• Trained 401 African researchers on a wide range of practical hands-on procedures, including DNA extraction, genome sequencing, gene editing, molecular biology, sample collections, ethics, legal and social issues, and bioinformatics (Figure 1, 2 and 3).

“This publication marks a milestone in AfricaBP’s contribution to unlocking Africa’s bioeconomy through genomics and bioinformatics “, said Prof. Anne Muigai, Chair, AfricaBP, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, National Defence University-Kenya. “We are empowering African scientists in local institutions through hands-on training, and by harnessing the power of public and private sector collaborations, we are laying the foundation for a resilient and inclusive bioeconomy, rooted in African knowledge”.

“Genomics is not just a scientific tool—it is a continental catalyst. By decoding Africa’s rich biodiversity, we are unlocking solutions tailored to our ecological and economic realities. It is through the power of genomics that Africa can reclaim ownership of its biological heritage, fuel innovation, and build a resilient, self-sufficient bioeconomy driven by African knowledge, African data, and African priorities“, said Prof. Bouabid Badaoui, Co-Chair and AfricaBP North Africa Regional Coordinator, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco.

The hands-on training included advanced sequencing technologies such as Illumina NextSeq, NovaSeq, MGI G400, and Oxford Nanopore PromethION platforms, enabling participants to develop technical skills and confidence using cutting-edge genomic technologies. Such hands-on activities and the AfricaBP Open Institute as a whole contribute to addressing knowledge gaps, developing infrastructure, and supporting policy influence for biodiversity genomics in Africa.

The impact of the AfricaBP Open Institute extends beyond the participants who directly reap the benefits of the training, networking, and symposia presented over the course of the event. The capacity -building and -strengthening activities tie into current national bioeconomy strategies across Africa such as the economic impact of sequencing African genomes locally. A case study using the proposed 1000 Moroccan Genome Project, for example, demonstrates how local sequencing initiatives can contribute to bio-conservation and economic growth.

“Last year’s regional workshops provided perspectives on the contributions of biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics to the African bioeconomy. Sometimes, in Africa, the challenges we face are not always funding or technical. The biggest challenge is often demonstrating value at the national level and bringing clarity on returns on investments linked to national priorities. Through these AfricaBP Open Institute regional workshops in 2024 we have provoked deeper discussions regarding the benefits of biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics to the African bioeconomy and how African researchers, academic and national research institutions, could link these benefits to national bioeconomy strategic plans to inspire the right actions“, said ThankGod Echezona Ebenezer, Founder & Co-Chair, African BioGenome Project

AfricaBP Open Institute has now consistently built and strengthened capacities, provoked actions and impact across the fields of biodiversity and conservation genomics and bioinformatics across Africa and will continue to:

• Integrate advanced technologies with local strategies
• Integrate ethical, legal, and social perspectives into genome sequencing approaches
• Provide a platform for national networks of scientists to expand sequencing infrastructure
• Enable accessible and affordable sequencing hubs
• Expand regional collaborations
• Develop effective models to embed genomics and bioinformatics into Africa’s bioeconomy.

In conclusion, the AfricaBP Open Institute provides a model that demonstrates how coordinated training, infrastructure development, networking, and knowledge exchange can accelerate Africa’s leadership in biodiversity genomics research, bioinformatics, and sustainable development.

We are grateful to these organisations for sponsoring some of the AfricaBP Open Institute regional workshop practicals in 2024: Africa Biosystems Ltd, Addis Ababa University, DIPLOMICS, Eppendorf Middle East, Inqaba Biotechnical Industries (East Africa), Illumina, ISN Medical, Megaflex, MGI-Tech, National Animal Genetic Resources,⁠ Thermofisher Scientific, University of Copenhagen, and Whitehead Scientific.

The AfricaBP is an affiliated project partner of the Earth BioGenome Project, Vertebrate Genomes Project, and the 10,000 Plants Genome Project, and a partner of the Science for Africa Foundation

Related links:

1. Africa: sequence 100,000 species to safeguard biodiversity
2. The Next Frontier for African Genomics – Safeguarding African Biodiversity
3. Partnership to safeguard African biodiversity through genomics
4. Accelerating knowledge exchange in biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics
5. Establishing African genomics and bioinformatics programs through annual regional workshops