Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko in Lusaka, Zambia
The 6th edition of the Africa Biennial Biosciences Communication (ABBC) has commenced here, with stakeholders expected to outline strategies to support the adoption of science to enhance livelihoods and sustainable development on the continent.
The 2025 symposium, which runs from August 26 – 28, is being held under the theme: “The War on Science: How we can overcome the burden of misinformation and disinformation?”
“This theme speaks to the greatest barriers of our time. Misinformation and disinformation is eroding trust and delaying access to new bio-innovations that can help improve resilience to climate change and improve livelihoods in Africa,” said Dr Margaret Karembu, director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCenter.
This event convenes scientific experts, policymakers, media leaders and other stakeholders from 21 countries to combat misinformation and enhance communication in critical sectors.
These sectors cover food security, global health, climate change, and energy. This conference will explore innovative approaches to address misinformation and promote sustainable development across Africa.
Misinformation and disinformation, Dr Karembu said, have stalled the continent’s progress in leveraging innovative biosciences to strengthen health, food systems and improve socio-economic outcomes.
“The urgency of this issue has been globally recognised, with the World Economic Forum naming disinformation as the second most severe global risk after extreme weather,” she said.
This year’s event features a compelling line-up of keynote addresses, expert panel discussions, case study presentations, a pitching session and innovation displays.
The symposium has been supported by several local, regional and international organisations.
