Because Detection, Prevention Matter - A Great Deal

The Cameroon Biosecurity Project of the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 began a three-day workshop in Yaounde on “Genetically-Modified Organism, GMO detection, diagnosis and monitoring of biological invasion.” The training of close to 30 participants from the country’s academia and research institutions is jointly organized with the National Veterinary Laboratory, LANAVET. 

Long Process
Speaking at the opening of the training, the General Manager of LANAVET, Dr Abel Wade, paid tribute to the Head of State, His Excellency President Paul Biya for his stewardship that has seen the culmination of a long Living Modified Organism, LMO process. “It is about saving lives. I therefore urge you to help Cameroon to be an example in biosecurity to the rest of the continent,” Dr Wade told participants.     

Project Financing
According to Dr Rigobert Ntep, Cameroon Biosecurity Project Coordinator, the project began in 2011. It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, with bilateral funding from the Government of Cameroon through the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development, MINEPDED.

Project Milestones 
Over this period, the project has made progress by equipping several laboratories in the country. With the next in line being the laboratories of the Universities of Ngaoundere and Maroua. “To threats from Genetically Modified Organisms or Living Modified Organisms, laboratories are the key…. Parliament recently passed the National Biosecurity Bill. It is awaiting the Head of State’s promulgation. After which the Act will be followed by 15 decrees of application. Matters of biosecurity will continue to be managed by different ministries and government departments under the new law, but there will be order and better coordination,” Dr Ntep assured.  

Safeguarding Health, Environment 
“The workshop is about protection against Genetically Modified Organisms and Invasive Alien Species, which are all harmful to health. LANAVET has provided its state of the art laboratory in its Yaounde branch office for the practicum phase of the training. It is important to detect and analyze GMOs in foodstuff and other products – especially those coming into the country. 

Hands-on Training
“It is a surveillance programme to check and control everything that enters and leaves the country. LANAVET will therefore handle the practical training on the detection and analysis of GMO products. This is a molecular technique which is routine work in LANAVET. Its laboratory was recently renovated and equipped with the latest technology in molecular biology,” Dr Wade told journalists.

Beware Of Biological Invasions! 
“Biosecurity takes into consideration Living Modified Organisms and Invasive Alien Species. But Living Modified Organisms alone concern biosafety. Biosecurity refers to the measures – technical, administrative, judicial…. – to prevent a country from biological invasions like the COVID 19 pandemic. The virus that caused the pandemic is a biological invader, which invaded the whole world. The measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus – like hand washing, social distancing, safe coughing, putting on face masks…- were all biosecurity measures,” Dr Ntep explained. 

On Red Alert 
“Amongst government’s objectives is to ensure that Living Modified Organisms circulating in the country, go out and come into the country, are all monitored. To do this, we need to train people to detect Living Modified Organisms in any product entering or leaving the country. LANAVET has offered us a well-equipped facility for the training,” Dr Ntep said.

Understanding Biosecurity
Biosecurity refers to measures that are taken to stop the spread or introduction of harmful organisms to human, animal and plant life. These measures are a combination of processes and systems that have been put in place by bioscience laboratories, customs agents and agricultural managers to prevent the use of dangerous pathogens and toxins.

Increasing Threats 
In today's interconnected world, there is an increasing threat from the spread of pests and diseases that can devastate agriculture, food security and safety, human health, biodiversity and ecosystem health. Biosecurity is defined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO as a strategic and integrated approach that encompasses the policy and regulatory frameworks (including instruments and activities). All meant for analysing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health, and associated risks to the environment.

Project Progress
Now in its second phase, the first phase of Cameroon Biosecurity Project was to lay down the foundation of biosecurity in Cameroon – develop and put in place the tools for monitoring the introduction and the circulation in the country of living modified organisms and invasive alien species. 
“In the second phase, we have moved on to implementing the tools that were earlier developed. In the coming days, we hope to complete the revision, then adopt and begin implementing our communication plan,” Dr Ntep disclosed at an earlier biosecurity event. 

Project Implementation 
The project implementation, supervision and deliverables are being monitored by a Task Force...