The Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Program supports multi-disciplinary biosciences and product-orinted innovation activities in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Bio-Innovate will hold a first regional scientific conference in February 2013 in Ethiopia.

With a population of nearly 40 million, shrinking forest cover and an on-going reduction in rainfall, Kenya faces increasing food shortages. Bio-Innovate, through the BecA facilities and infrastructure, offers the region a way to train local scientists to tackle these challenges. Shaukat Abdulrazak is the Secretary and Chief Executive of the National Council for Science and Technology in Kenya.