Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International

Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International (Africa Harvest) is a Kenya-based nonprofit organization founded in January 2002 by the outspoken advocate of genetic engineering, Florence Wambugu. According to its website, its purpose is "to promote the use of advanced science and technology products to improve agricultural productivity among Africa’s farmers, and free Africans from poverty, hunger and malnutrition." The organization receives donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Gates-influenced group Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, the pesticide lobby organization CropLife International, as well as the United Nations' International Fund for Agricultural Development and the CGIAR international agricultural research center, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.

Projects
As of 2010, the organization's main projects were:
 * "Africa Biofortified Sorghum" (ABS): A genetically engineered sorghum with increased protein and vitamins compared to conventionally bred sorghum varieties
 * The "IFAD Project:" A project funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), launched in 2010, "to increase production, processing and marketing of horticultural and traditional food crops" in Kenya.
 * The Tissue Culture Banana Project: A project begun in 2009, funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, promoting "the revitalization of the TC banana industry in Kenya."
 * Gadam Sorghum Project: A project to provide raw materials (sorghum) to East Africa Breweries Ltd. Its fully owned subsidiary, East Africa Malting Ltd, which manages its raw materials sourcing, is a major donor to Africa Harvest.
 * The McLaughlin Rotman Project: Named for its funder, Canada's McLaughlin Rotman Center, this seeks to determine a public engagement strategy to introduce genetically engineered sorghum and bananas in Kenya and Uganda. This falls under the umbrella of the Gates-funded "Grand Challenge ."
 * LIFE's Heart Project: This project, funded by LIFE's Heart (Living in Faith Everyday – Health, Education, Agriculture, Research & Technology), is a one year project beginning in October 2010 to introduce sorghum and bananas to pastoralist Maasai communities that do not traditionally engage in agriculture.
 * CropLife Project: A program to promote acceptance of biotechnology and genetic engineering in Africa.

Donors
In 2010:


 * "The Africa Harvest total grant income was US $3.201 Million in 2010. The revenue was mainly restricted donations from 11 donors and many individuals:
 * 1. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
 * 2. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
 * 3. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
 * 4. McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health
 * 5. CropLife international (CLI)
 * 6. East Africa Malting Ltd (EAML)
 * 7. Danforth Plant Science Centre
 * 8. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
 * 9. Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA)
 * 10. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
 * 11. Life’s Heart"

Contact Information
Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International (AHBFI)

Kenya Office:
 * 3rd Floor, Whitefield Place
 * School Lane, Westlands
 * P.O. Box 642
 * Village Market 00621
 * Nairobi, Kenya
 * Ph: 254-20-444-1113/5/6
 * Fax: 254-20-444-1121

South Africa Office:
 * 18 Tudor Park, 61 Hillcrest Avenue
 * Blaigwore, Randburg
 * P.O. Box 3655
 * Pinegowrie 2123
 * Gauteng, South Africa
 * Ph: 27 11-781-4447
 * Fax: 27 11-886-0152

Washington, D.C. Office:
 * 1025 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 1012
 * Washington, DC 20036
 * Ph: 1-202-828-1215
 * Fax: 1-202-857-9799

Toronto Office:
 * Scotia Plaza
 * 40 King Street West, Suite 3100
 * Toronto, ON, Canada M5H 3Y2
 * Ph: +1 416-865-6600
 * Fax: +1 416-865-6636

Web: [http//www.africaharvest.org http//www.africaharvest.org]

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Biotechnology
 * Genetically Modified Organisms
 * Monsanto
 * Second Green Revolution
 * Florence Wambugu
 * Denny Hooten - marketing director

External resources

 * 2010 Annual Report, Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International.