Syngenta and the Royal Society of Chemistry have announced the creation of the Pan Africa Chemistry Network to help promote the economic and social development of the continent. The Network, which will eventually span the whole continent, is being established initially in Kenya. Its purpose is to connect African chemists more effectively and to enable them to achieve greater levels of innovation and scientific development.
Syngenta is supporting the launch with a £ 1 million grant. A prime focus of the Network will be agricultural development including food security and sustainability, clean water and disease prevention.
Academics will meet through a program of seminars, conferences and workshops. Fellowships and grants will be awarded to enable active participation in these events and to further enhance networking, technology transfer and skills development by facilitating international mobility of key scientists.
An essential platform of the Network will be an educational outreach program, encouraging children and their teachers to learn first hand about practical applications of chemistry through an annual schools science competition.
Professor Calestous Juma of Harvard University, a lead author on the United Nations Millennium Project, will launch the Network.
Syngenta Chief Executive Michael Pragnell said: "Agriculture is an essential stepping stone to economic development and improving livelihoods in rural African communities and the eradication of poverty, one of the millennium development goals. Building networks based upon science and innovation is essential to this process. We are delighted to be partnering the Royal Society of Chemistry in the creation of the first hub."
Dr Simon Campbell, Immediate Past-President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said:
The Royal Society of Chemistry is the UK Professional Body for chemical scientists and an international Learned Society for the chemical sciences with some 43,000 members worldwide. It is a major international publisher of chemical information, supports the teaching of chemical sciences at all levels and is a leader in bringing science to the public. Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2006 were approximately $8.1 billion. Syngenta employs around 21,000 people in over 90 countries.
