ABBC 2025 delegates commit to stronger science communication, fact-checking Systems

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Delegates at the 6th Africa Biennial Biosciences Communication Symposium (ABBC 2025), which concluded in Lusaka on Thursday, have committed to developing a harmonized manual of terminologies in One Health and environmental science to strengthen clarity, policy coherence, and public understanding across the continent.

The meeting, which drew 150 delegates from 21 countries, also marked the 10th anniversary of the African-led platform. It brought together experts from crop and livestock research, One Health, public health, communication, information technology, academia, policy, regulation, and the private sector.

Reading the final communiqué, Daniel Osei Ofosu, a Research Scientist at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, said participants had agreed to create communication toolkits that incorporate storytelling, visuals, and local languages to make science more relatable to African communities.

Dr. Ofosu has urged African governments to increase investment in science, technology, and innovation (STI), leveraging the Kampala Declaration and other regional frameworks to promote self-reliance and sustainable financing.

He ha salso called on partners to invest in modern fact-checking systems powered by natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence to counter misinformation.

“Entrenched misinformation threatens Africa’s progress in climate-smart agriculture, disease surveillance, and One Health approaches. If left unchecked, it undermines public trust, delays innovation uptake, and compromises livelihoods,” Dr. Ofosu warned.

Delegates commended regional institutions such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) for their leadership in combating misinformation.

They cited the establishment of the COMESA Panel of Experts on Biotechnology and Biosafety as a milestone toward ensuring credible, peer-reviewed, and regionally harmonized scientific guidance.

The symposium also acknowledged the pressing challenges faced by African farmers, including low yields, pest and disease pressures, high input costs, and over-reliance on pesticides.

Delegates emphasized that misinformation continues to block access to effective solutions, further deepening these challenges.

The gathering affirmed that African-led innovations grounded in local ownership are the most credible and sustainable pathway to adoption, trust-building, and transformation.

Delegates further recognized that “scientific facts alone are insufficient to change perceptions,” stressing the need for culturally relevant communication.

The communiqué urged research institutions to mainstream science communication as a core function of research and innovation.

 It also called for annual accredited training programs for journalists and communicators in science reporting, as well as stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration platforms to break silos and foster inter-institutional dialogue.

“Strengthening African-led engagement initiatives and dialogue platforms is critical to enhancing science outreach, building trust in STI, and combating misinformation at the community level,” the delegates agreed.

The 2025 symposium ran under the theme: “The War on Science: How Can We Overcome the Burden of Misinformation and Disinformation?” and concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing credible, inclusive, and African-driven science communication.

Adopted on the 28th day of August 2025, in Lusaka, Zambia.

Ends…………………

 

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