Florence Wambugu

Florence Muringi Wambugu (born August 23, 1953) is a plant pathologist and virologist. She is known for her advocacy of using biotechnology to increase food production in Africa.

She received her Bachelor of Science in botany from the University of Nairobi, her Master's in pathology from North Dakota State University, and her PhD from the University of Bath. In 1981 she received an award from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and has also won a Crop science award. She has worked for Monsanto where she also did post-doctoral work.

She is a single mother with three children.

GM Sweet Potato

Florence Wambugu was involved in a project to develop a genetically modified (GM) sweet potato. In February 2004 the science magazine, New Scientist, reported [ [http://www.africanconservation.org/dcforum/DCForumID35/174.html Monsanto's showcase project in Africa fails ] ] that the project had failed.

Professional career

Dr. Wambugu is the Founder, Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International (AHBFI). AHBFI is a nonprofit foundation with offices in Nairobi, Kenya, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Washington, D.C. Previously, she founded, established and worked as Africa Region Director, ISAAA – Afri-center, in Nairobi; she also worked as Plant Biotechnology Research Scientist, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kenya. She has published over 100 articles and co-authored various papers.

Dr. Wambugu is the recipient of KARI’s 1989 Crop Science Award for outstanding scientist of the year; International Potato Center’s (CIP) Regional Research Award/Grant, 1989; Noble Prize of the United Cultural Convention 2002; World Bank Global Development Network Award in 2000 for successful introduction of the tissue-culture banana in Kenya; Woman of the Year 2001 by the American Biographical Institute; and Woman of the Year Award by Eve Magazine.

Previously she served in several board of directors which include Private Sector Committee of CGIAR, United Nations Millennium Development goals Hunger task force; Executive Committee member of Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA); DuPont Company Biotech Advisory Panel, USA; International Plant Genetics Research Institute (IPGRI now called Bioversity) and African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF). Currently, she is serving as a Council Member of the Japan Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, a Steering Committee Member of the European Action on Global Life Sciences (EAGLES) and a Science Board member of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenge in Global Health.

References

External links

* [http://www.bio.org/events/2003/media/brunchfmw.asp Biotech site] Dead link|date=April 2008
* [http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:W8gCpF7JHMsJ:nutrition.tufts.edu/pdf/conferences/agri_biotech/cvwambugu.pdf+%22Florence+Muringi+Wambugu%22+biograph&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 Tufts biography] Dead link|date=April 2008
* [http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=131 Profile on GMWatch] Dead link|date=April 2008