By Willy Kibet
As a budding, young scientist, I was excited to attend The Spirit of Asilomar and Future of Biotechnology Summit in Pacific Grove, California from 23rd – 26th February, 2025. The convening of approximately 300 attendees enabled me to meet and network with diverse voices and actors in biotechnology comprising academics, journalists, legal scholars, community leaders and observers.
The 2025 Summit occurred on the 50th anniversary of the 1975 international meeting on recombinant DNA at the historic Asilomar Conference Grounds. At the 1975 meeting, molecular biologists gathered to discuss the risks and benefits of the technology, which led to imposition of a moratorium on recombinant DNA research then. This was followed by laboratory containment measures, now referred to as biosafety levels, to minimize risks posed by any new technology. Therefore, the objective of this convening was to ‘bury the bad’ while celebrating ‘the good of the meeting’ that took place 50 years ago.
A key observation from this meeting was the invitation of Next Generation Leaders (NGLs), myself included, who are early-career actors with a vision for better biotic futures. The 1975 meeting excluded younger people. This time around, NGLs’ invitation was to leverage on their capacity to ensure continuous and self-renewing leadership. The NGL fellows were from diverse backgrounds and this global outlook would propel strategic and effective governance of biotechnologies for future years. This cohort exuded confidence and added an element of vibrancy by actively participating in the various working group discussions.
For three days, the delegates delved into discussions that focused on five main themes: Pathogens Research and Biological Weapons; Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology; Synthetic Cells; Biotechnologies Beyond Conventional Containment; and Framing Biotechnology’s Futures. I participated in two sub-themes of Framing Biotechnology’s Future.
The first sub-theme titled ‘Communication and Community’ was chaired by ISAAA AfriCenter Director Dr. Margaret Karembu. It sought to determine who are better placed to communicate the risks and benefits of biotechnology. There was consensus that a bottom-up approach is ideal in communicating the potential of biotechnology, for example, by farmers who bear the brunt of climate change impacts and how better tools help them meet their obligation of feeding the world. As beneficiaries of agricultural biotechnology innovations, such narratives should shape biotechnology’s futures as a moral imperative. I also had an opportunity to be part of a working group chaired by Dr. Jenny Molloy of University of Cambridge titled ‘Access and Equity’ that discussed what it would take to achieve access and equity between the Global North and South. Recommendations centered on capacity strengthening of public research institutions in the Global South as well as policy and regulatory clarity through regional harmonization.
The meeting was a success in upholding the “Spirit of Asilomar” that inspired diverse voices and actors to critically think about biotechnology’s ethical implications and expansive impact to society. As an early career biotechnologist, I gathered key takeaways from the summit.
First, the summit was an immersion of young scientists into ongoing ethical and scientific discussions through the Next Generation Leaders program. This will encourage fellow young scientists to actively participate in discussions and activities that shape biotech futures.
Second, the meeting provided a valuable platform for networking and mentorship. Through the Base Pairing Mentorship initiative, I was paired with Dr. Nathan Pumplin, the CEO of Norfolk Healthy Produce, who is an entrepreneur with a research background in plant biology. Our conversations were quite intriguing, and I gained valuable insights into the entrepreneurial aspect of plant biotechnology. An example of a tangible product on display is the famous dark purple antioxidant tomato, which is Norfolk’s first product line among other consumer appealing fruits and vegetables. I could not pass up the chance to have a taste of a genetically modified purple tomato that produces high levels of anthocyanins, which are antioxidant compounds with widely-recognized health benefits
At the Asilomar Summit, African voices, although few, were represented for the first time. They provided biotechnology insights and needs for solving some of the continent’s challenges. Evidently, biotechnological innovations are essential in addressing challenges such as food insecurity and intractable problems in healthcare delivery in Africa. It is paramount to champion for regional cooperation and collaborative partnerships and advocate for standardized policies that will ensure consistency across borders.
What will future generations say 50 years from now, in 2075, about discussions from the 2025 Spirit of Asilomar summit? This is good food for thought.
Willy Kibet is a PhD Student in Biotechnology at Kenyatta University, Kenya. You can reach him at kibetwilly35@gmail.com
