CSIR to collaborate with EPA for better outcome

Management members of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Monday paid a courtesy call on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to discuss areas where they could collaborate.

Dr Victor Agyeman, Director-General CSIR, explained that the institutions, which were both under the Ministry of the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, have broad mandates which were sometime similar in nature, therefore forging closer collaboration would build synergies and also reduce cost.

He said the CSIR’s mandate covers areas including health, environment, industry, agriculture and research, which critically impact on the development of the country.

He said there were so many areas of importance that both institutions could explore, citing areas such as illegal mining, climate change, water and research.

Dr Agyeman, however, said the first step to achieve any meaningful success was for both institutions to team up in shaping existing policies, by looking at their impacts so far on issues on environment and science.

According to him there were currently scattered policies on various areas, most of which needed to be refined and not totally changed, to make them effective.

The CSIR was also coming up with some integrated products and bio-products, as well as practical outcomes from industrial researches, which were all aimed at creating jobs, and the Council hoped to rely on the EPA for information and support.

Mr Daniel S. Amlalo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, said the Agency had over the years, partnered with the various institutions under the CSIR, in areas such as chemical management, illegal mining and waste management.

He cited water as a critical and indispensable natural resource that needed to be preserved for society’s comfort.

Mr Amlalo said the EPA sees the partnership with the CSIR as opportune to improve services to society and also heighten national development through science and technology.