There is an increasing concern about the societal impact of the growing proportion of older adults. This concerns not only demented people, but also relatively healthy older adults who show physical and cognitive decline too. The proposed research addresses the effect of age on the basic capacity to develop new motor skills, as these skills play an important role for independent living and participation in modern society. We will characterize, first, age differences in middle-aged and older groups in motor skill learning with a battery of three motor tasks which allows us to assess the contribution of various (neuro-)cognitive processes using performance measures and EEG. Given that individual differences increase with age?indeed, some individuals exhibit preserved functions even into advancing age?we will address, second, individual learning differences, and their relationship with lifestyle factors like physical activity, and the prevalence of engaging in motor skills earlier in life like touch typing, playing instruments, and handcrafting. Using the results acquired in the first and second parts of the project, in the third part we will examine with our task battery behavioral and physiological interventions to see whether these increase the capacity of older individuals to develop new motor skills.

The SOCBIOAfri project takes up key challenges formulated by the High Level African Panel on Modern Biotechnology in its report ?Freedom to innovate?: that introducing biosafety frameworks into Africa requires the active engagement of the public, the development of educational and training facilities, and regional private-public cooperation and partnerships. It also builds on the fact that EU countries and most African countries have ratified the Cartagena protocol, which includes the ?precautionary principle? for the introduction of biotechnology. Europe-Africa collaboration on learning from experiences with biotechnology and on effective policies is therefore expected to be highly relevant. The project connects teams in Kenya, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Belgium and the Netherlands in investigating biotechnological innovation in Africa. It thereby addresses issues of policy development, technology regulation and capacity-building initiatives of relevance to all parties involved in biotechnology applications, including small-hold farmers and their organizations. The shared approach adopted by the project is derived from contemporary Science & Technology Studies (STS) and applies a co-evolutionary approach in which technological and societal innovations are analysed as co-determining processes. SOCBIOAfri aims to contribute to research on privately and publicly financed biotechnology innovations in Africa, relating these to requirements for elaborating effective policy frameworks for biotechnology in Africa. It also aims to contribute to capacity-building in the analysis of biotechnology and in policy development. The project focuses on the interrelated challenges arising from the policy, economic and sociocultural aspects of biotechnology innovation in farming. Thus, it is highly interdisciplinary in design, with strong roots in relevant African academic and policy institutions. The project will pay special attention to questions of regulation biotechnology regulation and to the possibilities of facilitating innovations that benefit small-hold farmers. SOCBIOAfri has formulated the following specific research questions: " What are the key differences between biotechnology-based agriculture projects in Africa as compared to current dominant agricultural farm systems in Africa with respect to the social (including socioeconomic) and environmental consequences? " What are the key differences between commercially/privately funded and publicly funded biotechnology projects in several African countries with respect to the role of and socioeconomic impact on stakeholders, the choice of crops, IPR, required farm systems, etc.? " What are the perceptions of stakeholders concerning the role of biotechnology in food security, food sovereignty, socioeconomic infrastructure and the environment? How can stakeholder (including small-hold farmers and local communities) interests and their views be represented in participatory decision-making procedures and innovation processes with respect to biotechnology policies? " What forms of biotechnology (with respect to social conditions and the kind of applications) can support local African agricultural practices? During the project, mutual interaction and exchange of information will occur through international workshops in all participating countries, short stays by African researchers in Europe and the construction of a project website. African stakeholders will be involved through participation in workshops, interviews and surveys. The project will deliver peer-reviewed papers, trained African researchers, training frameworks for regulators and recommendations for policy and for scientific and technology innovation procedures.