Status of commercialized biotech GM crops in Africa

5 August 2014. Accra, Ghana. Stakeholder's forum "Global Status Of commercialized biotech GM crops. Biotechnology will not just address malnutrition, but it will also help increase food production and food security, says Dr. Florence Wambugu, CEO of Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International.

Dr. Wambugu mentioned the statement during the stakeholder's forum and launch of ISAAA Brief 46:

Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops 2013

The population of Africa is projected to increase significantly in the coming years, thus there is a need for a massive increase in food production, Dr. Wambugu stressed. There must be a high level of political will to successfully adopt and reap the benefits of biotechnology in the region, she added.

On the other hand, Prof. Walter Alhassan, agricultural biotechnologist and Biosafety Policy Consultant at the Forum For Agriculture Research in Africa (FARA), said that he observed that the public's fear on the technology is a result of misinformation. Thus, he encouraged publications on agri-biotech, which will help the public get the right information on biotech, and eventually help in the development of agri-biotech in the region.

Related:

4/08/2014 AllAfrica Ghana: Biotechnology Will Increase Food Security and Improve Nutrition 

Related PAEPARD blogpost:

21/08/2014 On trial: Agricultural biotechnology research in Africa