adminFrom Sifelani Tsiko in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
AFRICAN countries still show the least level of biotechnology development owing largely to the precautionary approach of governments in guiding the use of biotechnology in agriculture on the continent, researchers say. Regional Agricultural and Environmental Innovations Network Africa director Doreen Shumba-Mnyulwa said African nations are not ready to embrace biotechnology but are eager to develop it.
“Africa has not come out fully in support of biotechnology,” she said. “We are not acknowledging that the technology might address issues of poverty.”
She said this at the three-day RAEIN-Africa international conference on innovation systems for resilient livelihoods which drew scientists, policymakers and academics from nine Sadc countries.
“African countries fear embracing biotechnology because of lack of readiness. Most countries still have no policies on biotechnology, biosafety and do not have the capacity to monitor GMOs,” Shumba-Mnyulwa said.
“There is fear of the unknown — the environmental risks, health risks and misconceptions about modern biotechnology. Most GMOs that are being promoted are not addressing African priorities hence the low uptake of biotechnology.”
Some researchers argued that biotechnology can help transform the continent’s agricultural sector if scientists and their supporting partners make biotechnology relevant to the local needs and ensure local institutions have the capacity to meet this challenge.
“Biotechnology take-off has been slow in most African countries because of fear and too much braking by governments and their regulatory authorities,” said a researcher from South Africa.
“The process has been frustrating and painfully slow when it came to other countries outside South Africa.
“There are so many concerns and it will take time to break the barriers to the full development of biotechnology in most Southern African countries.”
He said Egypt, Burkina Faso and South Africa were some of the few African countries that had embraced biotechnology and were reaping substantial benefits.
Challenges which were identified as slowing down the adoption of biotechnology included inadequate funding and policy frameworks to support research in biotechnology, lack of clear policies on biotechnology to attract international partnerships and the protective approach of the regulatory frameworks in most Sadc countries.
“Our regulatory frameworks are packed with some strong protective measures against the development of biotechnology,” said another researcher from Tanzania.
“Africa is still missing out to a large extent on biotechnology. This is not a silver bullet but a tool that could help provide some solutions to hunger and poverty despite the challenges that come with it.”
Modern biotechnology is still controversial in Africa with researchers raising questions on ownership, markets, genetic contamination and control of the technologies.
“The subject of modern biotechnology is still not acceptable to everyone,” said Prof Abednigo Dlamini of the University of Swaziland.
“If you are an advocate of biotechnology you are on one side of the debate. We need to be impartial and neutral about it and weigh the potential benefits and risks.”
Others said the fact that the technology was not developed and owned by Africans created a huge barrier in the development of biotechnology in Africa.
“It’s because the technology is imported. If we had the technology I don’t think people would resist biotechnology,” said Dr Matshwarelo Matsheka of the University of Botswana.
Despite the existence of bureaucratic processes hindering private investments in the development and commercialisation of biotechnology, researchers say lack of proper information on biotechnology, lack of public awareness and skilled manpower continues to stall the development of the technology.
“Biotechnology, like any other technology, has the potential to contribute to poverty alleviation in Africa.
“It is not a silver bullet to poverty but it also worth considering as an option in the fight against hunger and poverty,” said Shumba-Mnyulwa.
Those against the new technology argue that the use of GMOs in agriculture could have potential negative effects on the environment and human health, as well as potential socio-economic effects on the livelihood of local communities.
Online Reporter