Exploiting win-win opportunities in agricultural biotechnology application

The African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) says the continent would be disadvantaged in agricultural production if countries continue to lag behind in the adaptation and application of biotechnology.

The network is set up by the AU's NEPAD – New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development – with the goal of building functional biosafety systems in Africa and empowering local regulators with science-based information.

Dr. Moussa Savadogo, Senior Program Officer, Environment Biosafety, says no country should ignore the importance of biotechnology in food production.

“Africa has been caught up with misinformation about GMO but people have now started getting the right information, so they are seeing the importance of biosafety; they are seeing the importance of biotechnology and they are being aware that it will be a very bad thing if they continue to lag behind this technology,” he observed.

Agricultural productivity in Africa is relatively low due largely to the low level of engagement of modern technologies.

Fertilizer usage is not more than 8kg per hectare in Ghana compare 100-200 kg/ha in Asia for the Green Revolution and only 0.2% of land is under irrigation in Ghana.

Modern biotechnology is expected to contribute to the efficient use of agro-inputs as well as in the development of the seed sector, according to experts. It will contribute to sustainable intensification of agriculture in Ghana.

But there is fierce public debate on introducing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agricultural production.

Advocacy group, Food Sovereignty Ghana, for instance contends that “GMOs yield profits only with large scale mechanized agriculture that throws people out of work and off their land”.

Dr. Savadogo however says “no country should ignore biotechnology but harness the benefits of biotechnology by setting up biosfaty systems.”

Ghana's Biosafety Act 831 of 2011 ensures that society derives the benefits from biotechnology for socioeconomic development. The Act regulates that the acquisition of the technology must be also enabling.

Prof. Walter Alhassan, a private consultant and former head of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), says Ghana would need to go for win-win engagements with international agri-businesses in order that the country benefits from new technology application in agriculture.

He expects negotiations with multinationals in technology adaptation to be mutually profitable.

“The multinationals invest a lot in their technologies, so if they are bringing it to you they also want to maximize their profits; but you must also make sure that you gain as much as possible to ensure win-win outcomes,” said Prof. Alhassan.

Ghana, like other African countries, is exploring available technologies to sustain agricultural production.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh