Food Security: Agricultural BioTechnology Critical

Dr Daniel Osei Ofosu, Research Scientist at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) says agricultural biotechnology has the potential to boost crop yields, increase productivity and ensure food security.

Biotechnology is a scientific method of enhancing food quality, safety and production and could cater for the myriad of challenges facing the Agricultural sector in Ghana and Africa in general.

Dr Ofosu said this during a training workshop organized by the Ghana Chapter of the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology, an International Organization for some media practitioners within the Western Region.

It was on Biotechnology and the need for 'Exemplary Journalism, Credible Science Reporting and better Public Understanding of Science, Technology and Innovation'

The Research Scientist said biotechnology had led to key development in areas such as industry, health and the environment in the developed world, saying that, 'this is why we believe that ongoing research on improved variety of crops would be embraced when concluded, to enhance food production for local consumption and for export, as well as poverty reduction through job creation.'

He noted that ensuring food security was critical to the sustenance of the human race, particularly in Africa and, 'That is why we need innovations in technology to deal with the mounting challenges in agriculture,'

Mrs Mary Ama Kudom-Agyemang, Environmental Journalist called on her colleagues in the media to focus more on the agriculture sector and write stories that could inform policy development.

She said 'As Journalists, we would be contributing to the growth of the economy and the country if we devote much of our time and space advocating the challenges facing farmers'.