There is no denying that this science has been shrouded in controversies, with activists opposing every effort to apply modern biotechnology in agriculture. Misconceptions abound about GMOs, creating major hurdles in commercializing crops that can address unique challenges facing the continent. This ideological war continues to deny famers the right to choose, hampers business opportunities and creates an opportunity cost for millions of Africans. Despite resistance at the onset, plant tissue culture in Africa is being embraced. So will genetic modification. We need to cease the moment, shed off our victim mentality and invest in a technology that has a track record of over two decades of success.
Policy Environment
As modern biotechnology presents exciting investment and business opportunities, the biotechnology policy environment in the region in unfavorably skewed against the private sector. After all, who wants to invest in an enterprise where the regulatory environment is unpredictable and you can be sued for imaginary damage? Our policy makers need to be guided by credible scientific evidence and create a predictable and workable environment that will attract investors.
In Uganda, there is a big debate around the National Biosafety and Biotechnology Bill. Most of those drawn into the discussion lack expertise in this field and trade misconceptions. It is high time that parliamentarians engaged experts to help them make informed decisions concerning biosafety laws. To blow up the debates and give room for lies to be traded around serves doom for many Ugandans and Africans who want to invest in the technology.
Lastly, we may seem as if we are not moving forward as expected, but my experience in tissue culture tells me the technology is gathering momentum. It is akin to the early stages of mobile telephony that were marked with a lot of backlash but later picked up tremendously. Africa is an agricultural continent and modern biotechnology is an economic revolution that we should not miss. The opportunity for Africa is ripe. We should go for it now.
Mr. Erostus Nsubuga is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Agro-Genetic Technologies (AGT) Limited. He also Chairs the Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium (UBBC) and sits on the Presidential Technical Advisory Committee on Business Competitiveness in Uganda. He is also a Board member of Uganda Sickle Cell Rescue Foundation (USCRF)
