GMOs FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The human population in Africa has undergone a rapid increase in the last decade and this, coupled with problems such as erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and agricultural pest problems, has resulted in severe food insecurity. Advanced agricultural technologies, including the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), could play a role in enhancing agricultural productivity in Africa. However, despite the apparent potential of GMOs to improve agricultural production, there is still a significant debate regarding the extent of the risks posed by GM crops. A number of concerns pertaining to the possible impacts of these crops have been raised and they include food safety, animal/human health, environmental, agricultural and socioeconomic issues. Even though potential impacts range from negative through to positive, the potential negative impacts are the most pronounced in the perceptions of policy-makers and the general public in Africa. Given the many concerns, there is a great need for accurate, credible scientific and technical