African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (11), pp. 394-416, October 2003

ISSN 1684-5315  © 2003 Academic Journals

Special Anniversary Review

Harmonizing the agricultural biotechnology debate for the benefit of African farmers

Segenet Kelemu^1*, George Mahuku¹, Martin Fregene¹, Douglas Pachico¹, Nancy Johnson¹, Lee Calvert¹, Idupulapati Rao¹, Robin Buruchara², Tilahun Amede³, Paul Kimani⁴, Roger Kirkby², Susan Kaaria², Kwasi Ampofo⁵

¹Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, Colombia.

²CIAT, c/o Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda.

³African Highland Initiative (AHI), c/o CIAT, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

⁴Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya.

⁵Agricultural Technology Development and Transfer Project, ISAR/CIAT/USAID, Kigali, Rwanda.

*Corresponding author. Phone: (57-2) 4450-139. Fax: (57-2) 4450-073. E-mail: s.kelemu@cgiar.org.

Accepted 24 October 2003

The intense debate over agricultural biotechnology is at once fascinating, confusing and disappointing. It is complicated by issues of ethical, moral, socio-economic, political, philosophical and scientific import. Its vocal champions exaggerate their claims of biotechnology as saviour of the poor and hungry, while, equally loudly, its opponents declare it as the doomsday devil of agriculture. Sandwiched between these two camps is the rest of the public, either absorbed or indifferent. Biotechnology issues specific to the African public must include crop and animal productivity, food security, alleviation of poverty and gender equity, and must exclude political considerations. Food and its availability are basic human rights issues—for people without food, everything else is insignificant. Although we should discuss and challenge new technologies and their products, bringing the agricultural biotechnology debate into food aid for Africa where millions are faced with life-or-death situations is irresponsible. Agricultural biotechnology promises the impoverished African a means to improve food security and reduce pressures on the environment, provided the perceived risks associated with the technology are addressed. This paper attempts to harmonize the debate, and to examine the potential benefits and risks that agricultural biotechnology brings to African farmers.