While in Uganda during the week of 15th April, 2013, Prof Calestous Juma of Harvard Kennedy School of government, Harvard University, USA said biotechnology will help African countries to lay the scientific and technological basis needed to work not only on agriculture but on other areas of the bio-economy such health, environment and industrial production. ISAAC KHISA caught up with him on the importance of biotechnology in achieving economic transformation and here are the excerpts:



 

Prof Juma

Basing on ISAAA report for 2012, many developing countries seem to be adopting biotechnology in food production compared to developed countries. What is driving all this, and in any case, is biotechnology a solution to food security in east Africa and Africa as a continent?

 



The main reason biotechnology crops are being adopted by farmers in developing countries is because they either reduce pesticide use or help in weed control. Biotechnology is a tool for solving specific problems such as pest control and weed management. In helps in reducing the loss of yield due to pests and weeds and as a result helps farmers to increase their harvest. In this regard they can help on one aspect of food security related to increasing production.

But there are other factors that influence food security which include access to food and the quality of what people eat. Access to food is consequence of income and therefore more complex. Farmers who grow biotechnology cash crops such as cotton may increase their disposable income which can used to buy food. But overall food security in more complex and cannot be address by biotechnology tools alone.

If the use of biotechnology or GM foods is the solution to food security in east Africa, why is it taking too long, with the exception of South Africa, Egypt, Burkina Faso, and now Sudan to be adopted in Africa?

The slow rate of the adoption of biotechnology crops in Africa is partly a result of poor investments in agriculture in general. But in some countries the slow rate of adoption is a consequence of either the lack of enabling legislation or the existing or restrictive laws that make difficult and expensive for crop developers to commercialize their crops.

There are claims that biotechnology is an expensive venture for the developing countries especially Uganda. What is your view on this?

The development of any technology involves cost. The failure to develop new technologies also comes at a price. It is estimated that Uganda loses a minimum of US$500 million a year due to banana wilt disease. The spread of banana wilt could have serious consequences for food security and even political stability for Uganda. The cost of developing biotechnology tools to control this disease is negligible compared to the consequences of the destruction of Uganda’s staple crop.

Are we likely to continue solving the same problem of food insecurity in the coming years because as food production increases due to biotechnology, many people are likely to be health and hence increase in population?

More food doesn't necessarily lead to higher population growth. To the contrary, poor nutrition leading to high infant mortality could contribute to high fertility rates as people choose to have more children to increase the chances of survival. Improved nutrition and other measures such as improved health care, education and living conditions are important sources of fertility reduction. The key to managing population is therefore economic growth and agricultural development can help. It is important to stress that these are complex issues that whose outcomes cannot be attributed simply to improvements in food security.

 Issues have been raised over safety GMO foods with claims that it poses health risk to human beings as well as the environment, can you clarify on this?

It is not possible to simply respond to claims. The onus is on those who make the claims to provide evidence of harm. Regulatory authorities will act when such evidence available. But they cannot act on the basis of anecdotal information or mere claims.

 What are the barriers to biotechnology caused by the liability clause in the GM laws, and what need to be done to encourage research and commercialization of biotech crops in East Africa?

Restrictive liability clauses assume that the products are harmful without prior evidence. They are extremely harmful to the development of the biotechnology sector. This is not say that there should be no liability for faulty products but such laws should be discriminate against certain products.

 A number of countries in Africa are now producing biotech foods. In your view, what is the future of GM foods in East Africa and the entire continent?

Biotechnology crops will be adopted in steady and measured way that reflects local realities. What is interesting is the development of biotechnology crops that address African challenges such as disease, drought, pests and weeds. This is every encouraging and shows that African scientists are using the technology to respond to local challenges.

 What are the other underlying benefits for adopting biotechnology apart from farming?

The adoption of biotechnology will help African countries to lay the scientific and technological basis needed to work not only on agriculture but on other areas of the bioeconomy such health, environment and industrial production. By slowing use of biotechnology African countries may be undermining their own ability to build foundations for other technological advances.

And lastly, what are your suggestions for those opposing the adoption of GM crops/food in East Africa?

Every new technology raises concerns and these needs to be openly and democratically debated. For this reason open dialogue is an important aspect of the evolution of new technology. It is important for African countries to create institutional structure through which such debates can occur based on evidence. It is for this reason that adopting biotechnology policies that advance the technology which providing safety measures is an important starting point in managing public debates. END