According
to him, the scientific community has failed to effectively communicate the
relevance and benefit of biotechnology to the public.
“If
you are in a scientist and you are in the lab working and you think you’ve
found something that is really of importance to the public, you must not avoid
communication with the people who are actually the end users,” he noted.
He
says such engagements will build public confidence and reduce real or perceived
risks associated with every technological innovation to increase usage of
product.
Biotechnology
involves technological applications that use biological systems, living organisms
or their derivatives, to make or modify products or processes.
Pressure
groups, especially the Food Sovereignty Ghana, has been vocal against the promotion
of genetically modified (GM) foods in Ghana and also resisting passage of the
Plant Breeders’ Right Bill currently before parliament Os in Ghana.
Dr.
Twumasi however says GM crops have enormous benefits in local agriculture
production, especially reduction in use of fertilizer and pesticides by farmers.
The
US Embassy has been engaging interest groups on biotechnology awareness
creation to strengthen Africa’s capacity for safe management of biotechnology
in sub-Saharan Africa for enhanced food security.
Dr.
Hans Adu-Dapaah, Director of the Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is positive about the acclaimed impacts
of modern biotechnology on agriculture, human health and the environment
through increased crop yields, drought-tolerant and disease-resistant crop
varieties, reduced use of pesticides and herbicides, production of
nutritionally enriched foods and affordable vaccines.
“It
is the gene revolution that holds the only real hope to end hunger,” he opined.
“Agricultural biotechnology is a key tool on the development of new crops and
promises to deliver stepwise changes in input and quality traits. It is
generally accepted that GM crops will be one of the many strategies needed to
clothe and fuel nine billion people estimated to be living by the year 2020.”
Dr.
Adu-Dapaah however acknowledged genetically modified organisms might be
associated with new risks to other organisms and the environment whilst posing significant
challenges to policy makers.
“The
controversy surrounding biotechnological developments and applications, has led
to the development of international treaties and protocols on biosafety, to
provide regulatory framework to ensure environmentally safe applications of
modern biotechnology in medicine, agriculture and the environment in sustainable
manner and avoid endangering public health or limit its damaging effects, if
any,” he emphasized.
Dr.
Twumasi is also advocating local generation of genetically modified crops,
including plantain and cassava, rather than depend on importation of crops
developed in other countries.
Story
by Kofi Adu Domfeh
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