GM crops: the way forward or a fantasy?
The use of GMO crops, or genetically modified organisms, is one of the most controversial area of agriculture in the 21st century: the EU is against it, while it is largely adopted in the US . In Africa, only 4 countries - Burkina Faso, Egypt, South Africa and Sudan - have legalised the sale of GMO crops before ( Mabaya et al. , 2015 ). Uganda initially passed the National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill 2012 in 2017 , which would have given a clearer direction for GMO research, only for President Museveni to decline the bill, citing lack of clarity in the scope of genetic modifications. This happened again in 2021 . This is in spite of the success of GM trials for disease-resistant bananas, cassava and maize. Video of the main considerations in agreement and against allowing GMO crops in Uganda. This is in stark contrast to Kenya, which is both importing and conducting research on GMO crops ( Mmbandao, 2023 ). However, there still remains a strong negative perception o...
