PBS Conducts Biotech Workshop in Uganda

The Program for Biosafety Systems organized a one day meeting for scientists, farmers, communication specialists and journalists, to enhance awareness about the benefits of biotechnology, and discuss the importance of a biosafety law. The biotechnology stakeholders discussed the laws and major policies related to biosafety and identified the existing gaps in the outlined policies. They also made an inventory ofthe existing capacity in biosafety in the country and identified areas that need intervention in capacity strengthening.

During the meeting, participants noted that the process to put in place laws and institutional frameworks for biosafety in Uganda is taking long even as researchers are making advances on biotechnology products. Currently the National Agricultural Research Organization NARO is conducting research on 5 crops, including bananas, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes and cotton covering 13 confined field trials.

Dr. Julius Echuru, Acting Executive Director Uganda National Council of Science Technology, outlined the challenges facing biotechnology development including heavy reliance on public driven research and product development as well as the limited public understanding and awareness on benefitsof biotechnology. Dr. Thereza Ssengoba, coordinator of the PBS, underlined the need for a biosafety law, to guide the use of technology in a safe and sustainable manner, and challenged the participants to think about strategies to enrich the communication strategy on biotechnology. She appealed to the biotechnology stakeholders, to ensure that accurate and timely information is disseminated to the public, while demystifying the potential risks associated with biotechnology.

For more information contact Dr. Theresa Ssengoba, the coordinator of the Program for Biosafety System in East Africa, at t.sengoba@cgiar.org.