Ugandan Environment Minister Backs Biotech

Ugandan Minister of State for Environment, Ms. Jessica Ariyo, said that agricultural biotechnology can be of significant assistance in protecting the environment and increasing food productivity to minimize the impact of global food crisis in the country. Speaking at the 5^th Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) in Kampala, Uganda, the Minister said modern biotechnology can help save forests and wetlands in Uganda that are under agricultural threat and other economic activities. She called on agricultural scientists to continue providing information to the public on the role agricultural biotechnology can play in ensuring land use efficiency and environmental conservation. “Policy makers are looking for guidance, because information on biotechnology is often mixed with social, ethnical and political issues”, the Minister said.

The Forum, which discussed the role of "Biotechnology in Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Genetic Resources", stimulated debate on the economic benefits of biotechnology and how to contain potential risks. Participants included members of parliament, researchers, regulators, policymakers, civil society representatives, journalists and environmentalists. They urged the Uganda government to play a leading role in biotechnology knowledge-sharing and education. The forum recommended to the government to set up seed banks and regional botanical gardens to conserve traditional seeds. The OFAB Uganda is held monthly by the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (UNCST).

For more information contact Daniel Otunge of ISAAA AfriCenter at d.otunge@cgiar.org or Olive Nabukonde at onubukonde@yahoo.com.