The Tanzania chapter of the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) was launched to serve as a venue to discuss benefits of agricultural biotechnology. Monthly meetings with stakeholders will be held to share knowledge and experiences and facilitate relevant discussion on agricultural biotechnology. "There are specific conditions and different levels of awareness in different countries, therefore the need for localizing the debate on crop biotechnology," said Dr. Hassan Mshinda, director-general of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology, during the launching ceremony.

Mshinda added that a lack of information on the opportunities offered by biotechnology has resulted in the slow adoption of various agro-technologies to address food problems. He said that developing countries need to be part of the dialogue on food biotechnology crops. OFAB is supported by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation which also assists forum chapters in Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria.

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