Biotech Updates

Agri-biotech Can Alleviate Food Security - ASARECA

May 4, 2012

The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) believes that utilizing benefits of agricultural biotechnology can help sub-Saharan Africa countries to attain food security. "Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) provide the best solution to food insecurity and a gateway to a modernized agriculture," said Dr. Charles Mugoya, head of agro-biodiversity and biotechnology at ASARECA while speaking during the Uganda launch of the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM 2011.

Ugandan farmers were also urged to be receptive to biotech as the crops will eventually be commercialized in the country. While speaking at the same forum, the president of Uganda National Farmers' Federation (UNFFE) Charles Ogang urged farmers to take up biotechnology and science based approaches as an avenue to feed the ever increasing population. "Biotechnology is no longer a western thing and research has shown that biotech has even been used to develop vital drugs against diseases like diabetes and measles among others," Ogang noted.

Check link to the story at http://allafrica.com/stories/201204301295.html