Kenya and Nigeria progress as Uganda falters

Published 2021년 8월 31일

Tridge summary

Ugandan scientists have developed drought-tolerant and insect-resistant genetically modified (GM) maize varieties, but lack a biosafety law to guide commercialization, leading to destruction of results and halt in research. Other African countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia are progressing in GM crop commercialization, seeing it as a solution to food insecurity. Uganda's inaction has resulted in lost funding for the TELA maize project, with the parliament passing a biotechnology and biosafety bill that President Museveni has yet to sign. Meanwhile, Ugandan scientists continue to develop other GM crops, facing frustration due to the legislative delay.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

By John Agaba Though several African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia, are making tremendous strides in their quest to develop and commercialize genetically modified crops, it’s not the same story in Uganda. Despite very promising initial successes, Ugandan scientists in the East African country have struggled to progress their GM crop research beyond confined field trials (CFTs) due to various reasons that are out their control. For instance, scientists developing an improved GM maize variety that is drought-tolerant and insect-resistant at Uganda’s National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) had to halt their research and destroy their results because the country still lacks a biosafety law to guide commercialization of GM crops. “We have completed confined field trials for Bt maize, but we cannot apply for environmental release because we don’t have a law to guide usage of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in Uganda,” said Dr. Godfrey Asea, ...

Source: Agropages