By: Joyce Gyekye
The African Union Development Agency, AUDA-NEPAD is encouraging member states to embrace one of the tools of biotechnology known as Genome Editing (GEd) to enhance food security.
Biotechnology experts with the organization say GEd has the greatest potential of addressing pest and disease infestation of crops in the midst of climate change issues to increase food production.
The Head of Biosafety Programme AUDA-NEPAD, Samuel Timpo at a validation workshop on Ghana’s Draft Genome Editing Communication Strategy in Accra entreated member countries to accept the technology as it is way cheaper than the processes Genetically Modified products GMO’s go through to get one crop on the market.
Mr Timpo said “ It takes about 135 million dollars for a GMO crop to go through a complete cycle: from discovery, laboratory and field trials to commercial level whereas some genome editing technology can cost as low as ten dollars”.
He noted the cost effectiveness of the technology adding that “ Under-resourced public scientific research institutions can take advantage of it and not wait till developed countries utilize the technology for us to pay huge amounts to get it.”
Mr Timpo allayed public fears regarding biotechnology adding that precision science and goes through vigorous safety checks at all points of its development.
The Acting Director, Knowledge Management of AUDA-NEPAD, Florence Nazare corroborated an earlier statement by Samuel Timpo about the prospects of GEd in feeding the increasing population of the continent, creating jobs and serving as the agro base of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AFCTA.
Madam Navare explained that genome editing” For instance addresses genes in plants that trigger allergies for some people by deleting, muting and toning them down.”
Director of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR’s Institute for Scientific and Technological Information, INSTI, Dr Seth Manteaw noted the preparedness of the Council’s Human Resources in embracing the technology.
He stated that “The Crop Research Institute in Fumesua in the Ashanti Region and the Savannah Research Institute in the Savanna Region have some biotechnology experts but added that more have to be trained to position the country to fully utilize the technology.”
He called for more investment from both public and private sectors to harness the technology.
WHAT IS GENOME EDITING
Genome editing refers to techniques in which a genetic material is inserted, modified, replaced or deleted in the genetic material of a living organism at predetermined locations.
It is one of the tools of biotechnology and it is being used for crops such as rice, tomato, maize, soya beans and potato to address pests and disease infestation to increase food production.
It is also being used in animals like poultry, sheep, cattle and pigs for increased disease resistance and better adaptation to environmental conditions.
GHANA’S DRAFT GENOME EDITING AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
The overall aim of the Draft National Genome Editing Communication Strategy is to increase public acceptance of the new technology by closing the knowledge gap and building relevant scientific literacy among non-expert population towards optimizing agriculture, food and nutritional security in the country.
