The International Symposium on Agricultural Transformation and Biotech Crops in Africa on theme “Increasing Access to New Tools,Technologies, and Methods in Africa was held at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana.
Hundreds of guests from across Africa and the rest of the world gathered to deliberate on what agricultural sector stakeholders need to do differently to ensure expanded farmer access to crops produced using New Breeding Techniques (NBTs).
They also deliberated on how genome editing and genetically modified organism (GMO) technologies can be appropriately deployed for the benefit of African farmers and the populace.
The symposium discussed the Future of Biotech Crops in Africa from the perspectives of scientists, government officials and regulators. Founding Director of WACCI and Professor of Plant Genetics at the Department of Crop Science of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Eric Yirenkyi Danquah said “the war between Ukraine and Russia is affecting Africa is a Shame.
He added that the symposium served as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and sharing of ground breaking research and innovations.
Deputy Minister for Food & Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong Addo, said Since 2017, the Government of Ghana has been implementing the Planting for Food and Jobs program as part of initiatives to help transform Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Through the program, they have improved yields on farms, expanded access to markets, reduced post-harvest losses, and enhanced extension service delivery through various digital technologies.
He added that the program has generated fifty-billion Ghana cedis worth of produce since its inception until September 2022, meanwhile science, technology, and innovation have been at the very core of the PFJ.
Farmers have been introduced to improved seeds, expanded access to fertiliser, and also taught them scientific approaches to production, which has enhanced the use of digital innovations in the delivery of agricultural extension services.
Eastern Africa Director of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (ITA) & Leader of Biotechnology Program, Dr. Leena Tripathi, said the forum was important to expose farmers,consumers and the general public to the new technology in farming and to minimize their fear of using new products.
