Should Africa Embrace Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to Achieve Food Security and Agricultural Transformation?
The Science Behind GMOs
Genetically Modified Organisms are created through precise scientific techniques that alter the DNA of plants to express desired traits such as resistance to pests or herbicides, improved nutrition, or adaptability to harsh climates. Unlike traditional crossbreeding, GMOs allow for the direct insertion of specific genes, offering more predictable results in less time. Globally, GMO crops like maize, cotton, and soybeans have been adopted widely, particularly in the U.S., Brazil, and Argentina. In these countries, GMOs have been linked to higher farm incomes, lower pesticide use, and increased resilience against environmental stressors.
Divergent Policies Across Africa
Africa, however, remains deeply divided on the issue. Countries like South Africa and Nigeria have taken significant strides in GMO adoption. South Africa has cultivated GM maize for over two decades, and Nigeria has released GM cotton and cowpea with positive results. Ethiopia has recently joined the pro-GMO camp, albeit cautiously. On the other side are countries like Kenya, which has vacillated between bans and approvals, and Zambia and Tanzania, which continue to maintain strict bans on GMOs. This policy fragmentation presents challenges not only to agricultural innovation but also to regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, as it creates regulatory and commercial friction between neighboring states.
Food Security Versus Food Sovereignty
Advocates of GMOs point to their potential to significantly enhance food production in Africa. For instance, South Africa's use of GM maize has enabled the country to remain food secure and even export to its neighbors, despite climate-related challenges. GM cowpea in Nigeria has reduced pesticide use and increased farmer profits. These technologies could play a pivotal role in achieving the global objective of eliminating hunger. However, critics argue that food sovereignty, the right of people to define their own food systems, must not be sacrificed for productivity alone. Many African farmers depend on saving and exchanging seeds, a practice potentially threatened by patented GM varieties that require annual purchases and discourage traditional farming systems.
Climate Change Accelerates the Need
Africa is among the continents most vulnerable to climate change, with agriculture being the most affected sector. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts have led to crop failures, food shortages, and economic hardship. GMOs offer climate-smart solutions such as drought-tolerant maize or pest-resistant cowpea, which can reduce losses and secure food production in the face of environmental stress. In Kenya and Ethiopia, erratic weather patterns have already rendered traditional crops increasingly unreliable. GMOs could bridge the yield gap and provide a buffer against future climate shocks, but only if their adoption is guided by rigorous biosafety standards and local adaptation.
Ethical and Cultural Resistance
Resistance to GMOs in Africa is not purely scientific. It is deeply ethical, cultural, and political. Many fear that the spread of GMOs will lead to dependence on foreign seed companies, undermining local agricultural knowledge and biodiversity. Others raise concerns about the long-term health effects and environmental impact, despite scientific consensus on the safety of approved GMOs. The mistrust is further compounded by inadequate public consultation, opaque policymaking, and poor communication from governments and scientists. In regions with histories of exploitation, skepticism toward Western technologies, often spearheaded by multinational corporations, is understandable and must be addressed through inclusive policymaking.
Trade Frictions and Regulatory Gaps
The lack of unified biosafety and GMO regulatory frameworks across Africa presents serious trade challenges. For instance, maize grown in South Africa cannot be exported to Zambia or Tanzania due to import restrictions on GMOs. This undermines regional food security, especially during drought-induced shortages. Under the AfCFTA, harmonizing GMO policies is essential for facilitating cross-border trade and fostering a collective approach to food security. Without regulatory alignment, Africa risks fragmenting its agricultural markets and stalling progress on its development goals.
Building African Biotech Capacity
For GMOs to be a viable solution, Africa must invest in its own biotechnology capacity. This includes funding local research institutions, developing homegrown GM crops tailored to African conditions, and training scientists and regulators. Nigeria has taken steps in this direction, and South Africa serves as a model for how to build a robust biotechnology sector. However, many countries still rely on imported technologies, which fuels concerns about sovereignty and foreign control. Developing African biotechnology is not just a scientific imperative. It's a political and economic one.
Bridging the Trust Gap
Public engagement is key to the successful adoption of GMOs. Citizens must be informed, consulted, and involved in decision-making processes. Governments need to demystify biotechnology and communicate both its benefits and risks clearly. Civil society and media also have roles to play in fostering informed debate. Transparency, accountability, and inclusive dialogue can help bridge the trust gap that currently hinders progress. Africa's GMO strategy must be rooted in public trust, scientific evidence, and respect for local cultures and farming systems.
The Way Forward
Africa's path to agricultural transformation and food security will require multiple tools, including improved irrigation, climate-smart farming, infrastructure development, and responsible use of GMOs. GMOs alone won't solve hunger, but dismissing them entirely ignores their proven benefits and potential. A balanced, science-led, and context-specific approach is needed, one that integrates biotechnology into broader agricultural policies, safeguards biodiversity, and empowers farmers.
The continent cannot afford to let ideology or misinformation block pathways to food security. Neither should it rush headlong into adoption without sufficient regulation, local innovation, and community buy-in. The future of African agriculture lies not in rejecting or embracing GMOs blindly, but in shaping their use wisely, inclusively, and strategically.
About the author
Name: Asamoah Oppong Zadok
Organization: Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA
Biography:
Asamoah Oppong Zadok is a researcher specializing in sustainable agriculture, agribusiness, and agricultural policy and the Founder of Sustaina Harvest, a mission-driven agribusiness based in Akim Oda - Adjobue, Eastern Region, Ghana. Under his leadership, Sustaina Harvest integrates eco-friendly crop and livestock production with social impact programs focused on empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities. He holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture from Lincoln University and a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. His research focuses on consumer demand, local food systems, agricultural policy analysis, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture. Asamoah has presented at international research conferences and serves as a peer reviewer for journals in economics and agriculture.
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Should Africa Embrace Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to Achieve Food Security and Agricultural Transformation?
Africa is facing an escalating food crisis. With over 250 million people suffering from undernourishment, and agricultural productivity still trailing behind global standards, the continent's food systems are under immense pressure. Rapid population growth, climate change, recurring droughts, conflict, and pest outbreaks are further worsening food insecurity. Traditional farming methods, though culturally entrenched, are often inadequate in the face of modern challenges. This crisis demands innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions. Genetically Modified Organisms offer a potential path forward. These are crops engineered to resist pests, tolerate drought, and boost yields. Could GMOs be the game-changer Africa needs, or do they pose more risks than rewards? The Science Behind GMOs Genetically Modified Organisms are created through precise scientific techniques that alter the DNA of plants to express desired traits such as resistance to pests or herbicides, improved nutrition, or adaptability to harsh climates. Unlike traditional crossbreeding, GMOs allow for the direct insertion of specific genes, offering more predictable results in less time. Globally, GMO crops like maize, cotton, and soybeans have been adopted widely, particularly in the U.S., Brazil, and Argentina. In these countries, GMOs have been linked to higher farm incomes, lower pesticide use, and increased resilience against environmental stressors. Divergent Policies Across Africa Africa, however, remains deeply divided on the issue. Countries like South Africa and Nigeria have taken significant strides in GMO adoption. South Africa has cultivated GM maize for over two decades, and Nigeria has released GM cotton and cowpea with positive results. Ethiopia has recently joined the pro-GMO camp, albeit cautiously. On the other side are countries like Kenya, which has vacillated between bans and approvals, and Zambia and Tanzania, which continue to maintain strict bans on GMOs. This policy fragmentation presents challenges not only to agricultural innovation but also to regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, as it creates regulatory and commercial friction between neighboring states. Food Security Versus Food Sovereignty Advocates of GMOs point to their potential to significantly enhance food production in Africa. For instance, South Africa's use of GM maize has enabled the country to remain food secure and even export to its neighbors, despite climate-related challenges. GM cowpea in Nigeria has reduced pesticide use and increased farmer profits. These technologies could play a pivotal role in achieving the global objective of eliminating hunger. However, critics argue that food sovereignty, the right of people to define their own food systems, must not be sacrificed for productivity alone. Many African farmers depend on saving and exchanging seeds, a practice potentially threatened by patented GM varieties that require annual purchases and discourage traditional farming systems. Climate Change Accelerates the Need Africa is among the continents most vulnerable to climate change, with agriculture being the most affected sector. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts have led to crop failures, food shortages, and economic hardship. GMOs offer climate-smart solutions such as drought-tolerant maize or pest-resistant cowpea, which can reduce losses and secure food production in the face of environmental stress. In Kenya and Ethiopia, erratic weather patterns have already rendered traditional crops increasingly unreliable. GMOs could bridge the yield gap and provide a buffer against future climate shocks, but only if their adoption is guided by rigorous biosafety standards and local adaptation. Ethical and Cultural Resistance Resistance to GMOs in Africa is not purely scientific. It is deeply ethical, cultural, and political. Many fear that the spread of GMOs will lead to dependence on foreign seed companies, undermining local agricultural knowledge and biodiversity. Others raise concerns about the long-term health effects and environmental impact, despite scientific consensus on the safety of approved GMOs. The mistrust is further compounded by inadequate public consultation, opaque policymaking, and poor communication from governments and scientists. In regions with histories of exploitation, skepticism toward Western technologies, often spearheaded by multinational corporations, is understandable and must be addressed through inclusive policymaking. Trade Frictions and Regulatory Gaps The lack of unified biosafety and GMO regulatory frameworks across Africa presents serious trade challenges. For instance, maize grown in South Africa cannot be exported to Zambia or Tanzania due to import restrictions on GMOs. This undermines regional food security, especially during drought-induced shortages. Under the AfCFTA, harmonizing GMO policies is essential for facilitating cross-border trade and fostering a collective approach to food security. Without regulatory alignment, Africa risks fragmenting its agricultural markets and stalling progress on its development goals. Building African Biotech Capacity For GMOs to be a viable solution, Africa must invest in its own biotechnology capacity. This includes funding local research institutions, developing homegrown GM crops tailored to African conditions, and training scientists and regulators. 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The Way Forward Africa's path to agricultural transformation and food security will require multiple tools, including improved irrigation, climate-smart farming, infrastructure development, and responsible use of GMOs. GMOs alone won't solve hunger, but dismissing them entirely ignores their proven benefits and potential. A balanced, science-led, and context-specific approach is needed, one that integrates biotechnology into broader agricultural policies, safeguards biodiversity, and empowers farmers. The continent cannot afford to let ideology or misinformation block pathways to food security. Neither should it rush headlong into adoption without sufficient regulation, local innovation, and community buy-in. The future of African agriculture lies not in rejecting or embracing GMOs blindly, but in shaping their use wisely, inclusively, and strategically. 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Vaccine immunogenicity will also be assessed locally by a network of state-of-the-art African research institutes: Cape Town HVTN Immunology Laboratory in Cape Town, African Health Research Institute in Durban, and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in Johannesburg, South Africa. This Phase 1, first-in-human clinical trial will enroll approximately 120 healthy adults aged 18-50 years, including 48 people living with HIV who are virally suppressed on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The trial is designed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate in people living with and without HIV. Participants will receive either one or two doses of the investigational vaccine or a placebo and will be monitored over a period of 19 months for safety and immune responses. This clinical trial, IAVI C114, is sponsored by IAVI. GRAdHIVNE1 has been made possible by a collaborative effort. ReiThera developed the GRAd viral vector platform and manufactured the vaccine candidate, while the Ragon Institute designed the immunogen using novel strategies to identify protective HIV epitopes and facilitate their targeting by T cells. This clinical program is funded by the Gates Foundation. The IAVI C114 clinical trial is taking place at three clinical trial sites: the Mutala Trust Clinical Trial Site, in Harare, Zimbabwe; the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF), in Cape Town, South Africa; and the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), in Durban, South Africa. To determine the vaccine candidate's potential for relevance in sub-Saharan Africa, where disease burden is greatest, it is essential that the candidate be tested within communities affected by the epidemic. "This is a landmark moment for South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the continent. 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This approach will be evaluated to assess the ability of the vaccine candidate to direct strong CD8+ T cell immune responses towards these vulnerable viral regions. "We are thrilled to be moving insights from our long-term studies of spontaneous elite controllers of HIV toward the development of GRAdHIVNE1 and its testing in Africa. We are truly grateful to the network of global and African partners that have come together to make the IAVI C114 trial a reality," said Dr. Gaurav Gaiha, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Principal Investigator at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard. Because CD8+ T cells induced by this vaccine hold promise for targeting HIV-infected cells, this clinical trial will also assess the safety and immune response in people living with HIV. These data will be used to assess the suitability of the vaccine candidate for the development of investigational HIV therapeutic and curative interventions. 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It is known for conducting high-quality, ethically sound clinical trials addressing diseases that affect African communities. Mutala is the clinical lead site for the study. Mutala Trustmedia contact coms@ About ReiThera Srl. ReiThera Srl, an Italian CDMO specializing in technology and process development as well as GMP manufacturing of viral vectors for genetic vaccines and advanced therapies, is the developer and owner of the GRAd platform used for this HIV vaccine. ReiThera media contact communication@ About the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard The Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard was established with a collaborative scientific mission among these institutions that brings scientists, clinicians and engineers together to harness the immune system to combat and cure human disease. They contributed to vaccine design. For more information, visit Ragon Institutemedia contact ragoncommunications@ SOURCE: IAVI
