Genetic Engineering Development and Acceptance in Sub Saharan Africa: Stakeholders and Public Opinion about GMO

Charmaine Priscilla Kwade^1, , Annabelle Gadabu¹, Victoria Addo¹, Latif Amadu¹, Vincent Arkorful² and Sadia Lukman¹

¹University of Science and Technology of China, China

²University of Siena, Italy

Cite this paper:
Charmaine Priscilla Kwade, Annabelle Gadabu, Victoria Addo, Latif Amadu, Vincent Arkorful and Sadia Lukman. Genetic Engineering Development and Acceptance in Sub Saharan Africa: Stakeholders and Public Opinion about GMO. Journal of Applied Agricultural Economics and Policy Analysis. 2018; 1(1):22-30. doi: 10.12691/jaaepa-1-1-4

Abstract

Many researchers and policymakers have brought about different solutions to the global issue of food insecurity. The limitations of providing sustainable resolutions to avert poverty and hunger in Africa have being tackled in diverse ways and has generated a number of controversies in the region. This paper aims to investigate issues pertaining to GE development and production in Sub Saharan Africa and to unearth and propose solutions to challenges restricting the development and production of GE crops in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) by examining the opinions of policymakers and the general public in selected number of countries. A qualitative approach of interviews was employed to gain an understanding from different perspectives. A survey conducted in four Sub-Saharan African countries; Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and South Africa revealed that, people are confident that GMO could solve the current agronomic problems but the fear of its potential harm on the environment and health is what deters them. Also, regulatory requirements are emerging as crucial hindrances to many of these countries. However, the study touched briefly on the potential of GMO solving these agronomic problems hence further research should emphasize the potential of GMO soling non-agronomic problems. Also, due to the busy schedule of many relevant stakeholders and respondents, it was difficult to get hold of them to be interviewed.

Keywords:
agricultural biotechnology genetic engineering sub Saharan Africa agricultural development; policymaker group

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