In this context, controversy and confusion should not prevail over Africa's needs. In many circumstances, the environmentally sustainable use of genetically engineered products, in particular, has been advanced as the main concern driving the anti-biotechnology advocacy. The need for biosafety concerns, awareness and instruments is key to the safe utilization of biotechnology in Africa. However, advocating the need to apply biosafety requirements is not the same as calling for a ban because of perceived biosafety concerns. What Africa needs is support to create public awareness and establish requisiste policies, instruments and capacities in this emerging scientific field.
Any resources directed at creating confusion and fear are resources badly used.
It must be recognized that while several initiatives have been made to put in place structures and mechanisms for development of biotechnology in Africa, there exists at present, major differences among different countries in relation to its level of application. A number of challenges are involved in making decisions for engagement in and application of biotechnology in different countries. Among these, is the development of a knowledge base appropriate for decision making in the use of biotechnological approaches, priority setting for biotechnology aimed at solving specific problems of national importance, establishment of policy structures for biosafety and intellectual property protection, capacity development for enhancement of the above issues, and the establishment of linkage and cooperative mechanisms for biotechnology development, transfer and sustainable application. Many countries in Africa are faced with severe reduction in funding for agricultural research. Given that biotechnology is more expensive than conventional research, it should be focuses on solving priority national or regional problems where it has a comparative advantage.