Africa must ignore GM 'bullying' from both sides

Check out my letter to the editor just published by SciDev.Net. It suggests that biotechnology, like any technology holds perils if misused. However, properly used, biotechnology holds great promise for developing nations. Asian and Latin American nations are well on the way to reaping benefits from biotechnology, but Africa trails.

Some NGOs, probably well intentioned, are discouraging African nations from using biotechnology out of fear of new technologies or of the corporations that are most expert. I note specifically, NGO antagonism to the Freedom to Innovate report of the African Union's High Level Panel on Modern Biotechnology. This is a reasoned effort by people who have Africa's interests at heart, and it should be taken seriously.