Experts: Weak biosafety laws in Africa an invitation to bioterrorists
To feed the growing number of people on the African continent, food production on the continent must be increased by up to 300 percent by 2050, and scientists say the only way to do so is by using biotechnology; many are worried that weak or nonexistent biosafety laws in Africa would make it easy for bioterrorists to exploit increased biotechnology activity for their nefarious purposes
Progress comes with risks, especially when the structures to accommodate progress are weak or nonexistent. As more African countries adopt biotechnology in a bid to increase agricultural production, weak biosafety laws threaten to undermine the gains made in the sector. Concerns are emerging that unscrupulous scientists may use the knowledge they have gained for bioterrorism by producing harmful weapons that destroy food, cause environmental degradation, or even death.
“These weapons could deprive crops of water or nutrients resulting in poor yields and eventually down play efforts aimed at marketing the products globally,” said Professor John Opuda-Asibo, the first deputy vice chancellor of Kyambogo University in Uganda.
The East African reports that biological weapons can infiltrate a country through various means including imports, food aid, medicines, or planting materials. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa face the biggest risk due to weak plant and animal epidemiological infrastructure in addition to the lack of biosafety laws. “We need to combat the use of biotechnology as a weapon. That calls for bioterrorism preparedness,” warned Opuda-Asibo.
According to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordination Agency, 33 percent of land in sub-Saharan Africa is under moderate drought, 25 percent under severe drought, while only 4 percent is under irrigation. Climate change could exacerbate the problem.
“We are not getting any extra land yet we need to increase food production by up to 300 percent by 2050. We can only do this through the use of biotechnology,” said Diran Makinde, the director of NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency.
Currently the region records a 2.5 percent annual increase in food production against a 3.4 percent annual population increase. Makinde warned, however, that African countries need to enact biosafety laws in order to prevent disasters.
Only twelve African countries have national biosafety laws in place, a few have biosafety policies, while thirty do not have anything at all.
The East African Community has a biosafety group.
Scientists are now calling on the African Union to come up with a law for the region.
