The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology Ghana (OFAB GH), in partnership with the International Association of Agricultural Students (IAAS), has hosted a Youth Biotech Seminar targeting students in agriculture and related fields in the University of Cape Coast.
The initiative, supported by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), seeks to enhance students’ understanding of bringing clarity to GM technology activities in Ghana and raise ambassadors by revitalizing interest in biotech careers.
Dr. Daniel Osei Ofosu, a research scientist at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, in a presentation emphasized the critical role of genetic modification in addressing food security, improving crop quality, and protecting the environment.
He called for a greater embrace of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as a sustainable tool for improving food production and environmental protection.
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Explaining the science behind GMOs, Dr. Ofosu highlighted how specific genes, such as those responsible for drought resistance or nutritional enhancement, can be isolated and transferred from one plant species to another through natural processes or biotechnological tools like Agrobacterium-mediated transfer and particle bombardment.
The process he said, begins with identifying the trait of interest, be it higher vitamin content, faster growth, or pest resistance, then isolating and transferring that gene into a host plant.
He cited examples from India, Nigeria, and Southeast Asia, where genetic engineering has helped tackle issues like Vitamin A deficiency and unpredictable rainfall.
Dr. Ofosu also stated that unlike traditional plant breeding, GMOs in Ghana are governed by a strict biosafety framework, from laboratory research through to field trials and public release.
Citing Ghana’s current dependence on imported cowpea, the he said that despite cowpea’s deep cultural and dietary relevance, used in dishes like ‘gobe’, ‘tubani’, and ‘koose’, farmers are abandoning it due to relentless pest attacks and high production costs.
“From seed to harvest, farmers have to spray weekly, sometimes trekking kilometers with heavy knapsacks just to protect two acres of land. That’s not sustainable,” he said.
Dr. Ofosu indicated that by integrating the BT gene into cowpea, scientists developed a variety resistant to the Maruca insect, a pest responsible for devastating crop losses.
“We’re not creating something foreign. We’re borrowing a natural solution and giving the plant the tools to defend itself.”
He also delved into the regulatory ecosystem in Ghana. The country’s Biosafety Act, passed in 2011, and Legislative Instrument 2383 of 2019, govern all GMO research and deployment.
He said the National Biosafety Authority works with agencies like the Ghana Standards Authority, EPA, and Customs Division to ensure safety, compliance, and accountability.
He reminded students that biotechnology isn’t limited to lab work, it also includes regulation, negotiation, and policy, and could even offer opportunities to represent Ghana on international platforms like the Asilomar Conference.
“Some of our team members were recruited straight from UCC with just a first degree. You could be next, whether in science, regulation, or diplomacy,” he said.
Prof. Aaron Tettey Asare, Dean of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Coast, stated that Ghana risks falling behind in global development if it fails to embrace biotechnology.
He described biotechnology as a “non-negotiable tool” in addressing food insecurity, environmental degradation, and health challenges, particularly in an era defined by climate change and rapid population growth.
“Ghana is either under-informed or misinformed on biotechnology, meanwhile, our neighbors in Burkina Faso have already embraced biotechnology to boost their tomato production, and we’re enjoying the fruits of their innovation without adopting the science ourselves, ” he said.
He observed that despite public skepticism, genetically modified products are already part of the Ghanaian food chain.
“The tomato I used to see in the markets has changed,” he noted. “Burkina Faso tomatoes have become a staple here during the dry season because of their resilience and taste—both products of biotechnology.”
He described the students as the cornerstone of national development.
“The youth form the base of our demographic pyramid. If they are empowered with knowledge and the right tools, they will sustain the application of biotechnology over time and drive Ghana’s transformation.”
He emphasized that biotechnology represents the most advanced stage of biological science today, adding, “any nation that does not embrace biotechnology will become obsolete.”
Citing the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines as an example, he explained how biotech tools enabled the manipulation of RNA to speed up vaccine development, a feat that would have taken over a decade using conventional methods.
“The world used biotechnology, not guesswork, to produce the vaccines. The processes were rigorous, validated, and ensured that human safety was not compromised,” he said.
He noted that climate change was exacerbating food insecurity and that Ghana could not afford to ignore scientific solutions.
“Climate change is real and irreversible, but with biotechnology, we can develop drought-resistant crops, manage pest mutations, and produce more food,” he said.
Comparing local agricultural yields to improved varieties, he highlighted the inadequacies of traditional crops: “Look at the size of our local banana or chicken, then compare it to the improved ones. Our population is growing, but our food system is not keeping up.”
The forum, he said, was not only about science but about shaping policy.
He called for collaboration between researchers, farmers, and government.
“We must come out of this seminar with a communiqué that reaches government and policymakers,” scientists in Ghana need a voice, and OFAB provides that platform.”
He added that embracing biotechnology would position Ghana as a leader in Africa’s agricultural transformation. “With the right policies and public education, Ghana can be food-secure, economically empowered, and environmentally resilient.”
The event, organized in partnership with the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), brought together students, academics, and stakeholders to deliberate on the relevance of modern biotechnologies in solving Ghana’s food production challenges.
Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
