Main Article Content

Biotechnology in Organic Agriculture in Africa: Myth or Oversight?


C Ssekyewa
MK Muwanga

Abstract

Biotechnology refers to scientific methods and practices that are based on biological systems or components. Its applications vary from simple system to amino acids (i.e. DNA and RNA) based applications and are relevant to many stages of commodity value chains. Whereas the simple applications are well understood, contemporary advancements into these applications have gone to deeper levels of innovation, dealing with cells, chromosomes, nucleotides and genes. Since these determine the cellular functions that influence behaviour and inheritance, any biotechnological method applied at this level is very sensitive, because it might result into undesirable alterations in the traits and behaviour of organisms. Notwithstanding its likely contributions, therefore, this level of innovation raises scepticism against biotechnology among the organic agriculture community in Africa. Thus, this paper examines the applicability of these innovations in the development of organic agriculture on the continent.

Key words: Attitude; Indigenous Knowledge; Technology Adoption; Genetics

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2070-1748
print ISSN: 2070-1748