Establish Expert Group in Biotechnology(Inside page) October 6, 2008

Story: Michael Donkor
THE Provost of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences of the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof Ben Ahunu, has called for the establishment of an expert group in biotechnology to examine and come up with a proposal that will ensure food security in the country.
He said the group should comprise leaders from all sectors of agriculture and the food industry.
Prof Ahunu made the call in his inaugural lecture at the University of Ghana last Thursday.
Speaking on the topic, “Genetics and Biotechnology: Relays, synergies, quandaries and ethics in agricultural development”, he said when established, the group should venture beyond the ideas of only technological solutions.
He advised that it should not simply consider the success achieved elsewhere but also listen to other parties, including farmers, consumers and ordinary citizens whose voices did not normally get into the top scientific and business meetings.
He suggested that that leadership think tank should have a clear agenda drawn up to work with and to make proposals to the government.
Prof Ahunu said the agenda should recognise that agro-resources, including indigenous farmers, were a national heritage that should not be left to market forces alone.
He again suggested that the group should make laws that should regulate the activities of near-monopoly companies in the food chain to prevent the unjust exploitation of farmers and developing nations.
Prof Ahunu said it should also lobby the government to create an economic environment that would encourage the use of sustainable methods for high quality sustainable food production for local consumption.
He said it should also provide national legislation for long-term farming development.
Prof Ahunu said there was no single panacea for producing food to feed the world’s hungry population but noted that biotechnology was “one of the many tools in a tool box”.
He called for biotechnology to be developed and used with adequate safety measures in consonance with scales of farming.
He stressed the need for the public to be educated on it to enable them to make informed decisions.