Biotech and the African plate: what do you think of GMOs?

GMOs have transformed agriculture elsewhere, yet in Africa, fear and regulation still hold back innovation. Can the continent afford to keep saying no?

In 2024, Zimbabwe was hit by a catastrophic El Niño-induced drought that plunged nearly half of its population into severe food insecurity.

It was the worst famine the country had experienced in four decades–since independence. Desperate to feed starving communities, officials even considered culling 200 elephants as an emergency food source.

This crisis triggered a dramatic shift in national policy. Zimbabwe’s government approved the importation of genetically modified (GMO) maize for consumption–yet the country has been against GMOs. But the decision came with a caveat: while GMO maize could be eaten, planting it remained illegal. Officials warned that anyone caught distributing such seeds for farming would face prosecution.

Zimbabwe’s reluctant acceptance of GMO maize under emergency conditions reflects a broader dilemma confronting many African nations: how to reconcile the urgent need for food security with deep-rooted fears about biotechnology.

A comprehensive review published in the June issue of Food Science & Nutrition by Adeola Dolapo and colleagues explores how genetically modified foods (GMFs) could transform Africa’s agricultural landscape and address its chronic food shortages. Yet, the review also reveals that public skepticism, regulatory inconsistencies, and misinformation continue to stall widespread acceptance and implementation.

Crisis across the continent

Africa bears the world’s highest burden of hunger. Nearly 282 million people across the continent are undernourished, accounting for 38% of the global total. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 61% of Africans face moderate to severe food insecurity.

The causes are complex–climate change, poor soil quality, frequent pest outbreaks, and outdated farming practices. Traditional agricultural methods simply can’t keep pace with population growth. Each year, the continent loses up to half of its harvest due to pests, storage issues, and extreme weather events.

Genetically modified foods (GMFs) are crops whose DNA has been scientifically altered to improve traits like drought tolerance, pest resistance, and nutritional content. They’ve been widely embraced in countries like the United States, Brazil, and India. But in Africa, only a few nations–South Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Malawi–have fully commercialized GM crops.

South Africa has been the regional pioneer, commercializing pest-resistant Bt maize as early as 2003. Other countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda, have cautiously followed with field trials and small-scale rollouts.

Nigeria’s 2019 approval of Bt cowpea (Sampea 20-T) was a significant milestone, especially in improving protein intake in local diets.

Public fear?

A major obstacle to GM adoption in Africa is public perception. In a survey conducted in Abuja, Nigeria, 67% of respondents believed GMFs were harmful to human health. Nearly half expressed concern about long-term effects. Similar views are common across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.

“Many Africans remain wary of GM foods due to ethical concerns, fears of allergic reactions, and environmental impact,” the review by Dolapo and colleagues notes. Critics also worry about dependence on multinational seed corporations, the loss of indigenous varieties, and unforeseen ecological risks.

Inconsistent government messaging and a lack of public education have further fueled mistrust. For instance, Tanzania banned GMO crop research trials in 2021, despite earlier investments in biotechnology.

GMOs are largely safe

Scientific studies, however, largely support the safety and benefits of GMFs. Contrary to public fears, there is no credible evidence linking GM foods to health risks. On the contrary, biotechnology has helped reduce pesticide use, improve crop yields, and enhance the nutritional quality of staple foods.

One success story is Golden Rice, engineered to produce beta-carotene. It can meet up to 99% of daily vitamin A requirements, potentially reducing child blindness and mortality in regions where rice is a staple. Biofortified GM cassava and maize are also being developed to combat iron and zinc deficiencies.

GMFs can also reduce post-harvest losses–a major issue in African agriculture. For instance, genetically engineered groundnuts in Uganda resist fungal contamination by aflatoxins, which cause severe health problems and lead to massive food waste.

Uneven regulation

A major barrier to broader adoption of GMFs is the uneven regulatory environment across Africa. South Africa boasts a mature biosafety system. In contrast, countries like Uganda and Tanzania still struggle with fragmented or underdeveloped regulatory frameworks.

Nigeria, however, has made progress. Its National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) recently approved Tela maize after rigorous scientific assessment for allergenicity, toxicity, and environmental impact.

Bottomline

The review concludes with a strong call to action: “Africa’s food crisis is too urgent to ignore scientific solutions–but those solutions must be implemented responsibly and equitably.”

As climate shocks intensify and food insecurity grows, the question becomes more urgent: what do you think of GMOs? Should Africa embrace them–or continue rejecting them?

CHART OF THE WEEK

May 2025 was the second hottest May ever recorded, just behind May 2024. It was about 1.4°C warmer than the average temperatures before the industrial era.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

“Climate change in Africa presents complex challenges beyond the environment; it directly impacts health outcomes and deepens social inequities. Vulnerable populations face disproportionate risks, from increased disease burden to limited access to essential services. Addressing climate change is therefore critical not only for environmental sustainability but also for advancing health equity and social justice across the continent,” Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi 

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS 

Early human infant skulls reveal ancient species differences: A study which examined fossil skulls and jaws of ancient human infants from Africa found that even babies from over 2 million years ago showed clear differences between early human species. Using 3D scans and detailed measurements, researchers found that features like jaw shape, tooth development, and facial structure were already distinct in infants of Homo habilis and Homo erectus. This suggests that the diversity among early human species began early in life, not just in adulthood. The study also showed that some traits linked to chewing and possibly speech appeared much earlier in evolution than expected. These findings highlight how studying infant fossils can reveal important clues about human development and evolution. [Reference, Nature Communications]

Africa’s ancient herbivores faced two major evolution shifts: A study examining fossils of large plant-eating mammals (like elephants and antelopes) over the past 60 million years found two major global shifts in their ecosystems. In Africa, the first big change happened around 21 million years ago when a land bridge formed between Africa and Eurasia. This allowed animals to move between continents, mixing species and increasing diversity. The second shift, about 10 million years ago, was triggered by climate change and the spread of grasslands. African animals adapted by evolving new teeth for grazing. Since then, although the types of animals have remained stable, their variety has declined—especially with the loss of giant herbivores. The study warns this long-term loss could soon trigger another major ecological shift. [Reference, Nature Communications]

Mapping climate impacts on African crop yields: A study analyzing crop yield changes in Africa from 2001 to 2020 found that weather and climate play major roles in how much maize, millet, and sorghum farmers harvest each year. Using satellite and climate data, the researchers discovered that different regions are affected by different factors: North Africa by soil moisture, West Africa by rainfall, and South Africa by heat and evaporation. Advanced models that considered both rainfall and temperature together explained up to 83% of yield changes. The accuracy of results also depended on how cropland areas were defined on maps. The study shows that better data and understanding of local weather patterns are key to improving food security across Africa in the face of climate change. Reference, Earth Future]