Zimbabwe pioneers new biotech regulations to safeguard health and environment
Zimbabwe has initiated the process of drafting regulations for new biotechnology techniques, including genome editing and genetically modified foods (GMOs), aiming to protect public health and the environment.
This significant step is part of the country’s broader strategy to embrace advanced technologies for development.
Professor Fanuel Tagwira, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science, and Technology Development, highlighted the importance of this initiative.
"This workshop is a crucial step in the responsible governance of these powerful technologies and your presence here underscores your commitment to ensuring their safe and ethical application," he said, as reported by local media outlet The Herald.
The government, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is prioritising digitisation, technology, and innovation to drive meaningful development in Zimbabwe. As part of its commitment to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Zimbabwe is promoting emerging technologies in various fields, including robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing, big data, biotechnology, fifth-generation wireless technology, and 3D printing.
"We will explore the scientific, ethical, legal, and social dimensions of genome editing and GMO technology, considering the potential risks, benefits, and broader implications for society," Professor Tagwira further elaborated.
The Southern African nation and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) partnered to enhance genome editing (GEd) capabilities and scale up biotechnology for commercialisation in Africa.
Florence Nazare, the Acting Director of Knowledge Management and Programme Evaluation at AUDA-NEPAD suggests that the GEd tool, integrated into modern biotechnology, can lower agricultural production costs and enhance resilience against climate change and other food security challenges on the African continent.
While Zimbabwe moves forward with these advancements, the Ghanaian government has faced backlash over the commercialisation of 14 genetically modified products.
Concerns have been raised by Ghanaian health and agricultural groups about the potential threats GM products could pose to Ghana's agricultural biodiversity and ecosystem.
