Adoption of commercial biotech crops in Africa

Commercial adoption of crop biotechnology in Africa is very low. Of 25 biotech crops producing countries world-wide, only three African countries like South Africa, Burkina Faso and Egypt are producing commercial biotech crops. This paper reviews the status of biosafety regulation and three countries with commercial production of biotech crops in Africa using a collection of relevant papers. The reports show that biotech crops production in those three African countries are growing steadily particularly in South Africa. In all the biotech crops producing countries including Africa, the results demonstrate that biotech crops have benefits in terms of socio- economic contribution and creating friendly environment. But limited resources, biosafety and inadequate infrastructure still remain major challenges in Africa. Crop biotechnology has potentials for improving qualities and yields of farm produce and ensuring adequate nutrition and food security in Africa.