GMO AFRICA

Blog and news on the benefits of genetically modified food in Africa.

African scientist honored for her work in agriculture

Published by GMO Africa | Filed under GMO Africa Blog

An African scientist has been honored for her work in promoting sustainable agriculture in Africa. Prof. Florence Wambugu, who heads the Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation, last week scooped the 2008 YARA prize for the African Green Revolution.

Prof. Wambugu was recognized for promoting the use of tissue culture in banana farming in mainly Kenya. The technology has dramatically improved the standards of living of millions of small-scale farmers in the country and other African countries.

Prof. Wambugu is an exceptional, brilliant and selfless woman. After receiving her education in the U.S. and UK, she declined lucrative jobs there to go back to Africa to help it improve its agriculture. This is uncommon to most Africans who go to Western countries to study. Most, if not all, opt to take up well-paying jobs. The fact that Prof. Wambugu decided to forego such opportunities say a lot about her character and her commitment to see Africa becomes self-sufficient in food production.

Prof. Wambugu has also been at the forefront of the campaign to popularize modern agricultural biotechnology. This has not been a simple task. She has fought with anti-tech organizations, such as the Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, the two anti-biotechnology activist organizations at the forefront of the campaign against genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

To reinforce here support for modern agricultural biotechnology, Prof. Wambugu, soon after receiving the YARA prize, told the SciDev.net web site that the Green Revolution currently being championed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will have to “…embrace cutting-edge biotechnology.”

This call must be taken very seriously. Prof. Wambugu is not just another activist advocating for agricultural biotechnology. She understands the stuff she’s talking about. Farmers and governments in Africa better listen to her!

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September 12th, 2008.


2 Responses to “African scientist honored for her work in agriculture”

  1. Adam Says:
    September 17th, 2008 at 2:14 am

    You know what… Africa would be better off listening to God and to common sense!

    Anyone that is knowledgeble or “understands what they are talking about” understands the risks involved in GMOs.

    Rats and Mice refuse to eat GMOs in lab tests, they have to be force fed, point one. Adding human and animal genes to plants is unethical and creates many mutations that are random and do effect the person consuming them causing mutations within that person’s gut which then creates more mutations throughout their body and organs, point two.

    I can grow perfectly good nutritious food without altering the DNA/RNA of plants. Why on earth are the global elite messing with nature? One reason, control the food, to control the people.

    If you can buy out all the government agencies that regulate Food (FDA) then you can use them to claim these foods are safe, and that it is illegal to label GMO foods as GMO (like in America).

    Companies can label “No GMOs” but it is illegal in America (according to the FDA) to label “GMOs” for the products that have genetically modified ingredients.

    Africa.. you are better off not listening to these pushy globalists and big food industry with their own agendas in mind. Educate yourselves about GMOs, research Monsanto, watch World According to Monsanto!

    Also listen to Infowars.com radio!

    Thank you and God Bless!

  2. Donald Says:
    November 3rd, 2008 at 4:22 am

    Hey,

    I find the likes of Adam repugnant, even racist. Why do you think you know about GM foods than Africans? What makes you think Africans are so foolish to be manipulated into accepting GM food? Do you think they have no minds of their own? Or do you think the “white mind” is more superior than the “black mind”?!

    Africa is fully aware if the agenda of the private sector, which is not necessarily evil. None-the-less, African scientists have worked hard to ensure that the technology benefits African orphan crop; this is where the real benefit for African will come. It is imperative that African scientists and policy makers ensure that the African agenda remains on the top, even as the private sector - and “eco” “green” lobby agenda - fights for supremacy! Unfortunately, when two (or three?) elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Forunately, we have committed Africans who will not allow this to happen!

    Don

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