Some scientists here have made their comments and views on biotechnology, which is being filed below.

Dr John Kilama from Uganda:

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Biotechnology is going to play the major role in the generation of goods and services needed for competition in the global arena thus Africa just has to join the fray

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Increased investment in biotechnology research and development has enabled the technology rich north to monopolize the utilization of biotechnology products and genetic resources.

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A panel of biotech experts from six countries- Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Ghana- says discussions confining biotechnology to genetic engineering especially GMOs are misleading because in Africa it overwhelmingly involves tissue culture and related activities.

The experts who met in Nairobi Kenya in the third week of May however, said that there is need for extra efforts to help ensure that the continent acquires skills and facilities to deal with all aspects of gene manipulation. The meeting chaired by professor J Ochanda, chairman of the African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum