Ugandans to eat more genetically engineered foods as researchers turn to synthetic biology

Ugandans who frequent supermarkets or prefer imported food items eat more genetically modified foods. This is due to advances in biotechnology through synthetic biology, which involves developing, modifying or redesigning a product from nothing.

The reason is that Uganda imports most of the processed food items from countries that have authorized the use and application of biotechnology.

Examples of countries that have accepted GMO crops but are trade allies with Uganda include S. Africa, where by the end of 2020, Uganda imported goods worth US$220.87 Million according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

Examples of products imported from S. Africa include Edible fruits, nuts, peel of citrus fruit, melons. Pharmaceutical products, Oil seeds, oleagic fruits, grain seed, fruits, Sugars and sugar confectionery Cereals flour, starch, milk preparations and products, vegetable, fruit, nut food preparations, modified starches, glues, enzymes, Animal, vegetable fats and oils among others.

Uganda imported from Kenya goods worth US$773.23 Million in 2020, although they didn’t have known genetically modified food items on their shelves, this is bound to change, following the approval of Genetically modified crops, starting with maize.

Other countries in Africa with a law that regulates genetically modified organisms include Sudan, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, and Zambia.

According to scientists, some of the listed products are products of genetic engineering, which are found in Ugandan Supermarkets. Examples include cereals, soya, processed cornstarch for soups among others.

Because of the porous borders coupled with a weak enforcement team, these seeds will find their way to Uganda, through border districts such as Busia, Malaba, Lwakhakha borders.

This was revealed by founder and chief executive officer of SynBio Africa Geoffrey Otim during the second International Synthetic Biology Conference that took place at the Imperial Royale Hotel from July 12-14, 2023.

Synthetic biology is advanced biotechnology, which involves redesigning and modifying biological systems, to address identified needs either in health or agriculture among others, according to Otim.

"Just like biotechnology, the technology is used by researchers to for example to develop crops with more nutrients, high yielding, or are resistant to pests and disease or even tolerant to drought among others," Otim said.

GM crops in Uganda?

Through biotechnology, researchers at the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) crops with several attributes have been developed.

 According to the Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium, biotechnology refers to any technology that uses living things or parts of living things to make useful products that benefit mankind and the environment in agriculture.

The technology is also used in the production of vaccines and antibodies in the industry to make various products for health and environment management.

Dr Henry Wagaba cassava breeder from the National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), a research station under NARO, explained that through the technology, cassava resistant to cassava brown streak disease and mosaic diseases has been developed.

Other crops include Potatoes resistant to the potato blight and also oval shaped for industrial use, bananas resistant to banana bacterial wilt are ready, including those with high content of Vitamin A among others.

Wagaba explained that cassava brown streak disease can cause up to 100% yield loss, and yet when processed, can earn farmers an income when sold as fresh tubers, processed into high-quality cassava flour for the pharmaceutical industry, Ethanol, food, for bakery among others.

He however said that due to lack of a regulation, products produced through biotechnology cannot be released to the public in Uganda.

Does Uganda need a law?

Uganda, just like any other country in the world, is faced with different effects of climate change, especially drought, floods that have reduced food production. Because of drought, there are new pests and diseases coupled with low soil fertility.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the next 30-40 years the demand for animal source foods will grow rapidly in the African continent due to growth in human population. The African Development Bank adds that Africa’s food demand is projected to grow by more than 100% due to not only the growing population but due to challenges posed by effects of climate change.

To shield the population against the anticipated calamities, experts believe having a law that allows technologies to develop early maturing foods, foods that are resistant to pests and diseases, more nutrient rich foods items through biotechnology will be key.

The 2012 National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill established a regulatory framework to facilitate the safe development and application of modern biotechnology.

In 2018 Parliament passed the bill, which was renamed Genetic Engineering Regulatory Bill 2018 following recommendations by President Yoweri Museveni. Even after renaming it, the president declined to ascend to the proposed law, raising 12 issues that required improvement.

Concerns raised by the President include establishment of gene banks to conserve indigenous or traditional seed that genetic modifications should be restricted to plants and animals, that the developer or breeder of GMO seed is responsible for any consequences arising from the GMO seed among others.

But how is biotechnology being applied elsewhere?

According to Otim from SynBio Africa biotechnology was used in the development of the RNA vaccine, which was used in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda as well.

He added that while countries, where most of the imported and processed food items come from, have regulations in place to guide the use of biotech, Uganda doesn't.

“What people should know is that technology is growing very fast. It will not wait for us, it is improving each and every day. You shop in supermarkets, much of what you see in the supermarket is imported. Do you know how it was developed? Do you know what you eat in conferences, on the plane, chances are that you have eaten a genetically modified item,” Otim said.

He also assured the public that although many could have eaten such food items, countries, where these come from, have already put in place regulations that guide the production of such foods to ensure they are safe for both human consumption, domestic use and for trade purposes.

Why do they need the biotechnology law?

In his keynote address to conference participants, John Cumbers, the founder and chief executive officer of SYNBIOBETA, a US-based company warned that in the next 20 years, synthetic biology will be used in making anything.

 Adding that innovators, businesses and policymakers must act if they are to benefit from this kind of bio revolution.

He explained that 60% of the World’s inputs could be made through biological processes, 45% of the world's disease burden could be addressed through biological means and 30% of private sector research and development will be made from biology-related industries. He added through biotechnology, there is a growing entrepreneurship base as seen through the following indicators.

Examples of products being produced through synthetic biology

Mzansi Meat is a food tech company that grows meat directly from cells by developing scalable technology without concerns related to health, climate, or animal welfare. It is a cell-cultured meat startup that develops cultured beef (South Africa).

Mogale Meat Co. is developing real meat products from southern Africa’s prized wild antelope, poultry and free-roaming livestock, using advanced cellular agriculture technologies (South Africa).

Burgers. A new generation of meats and cheeses made entirely from plants is being made in the USA. Here, scientists studied animal products at the molecular level, and selected specific proteins and nutrients from greens, seeds, and grains.

Fish. Some companies are growing healthy marine-animal cells on their own, instead of live fish, with an aim of producing seafood products that eliminate the need to harvest fish from water bodies.

Dairy products. Animal-free dairy products: Using yeast and fermentation, they make the very same dairy proteins that cows make.

Health

AzarGen is a biotechnology company focused on developing human therapeutic proteins using advanced genetic engineering and synthetic biology techniques in plants (South Africa).

Environment protection

LanzaTech is developing a variety of platform chemicals and fuels, including the world’s first alternative jet fuel derived from industrial waste gases.

 Carbon emissions are fed to trillions of carbon-hungry microbes that turn pollution into valuable raw material commodities among others.

Beers

Brewer’s yeast (with recombinant DNA derived from yeast, mint, and basil) can be engineered to alter the flavor of the beer. Bioengineering can lead to flavor palette expansion while increasing the sustainability of the brewing process.

But what do stakeholders in Uganda want?

According to Isaac Ongu, the chief executive officer of Science Foundation for Livelihoods and Development (SCIFODE), an organization working closely with researchers into biotechnology, Ugandan scientists have been developing disease free cassava for the last 12 years, tested them and are now ready for release.

“The political leadership has failed to assent to the law that would provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for deploying GM crops,” said Ongu.

According to him, those opposing the bill are only focusing on the process of development, disregarding the proven safety of GM products for food, feed and the environment.