Impact of Technological Advancement on Agricultural Industry

Impact of proficient Advancement on Agricultural IndustryTHE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL forward motion ON THE AGRICULTURALINDUSTRY IN GHANA AND AFRICAINTRODUCTION1. scientific advancement in agriculture has brought grand stinting and social benefits to the population at large. Current trends overly provide numerous assurance that the unavoidable growth in nutrition production can be achieved with move application of modern engineering science, a fact acknowledged by the viands and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations (UN) (FAO, 2009). gibe to Motes, 2010, individuals in the United States engage less than ten per cent of their in practice on diet while umpteen fixing African countries including Ghana spend close to half of their income on nourishment. This is beca hold of petty(a) agricultural productivity with its associated high cost of viands items, a fact blamed on traditional system of farming.2. Traditional farmers design conservative farming processes. The technology and management systems involved be very much characterized by lack of access to, or reluctance to ingestion fresh information about production, management, public or commercial assistance. On the contrary, in modern agricultural systems, farmers apply technology and information to control near components of the system (Motes, 2010). Much success of modern systems depends on the development and victuals of soil fertility through with(predicate) the specific provision of nutrients when they are eat up machine power and technology to create soil conditions necessary to labor plant growth with minimal disturbance and soil loss (Motes, 2010).3. An beta modern agricultural technology that has gained prominence and much attention is ergonomics. biotech is a technology based on genetic engineering or modification of garments. It allows the routine development of genetically limited (GM) plants in which Deoxyribonucleic harsh (DNA) from any source can be transferred to specific arranges (James, 2001).4. There are divergent views on ergonomics as a sustainable technology for improved agricultural production. In recent times, concerns have been raised in Ghana about the benefits and/or potentiality risk of biotech and GM food to society. The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits and risks/ untoward do of biotechnology and GM food to Ghana. This paper entrust limit its scope to the benefits, potential risks, and policy theoretical account for the implementation of biotechnology and then make some recommendations.AIM5. This paper seeks to examine the potential impact of biotechnology in the agricultural sector in Ghana and Africa with the view to making recommendations.BENEFITS OF bioengineering AND GENETICALLY modified FOOD6. Biotechnology combines cellular and bio molecular practices to develop technologies and products that aid improve the lives and vigour of our globe. Biological processes of microorganisms hav e been in use for over 6,000 years to create suitable food products, such(prenominal) as bread and cheese (www.bio.org). It offers opportunities to accelerate the efficiency and extent of further crop improvement by the transfer of genes conferring vindication to pests, diseases, herbicides and surroundal stress, as wellhead as forest traits such as improved post-harvest storage, flavour, nutritionary heart and colour (James, 2001).7. Biotechnology, varying in scope, scale and practice in many developing countries, is full of entrepreneurial opportunities for the technological progress of the developing world. Its image in the economic convertation of Africa is well noted in academician and public dialogue (FAO 2001). Contemporary agriculture using biotechnology gives massive monetary benefits to consumers by improving victuals standards as food p sieves drop. Additionally, it increases incomes because it allows damp purchasing power for other consumer goods, education, health care, etc. It is globally cognise that the growth of modern food system has been vital to the improvement of living standard in todays world (Motes, 2010).8. The use of biotechnology to modify the nutritional make-up of crops shows promise as a kernel for reducing malnutrition in developing countries including Ghana. While currently in inquiry stages, modifications such as these could significantly improve the diets of hundreds of millions of people who live primarily on mono crops (PEW 2004). Also, biotechnology uses numerous processes and skills to change comparatively large, unpreserved and inedible raw ingredients into more valuable shelf-stable and edible nourishments. This contributes to food security by minimizing losses in the food chain whiles increasing food quality, safety, handiness and market tycoon (PEW 2004).9. Biotechnology, if effectively harnessed can fundamentally improve farming practice by dropping post-harvest loss whiles increasing crop resistance to drought. The application of tissue culture in the production of bananas for instance, has improved harvests for some farmers in split of Kenya (Mbote, 2002). In order to reap the benefits of biotechnology, collective political commitment and bequeath from all stakeholders at tell apart and regional level is required to picture adequate funding, institutional reforms to efficiently and effectively promote biotechnology in Africa.10. Biotech yields have contributed to meaningful reduction in the release of greenhouse gunman emissions from agricultural practices. Some biotech crops allow farmers to reduce pesticide use. Others allow farmers to leave crop residue on the land from one planting season to the next, providing a reduction or even elimination of the postulate to tilt the soil. The ability to leave crop residue from one year to the next also provides a natural trap for CO2 (Brookes et al, 2006). African leaders mustiness(prenominal) relieve oneself internal capa bility in science, technology and innovation so as to be able to place the sustainability of practices associated with biotechnology.11. Despite the potential benefits of this in the raw technology in improving the reliability and quality of the world food supply, public and scientific concerns have been raised about the environmental and food safety of GM crops. Thus, the successive paragraphs give examine the concerns raised by the public in developing countries including Ghana.POTENTIAL RISKS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS12. Biotechnology and GM food are associated with certain risks or concerns. These entangle food safety, environmental risks, high cost of production and untoward effects on food exports. These are examined in the ensuing paragraphs.13. Environmental Concerns. The use of biotechnology as a modern method of production has adverse effects on the environment. The technology results in ecological pollution through the accidental gene transmiss ion to weeds, formation of fresh viruses and toxins (Brookes et al, 2006).14. pabulum Safety. According to Codex Aliment Arius Commission, 2009, food safety is a adept discipline that delivers guarantee that food will not be calumniatory to the customer when cooked or eaten according to its in track downed use. Biotechnology and GM food brings about change in nutritional class of foods, possible toxicity and potential allergy issues, and and so do not guarantee food security (Uzogara, 2000).15. High Cost of Production. The cost of production of genetically modified plants and animals are high and need a lot of initial investment. To cohere back the money that was invested into these productions, governments have introduced the idea of patents. In addition, the seeds harvested are sterile, compel farmers to always get their supply of seeds from the corporeal suppliers (ShaliniBalan 2011). As such growers in emergent nations requiring such seeds have to buy fresh seeds annuall y from the corporate suppliers owned by the developed nations (Whitman, 2000). The cost involved in such transactions cannot be overemphasised. African leaders must therefore endow in place measures to ensure financial sustainability of search and book of facts function into food items that can be owned local anaestheticly.16. Effect on Food Exports. A viable risk of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in emerging nations is the alike(p)ly loss of export opportunities. These might be because some countries encourage their marketplace from GMOs and would not import GM foods. This would lead to an soreness of the income gap between the rich and poor (ATTRA, 2006). In addition, GM monoculture crops like maize are being harvested for export and not primarily for local consumption. This may result in over dependency on occidental companies and affect the life of traditional farmers. Absence of social security system, low harvests may also affect local farmers. The present prov ision for GMOs therefore endangers local crops and biodiversity (Kaphengst et al, 2013).POLLICY FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLIMENTATION17. The President of Ghana pick out the Ghana Biosafety prompt, 2011 (Act 831) in December 2011 after the passage of the Biosafety Bill by Parliament on 21 June 2011. The Act establishes the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) as the managerial pattern that will see to the employment of all issues related to Biotechnology in Ghana. Crops approved by the NBA for confined trials include cowpea, high protein sweet potato, rice and cotton. However, cotton has been approved for field tests in Ghana. Ghanas biosafety Act is deemed user friendly as it does not comprise any labelling requirements for GM food products or strict liability provisions. The Act creates an enabling environment for the development and commercialization of biotech seeds and crops (Ashitey, 2013).18. In addition to regulations at the national level, professionals in AU countries have come tog ether with initiatives aimed at guiding or advising biotechnology regulations at the regional-level. These initiatives can be divided into two categories. The number one category comprises a basket of initiatives set up by or through networks of scientific enquiryers and research-based organizations such as national agricultural research centres. Initiatives from the first category are led by and often obligate the imprint of the research community. These initiatives include the Association for Strengthening Agricultural search in Eastern Central Africa (ASARECA). The second category comprises initiatives from regional intergovernmental organizations such as the AU itself, the Southern Africa Development partnership (SADC), the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), and the East African Community (EAC). Initiatives of this category tend to have input from researchers, but also involve other communities of stakeholders such as citizen groups, industry and policymake rs, with scientific civil servants often playing an set up government agency. At the AU level, for example, member countries have accepted what is called the African mannequin Law on Safety in Biotechnology. This constitutes a guiding framework for regulating biotechnology with a view to protecting Africas biodiversity, environment and health (Juma et al, 2007).CONCLUSION19. Globally, technology has played a big role in developing the agricultural industry. With this technology, plants have been engineered to survive in drought conditions. Through genetic engineering, scientists have managed to introduce traits into existing genes with a goal of making crops resistant to droughts and pests as well as quality traits such as improved post-harvest storage, flavour, nutritional content and colour (para 6).20. Biotechnology, varying in scope, scale and practice in many developing countries, is full of entrepreneurial opportunities for the technological progress of the developing worl d. Modern agriculture brings enormous economic and social benefits to consumers by improving quality of life and living standards as food costs decline (Para 7).21. The use of biotechnology to modify the nutritional make-up of crops shows promise as a means of reducing malnutrition in developing countries. The cluster of techniques that comprise biotechnology can, if effectively harnessed and applied, radically transform farming systems by reducing post-harvest loss and increasing crop resistance to drought. In order to reap the benefits of biotechnology, collective Political commitment and will from all stakeholders at state and regional level is required to pay back adequate funding, institutional reforms to efficiently and effectively promote biotechnology in Africa (Para 8 and 9).22. Despite the potential benefits of biotechnology to improve the reliability and quality of the world food supply, public and scientific concerns have been raised about the technology. These include food safety, environmental risks, high cost of production and adverse effects on food exports. African leaders must bod internal capability in science, technology and innovation so as to be able to determine the sustainability of practices associated by biotechnology. Additionally, African leaders must therefore put in place measures to ensure financial sustainability of research and extension services into food items that can be owned topically (Para 10 and 12).23. The President of the Republic of Ghana signed the Ghana Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) in December 2011 following the passage of the Biosafety Bill by the Ghanaian Parliament, in June 21, 2011. The Act establishes the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) as the administrative body that will manage the implementation of all issues related to Biotechnology in Ghana. In addition to regulations at the national level, professionals in AU countries have come together in different forums and initiatives with the aim of guiding or advising biotechnology regulations at the regional-level (Para 17 and 18).24. Conclusively, it clear from the above discussion that biotechnology has a potential positive impact on the agricultural industry in Ghana and Africa as a whole and should therefore be adopted for improved agricultural productivity.RECOMMENDATIONS24. The following recommendations are madea. There is the need for collective political commitment and will from all stakeholders at state and regional level to generate adequate funding, institutional reforms to efficiently and effectively promote biotechnology in Africa (pa(Brookes et al, 2006)ra 21).b. African leaders must build internal capability in science, technology and innovation to enable them determine the sustainability of practices associated with biotechnology (Para 22).c. African countries must ensure financial sustainability of research and extension services in biotechnology related activities (Para 22).NB ADOMBIRE-AKOLOGOCaptain scholar1RESTRICTE D