Acceptance of biotechnology and social-cultural implications in Ghana

Despite major scientific progress in the application of biotechnology in agriculture, public attitudes towards biotechnology in general and genetically modified food (GM food) products in particular remain mixed in Africa. Examining responses on acceptance of GM food through a stakeholder survey in Ghana, it was established that half of the 100 people sample interviewed were not in favor of GM foods. To this group acceptance of GM foods would make farmers loose focus on the traditional ways of cultivation, putting the whole nation at the mercy of profit driven foreign companies who produce GM foods. In order to have clear and unbiased attitudes towards agricultural biotechnology in Africa, there is the need to substitute dominant ideologies in the way biotechnology research and dissemination are conducted in developed countries with tailor-made methodologies in developing countries. This paper emphasizes the social dynamic force of food focusing on the need for social shaping of biotechnologies to reflect local and regional needs. Respondents’ perceptions of GM foods suggest that food is seen as not just a commodity to be consumed but food has both cultural and national identities. Generally, people are identified by their consumption and nutrition lifestyles and therefore take pride in what they eat. A proposal is made to set biotechnology research agenda in the context of social choices; social scientific coalition of biotechnology with endogenous development pathways’ as opposed to ‘exogenous biotechnology research’. Also there is the need for adequate capacity building of the existing regulatory institutions to handle ethical and moral issues associated with biotechnology research since survey findings showed lacked of public confidence in them.Biotechnology; survey; acceptability; social shaping; Ghana

A stakeholder approach to investigating public perception and attitudes towards agricultural biotechnology in Ghana

A stakeholder survey was conducted in Ghana to assess the level of public perceptions and acceptance of agricultural biotechnologies. A total of 100 respondents drawn from academia, Non-governmental organizations, business community, government and other stakeholders were interviewed on their views on self-protection attitudes, health and economic benefits, skepticism and optimism about agricultural biotechnologies as well as the level of confidence in existing government regulatory systems to protect society against any negative effects of biotechnological issues. Although half of the sample interviewed did not accept biotechnologies in general and GM foods in particular, there was rather high approval of some specific health and economic benefits. About 80 percent of the sample interviewed lack confidence in existing government regulatory systems probably due to inadequate capacity. Upgrading of the existing regulatory system with adequate capacity to regulate the ethical and moral issues associated with biotechnologies and GM foods was recommendedBiotechnology, Stakeholder, Acceptance, GM Foods

Gendered analysis of ICT-enabled agricultural extension and advisory Services : the case of Agro-Tech Smart Ex Model - Annex 2

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)To make the Agro-Tech SmartEx Model more gender responsive and able to reach more women, recommendations include service packages that reflect gender roles and responsibilities along the value chain. For instance, regarding capacity to pay for e-extension and services delivery, a gradual process of payment mechanism should be instituted that is amenable to women farmers, as well as an emphasis on marketing and market outlets aligned with women’s needs. This paper reviews barriers to agricultural extension services that women farmers face, such as lack of productive assets - particularly land, and heavy workloads spent on household chores and care giving

National framework for research, innovation, and commercialisation in Ghana

Research findings provide insights into the governance and institutional architecture of Ghana’s innovation system and mandate. As well, insights comprise functions of key actors (including ‘missing actors’), and inputs for policy, regulation, incentives and rewards required to spur commercialisation of research in Ghana. The Science Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem study was conducted to identify and map research and innovation actors. Case studies of selected incubation and innovation hubs were also undertaken to generate relevant research evidence for the establishment of the Ghana Innovation and Research Commercialisation Centre (GIRC-Centre) in Ghana. The major threat to the innovation ecosystem is inadequacy of funding

Acceptance of biotechnology and social-cultural implications in Ghana

Despite major scientific progress in the application of biotechnology in agriculture, public attitudes towards biotechnology in general and genetically modified food (GM food) products in particular remain mixed in Africa. Examining responses on acceptance of GM food through a stakeholder survey in Ghana, it was established that half of the 100 people sample interviewed were not in favor of GM foods. To this group acceptance of GM foods would make farmers loose focus on the traditional ways of cultivation, putting the whole nation at the mercy of profit driven foreign companies who produce GM foods. In order to have clear and unbiased attitudes towards agricultural biotechnology in Africa, there is the need to substitute dominant ideologies in the way biotechnology research and dissemination are conducted in developed countries with tailor-made methodologies in developing countries. This paper emphasizes the social dynamic force of food focusing on the need for social shaping of biotechnologies to reflect local and regional needs. Respondents’ perceptions of GM foods suggest that food is seen as not just a commodity to be consumed but food has both cultural and national identities. Generally, people are identified by their consumption and nutrition lifestyles and therefore take pride in what they eat. A proposal is made to set biotechnology research agenda in the context of social choices; social scientific coalition of biotechnology with endogenous development pathways’ as opposed to ‘exogenous biotechnology research’. Also there is the need for adequate capacity building of the existing regulatory institutions to handle ethical and moral issues associated with biotechnology research since survey findings showed lacked of public confidence in them

A stakeholder approach to investigating public perception and attitudes towards agricultural biotechnology in Ghana

A stakeholder survey was conducted in Ghana to assess the level of public perceptions and acceptance of agricultural biotechnologies. A total of 100 respondents drawn from academia, Non-governmental organizations, business community, government and other stakeholders were interviewed on their views on self-protection attitudes, health and economic benefits, skepticism and optimism about agricultural biotechnologies as well as the level of confidence in existing government regulatory systems to protect society against any negative effects of biotechnological issues. Although half of the sample interviewed did not accept biotechnologies in general and GM foods in particular, there was rather high approval of some specific health and economic benefits. About 80 percent of the sample interviewed lack confidence in existing government regulatory systems probably due to inadequate capacity. Upgrading of the existing regulatory system with adequate capacity to regulate the ethical and moral issues associated with biotechnologies and GM foods was recommende

Gendered analysis of ICT-enabled agricultural extension and advisory services : the case of Agro-Tech Smart Ex Model

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)This paper deals with strategies to overcome barriers to agricultural extension and advisory services for women in agriculture. In targeting extension services towards women in the agricultural value chain, specific challenges cited in the study surveys are: small farm sizes due to lack of access to land; limited access to credit, input supply, and assets; and inadequate access to tractor services. Men have main access to silos and warehouses for grain storage. Other barriers are lack of access to radio and smart phones, lack of farmer organizations for women, and heavy workloads relating to farm work, care giving, and household chores

A stakeholder approach to investigating public perception and attitudes towards agricultural biotechnology in Ghana

A stakeholder survey was conducted in Ghana to assess the level of public perceptions and acceptance of agricultural biotechnologies. A total of 100 respondents drawn from academia, Non-governmental organizations, business community, government and other stakeholders were interviewed on their views on self-protection attitudes, health and economic benefits, skepticism and optimism about agricultural biotechnologies as well as the level of confidence in existing government regulatory systems to protect society against any negative effects of biotechnological issues. Although half of the sample interviewed did not accept biotechnologies in general and GM foods in particular, there was rather high approval of some specific health and economic benefits. About 80 percent of the sample interviewed lack confidence in existing government regulatory systems probably due to inadequate capacity. Upgrading of the existing regulatory system with adequate capacity to regulate the ethical and moral issues associated with biotechnologies and GM foods was recommende

Appraisal of the Agro-Tech Smart Extension Model in Ghana : payment options and challenges in ICT-enabled extension services delivery

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)The paper presents an overview of agricultural extension services in terms of providers, financing options and advisory services delivery. Farmer demand is high for ICT- enabled extension services delivery. The Grameen Foundation (GFUSA) and Farm Radio International have developed a mobile software application (AgroTech SmartEx) for smallholder farmer management purposes and to support better decision-making towards increased productivity. The AgroTech Model combines ICT-enabled extension and advisory services with direct to farmer interactive radio. Survey data from 400 farmers indicates a high performance rating for the AgroTech Smart Ex Model, where over 70% of respondents consider it to be excellent

Transformative innovation policy approach to e-waste management in Ghana: perspectives of actors on transformative changes

Ghana, as in many African countries, is faced with the challenge of sustainably managing electronic waste (e-waste). The country has a legal framework and is in the process of developing a public policy for e-waste management. However, e-waste management remains a major challenge due to weaknesses in the country’s innovation and policymaking process that include inability to cater for the informal sector. This article argues that the current approach to innovation policymaking in Ghana would be inadequate in delivering the goal of sustainable e-waste management. We examine the country’s evolving e-waste management regime and the multiple perspectives of actors with respect to their perceived transformative changes and show that these perspectives and expectations are critical for an e-waste policymaking process. We conclude that policy processes adopted in developing countries for e-waste management should be guided by inclusive policymaking approaches that consider perspectives from informal actors to co-create solutions