Across West Africa, no country has imposed a complete ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs); however, regulations across the region vary significantly.
Some nations have permitted commercial cultivation, while others have strict biosafety frameworks for research and contained field trials.
Burkina Faso, for example, is one country with a history of growing commercial GMO crops. It was the first in Africa to cultivate genetically engineered cotton, but the commercial program was later halted due to issues with fiber quality.
Nigeria, for its part, has commercialized GMO crops, including cowpea, under a controlled release and use framework monitored by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA)
In 2012, Ghana implemented biosafety laws that permit GMO field trials and importation. While some activists oppose the use of GMOs, the country has conducted trials on crops like cowpea.
Analyzing the debate or argument on whether GMOs are a threat to agriculture or a pathway to food security is Famara Dhiedhou, program officer at the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa AFSF, West Africa Bureau.