Embrace biotechnology for development

Lazarus Sauti

Biotechnology is a new technology that has the potential to do for development what mobile technology has done for the communication sector in the country.

This new technology is defined as any technique that uses living organisms or parts of organisms to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals, or to develop micro-organisms for the benefit of mankind.

Dr. Jonathan Mufandaedza, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe says biotechnology can be split into two that is conventional and modern biotechnology.

He says: “Conventional biotechnology has been in practice since time immemorial in various fields of human influence like agriculture, food production and medicine. Examples of conventional biotechnology products are cheese, bread, yoghurt, beer, wine, new crop varieties, new animal breeds and antibiotics like penicillin.”

On modern biotechnology, he says: “This refers to the recent advance in biotechnology. Modern biotechnology is based on the manipulation of genetic material existing in the nucleus of cells.

“Modern biotechnology can thus be used to alter the function and processes of living organisms. Examples of modern biotechnology products are tools for detecting and treating diseases; and genetically modified crops and drugs.”

Dr. Mufandaedza also notes that the current industry in Zimbabwe is anchored on traditional biotechnology.

He highlights food, environmental, medical, animal, agriculture or crop and virology as platforms of biotechnology.

“Food biotechnology involves processing and adding value to foods. Biotechnology applications include production fermented products like cheese, yoghurt, bread and wine. The potential benefit of biotechnology in food processing is food production efficiency,” notes Dr. Mufandaedza.

He adds: “Biotechnology is a powerful tool which can be harnessed in environment management to clean air, waste, water and polluted soil. It can also be applied in producing bio-energy and replacing harmful chemicals in the environment with biodegradable substitutes.”

Agriculture biotechnology involves the application of biotechnology techniques mainly to increase yield, infer disease resistance, drought tolerance and herbicide tolerance and increased nutritional value.

“Practice of biotechnology in agriculture has evolved over time memorial from the traditional methods of crops improvement such as breeding and mutation to current techniques which involve tissue culture and marker assisted mutation,” says Dr. Mufandaedza.

It is critical to note that medicine generally involves any substance or mixture thereof which is used, manufactured, sold in diagnosis or prevention of diseases.

Because of this, Dr. Mufandaedza says: “The major potential of biotechnology in the medicinal sciences is in the production of high quality and abundant medicine products (pharmaceuticals).

“Common applications of biotechnology and medicine include manufacturing of diagnostics such as pregnancy tests and HIV rapid test; and manufacturing of therapeutics like insulin, for diabetic patients.”

To effectively benefit from biotechnology, Dr. Mufandaedza says the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe is mandated to carry three crucial roles that are biotechnology research, biotechnology safety and regulating imports and exports on biotechnology products.

“We are mindful of the new technology – its potential to cause risks to people and what we should do to ensure that people are safe.

“Accordingly, the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe is a regulatory body of the government of Zimbabwe on imports and exports of biotechnology products. We also regulate laboratory and green house facilities in the country,” Dr. Mufandaedza says.

Dr. Mufandaedza adds, “Our research agenda focuses on plants, animals – all things that are food and environmental.”

It is critical to note that biotechnology is a potential technology if it is done in a safe manner taking cue from other countries.

To effectively embrace biotechnology, Dr. Mufandaedza notes, “Risk factors need to be monitored closely.”

He adds, “Already there are genetically modified medicals in the country’s hospitals, for example Insulin but what is key is that as we are adopting this technology, let us do it step wisely.”

Dr. Mufandaedza assures the country that biotechnology has been tried and tested and he is happy that the country is starting somewhere.

To raise public awareness, promote understanding and participation in biotechnology and its responsible use, the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe is focusing on bringing the technology to people. Therefore, it is educating them through education tours in schools, universities and the public; exhibitions and shows; public debates which may be targeted on journalists or the public. The purpose of which is to see the general response to biotechnology issues.

To mobilise resources and support biotechnology-led development in the country, the government can create opportunities to source funding by writing grant proposals for money.

The National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe is an autonomous research and development institute with a mandate to develop Zimbabwe through both conventional and cutting-edge biotechnologies.

The purpose in life of the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe is to transform the country from a raw material-based into a knowledge-based economy through the judicious application of biotechnology in agriculture, medicine, energy and the environment.