The GMO Crossroads: Where Africa Stands – and Where Communicators Must Lead
By Musa Sunusi Ahmad:
In the fields of Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and South Africa, something remarkable is unfolding. It’s not a new tractor or irrigation technique, it’s science, embedded in the seed. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), once the subject of theoretical debate in African policy circles, are now finding roots, literally and figuratively, across the continent.
But as this transformation gains ground, so too does a fierce storm of resistance. From courtroom battles in Kenya to social media misinformation in Nigeria, the GMO debate in Africa is about more than just food security. It’s about trust, sovereignty, markets, and identity.
In this intricate landscape, communication strategists, working between farmers, scientists, policy experts, and the public, hold a uniquely powerful and complex role. And how they handle this challenge could determine the future of African agriculture.
GMO Adoption in Africa: Where Are We Now?
At the time of writing, 11 African countries have formally approved GM crops for cultivation, with South Africa leading the charge since 1997. Countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Malawi have joined the fold in recent years, approving GMO varieties of maize, cotton, and cowpea designed to resist pests, tolerate drought, and boost yields.
But adoption has been anything but uniform. While Nigeria pushes forward with GMO cowpea and maize, public sentiment remains divided, inflamed by rhetoric around “food colonialism” and “Western control.” Kenya’s brief lifting of its 10-year GMO ban in 2022 was quickly met with lawsuits and civil society backlash, stalling progress once again.
In contrast, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia continue to resist GMO adoption, citing concerns around bio safety, corporate control, and environmental impact.
The New Battleground: Geopolitics, Markets, and Mistrust
For communication professionals in this space, the GMO debate is no longer just about science; it’s a geopolitical issue.
- Export Economies at Risk
African nations reliant on European markets—where anti-GMO sentiment runs strong—fear that embracing biotech crops could jeopardize trade. Ghana’s proposed commercialization of GM cowpea, for instance, sparked fear that the EU would retaliate with import restrictions.
- Foreign Influence or Genuine Support?Many anti-GMO activists point fingers at Western philanthropic organizations, particularly the Gates Foundation, for “pushing” biotech under the guise of food security. These narratives often conflate corporate interests with legitimate scientific innovation.
Unfortunately, many governments have failed to clearly communicate the ownership and local development of many GMO crops, such as Nigeria’s publicly developed Bt cowpea.
Science Speaks, But Is Anyone Listening?
For many scientists working on biotech crops, the challenge is not in the lab but in the public square.
Scientists often struggle to communicate their work beyond academic journals. They speak the language of genes, not of values, ethics, or livelihoods. Meanwhile, anti-GMO voices dominate radio, WhatsApp groups, and protest spaces, places where farmers actually listen.
What’s Missing?
Trustworthy messengers: Not all stakeholders trust scientists. In Uganda, for instance, farmers place greater trust in government extension workers than in university researchers.
Accessible language: Terms like “Bt,” “transgenic,” or “cacogenic” mean little to the average farmer.
Emotionally resonant storytelling: The opposition knows how to tell stories. Scientists need to learn how, too.
The Strategic Communications Playbook
So what role can communication strategists play? What must they do, today, to ensure that science and society align?
- Build Bridges Between Scientists and Society
Facilitate training programs that help scientists simplify their message, engage media, and respond to misinformation. Forge partnerships with public broadcasters, agriculture influencers, and even TikTok creators to reach younger, tech-savvy farmers.
- Tailor Messaging to Cultural Contexts
A message that works in South Africa may not work in Tanzania. In Ghana, farmers respond well to endorsements from traditional authorities. In Nigeria, faith leaders hold more sway. Understand the communication ecosystem before launching any campaign.
- Frame GMOs Around Local Benefits
Talk less about global food systems and more about how these seeds solve specific, local problems:
- Navigate the Politics Transparently
Don’t shy away from the geopolitical angle. Communicators should openly discuss:
- Who is funding the research
- What safeguards exist against foreign domination
- How IP rights are managed
- How smallholder farmers retain seed-saving rights
- Use Multiple Media – Especially Radio and Mobile
Across Africa, radio remains king. Combine it with mobile-based SMS updates, WhatsApp voice notes, community theatre, and even drama series to embed messages into relatable content.
The Narrative War – and the Need for Ethical Framing
At the heart of the GMO debate is a larger story: Who controls Africa’s food future?
To win this narrative war, communicators must shift from technocratic explanations to ethical, inclusive storytelling:
How can GMOs contribute to food sovereignty?
Can they coexist with agro ecology and indigenous practices?
Are they a tool of emancipation, or of dependency?
The answer isn’t to dismiss these fears—it’s to engage with them honestly, transparently, and empathetically.
Looking Ahead – A Call to Communicators
Africa’s agricultural potential is vast. Climate change is real. Pests are adapting. Yields are falling in many places.
Biotechnology is not a silver bullet, but it is a tool—one that must be wielded carefully, collaboratively, and above all, credibly.
This is where you, the communicator, step in.
You are not just writing press releases or managing social media. You are shaping a public conversation that could feed, or fail, an entire continent.
If you do your job well:
Scientists will be heard.
Policymakers will make informed decisions.
Farmers will be empowered, not coerced.
And Africa will find its own path, not imported, but rooted in its soil.