title: Experiences in sub-Saharan Africa with GM crop risk communication: outcome of a workshop.
abstract: In tackling agricultural challenges, policy-makers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have increasingly considered genetically modified (GM) crops as a potential tool to increase productivity and to improve product quality. Yet, as elsewhere in the world, the adoption of GM crops in SSA has been marked by controversy, encompassing not only the potential risks to animal and human health, and to the environment, but also other concerns such as ethical issues, public participation in decision-making, socio-economic factors and intellectual property rights. With these non-scientific factors complicating an already controversial situation, disseminating credible information to the public as well as facilitating stakeholder input into decision-making is essential. In SSA, there are various and innovative risk communication approaches and strategies being developed, yet a comprehensive analysis of such data is missing. This gap is addressed by giving an overview of current strategies, identifying similarities and differences between various country and institutional approaches and promoting a way forward, building on a recent workshop with risk communicators working in SSA.
authors.affiliation: Biosafety Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Racovita
authors.forename: Dennis Ndolo
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Obonyo
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdallah
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anguzu
authors.forename: Gratian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bamwenda
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiggundu
authors.forename: Harrison
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maganga
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muchiri
authors.forename: Chinyere
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nzeduru
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Otadoh
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rumjaun
authors.forename: Iro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suleiman
authors.forename: Manjusha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunil
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tepfer
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Timpo
authors.forename: Wynand
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Walt
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaboré-Zoungrana
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nfor
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Craig
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D003142:Communication; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics*; D004493:Education; D006801:Humans; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: capacity-building needs; credibility; expertise; journalists; language; policy-makers; public participation; risk communication; scientists; stakeholders