African nations embrace gene editing to revolutionize food production.

TLDR

• African nations are leveraging gene editing to improve food production.
• European countries have been suppressing this technology for the past 20 years.

In a recent viewpoint article, Javier Sampedro discusses how gene editing projects in Africa are driving advancements in agriculture. Despite pushback from European countries and environmental groups, African scientists are moving forward with CRISPR technology to combat issues like weed infestations in crops. The article highlights the shift in policy in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, and Ethiopia, which have started to classify plants edited with CRISPR in the same category as conventional varieties. The author criticizes the opposition to GMOs by environmental organizations like Greenpeace, citing the stance as contradicting scientific evidence. With the adoption of gene editing technologies in African nations, there is hope for improved food security and crop production across the continent.