Abstract
Biotechnology has tremendous potential to transform agriculture and contribute significantly to reduce hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity. Many benefits of biotechnology have been recorded over the years, yet the fears surrounding biotechnology adoption persist in the same measure. Unfortunately, the reasons for opposition to biotechnology have remained the same over the years. The developing world has become a battle ground up for grabs by the proponents and opponents of biotechnology adoption for years. Change in public perception and acceptance of biotechnology has been minimal in spite of the strides experienced by some countries in its adoption. The missing ingredient is inadequate targeted communication that relates to the risks and benefits of the technology to sway the decision making processes to accelerate adoption of biotechnology in the developing countries. To do this, a new paradigm that understands the need for effective strategy in and the role of scientists is needed. The new paradigm should also entail embedding of communication in curriculum and training courses. This paper offers the concepts of a new paradigm of risk benefit communication to enhance success of the technology adoption in Kenya and Africa by extension. Key words: Risk communication, Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, GMOs, Biosafety, Food Safety, Developing countries.
Highlights
Risk-benefit communication is an important component of the process of developing and commercialization of biotechnology products across several sectors; health, agriculture, environment, and industry
For the developing countries and especially the Kenyan case, this involves communicating on the roles and regulations in place by government bodies to ensure that there is vigilance through the whole process of developing and commercialization of biotechnologies
Scientists can help the audience understand the need for the huge amount of biotechnology expenditure and the justification for venture capitalists and the scientific methods used to keep the cooperation and big business in check so as to stay with the scientific facts
Summary
Risk-benefit communication is an important component of the process of developing and commercialization of biotechnology products across several sectors; health, agriculture, environment, and industry. There has been mixed reactions to the adoption of the technology in different parts of the world and based on the distinction of these industries. Making both risk communication and balanced information sharing about the benefits of biotechnology is crucial. Activists on the other hand use risk communication to raise concerns and to support their positions on the activities and products they are opposed to. The media since they thrive on market ability of negative information (fears and controversy) become regular purveyors of risk communication. Scientists usually take an important slot in ensuring that there is evidence-based communication
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