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\hypersetup{pdftitle={The Food Insecurity Challenge in Africa: Regional Biosafety Mechanisms for Comesa Countries},pdfauthor={David Wafula , Michael Waithaka},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2010: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Food security},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 14-16, 2010, Zurich}}\\[1ex] \Large{``World Food System  ---\\A Contribution from Europe''\\[2ex]}}
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\Large{\textbf{The Food Insecurity Challenge in Africa: Regional Biosafety Mechanisms for Comesa Countries\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} David Wafula , Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), P.O. Box 1832-00100, Nairobi, Kenya, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{d.wafula@cgiar.org}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{David Wafula $^{1}$, Michael Waithaka$^{2}$}}
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\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{1}$Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), Kenya}}}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{2}$Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA), Uganda}}}
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\index[author]{Wafula , David}
\index[author]{Waithaka, Michael}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
In the 21\textsuperscript{st} Century, agriculture continues to be a fundamental instrument for spurring economic growth and prosperity. In most African countries, agriculture emerges as the most promising option for addressing challenges of poverty and food insecurity. Africa is home to over 900 million people representing \mbox{14\,\%} of the world population and is the only continent in the world where food production per capita is decreasing and where hunger and malnutrition afflicts at least one in three Africans.



Over the years the current conventional agricultural production efforts and strategies, have become increasingly unable to cope with increasing demands for food, declining sizes of arable land and the rising population in Africa. It has been argued that business as usual will not mitigate the challenges. New technologies that sustainably increase agricultural productivity can be powerful forces for reducing hunger, food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation.



This has prompted the need to explore all available tools and options that would make a contribution in raising productivity and improving environmental quality. Among the diverse options available, agricultural biotechnology has been recognised as a viable and promising technology that would make a significant contribution for improving crop yields, household incomes and the nutritional quality of staple foods in an environmentally sustainable way.  A report commissioned by the African Heads of State on ``Freedom to Innovate'' articulated what is needed to build the required capacity to harness and apply biotechnologies to improve agricultural productivity, public health, industrial development, economic competitiveness, and environmental sustainability (including biodiversity conservation) in Africa. 



Appreciating the tremendous potential of agricultural biotechnology, Regional Economic Communities in Africa (RECs) are now focusing on establishing biosafety mechanisms for ensuring that biotechnology is introduced and managed in a safe and responsible manner at the regional level. This paper looks at the food insecurity challenges in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the progress made in developing regional biosafety policies and guidelines.}

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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Food security
\index[key]{Food!security}
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