Uganda May Allow Genetically Modified Crops to Boost Production

Uganda is considering a law to allow genetically modified crops to boost production, according to an industry group supporting biotech crops.

A bill is being considered after successful introduction of the genetically modified crops in India, South Africa, Egypt and Burkino Faso, the Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium said in a statement today from Kampala, the capital. Possible crops include bananas, corn, cotton and cassava, it said.

Uganda is testing biotech cassava to fight cassava brown streak virus, which causes deadly streaks in the roots. Biotech corn would be resistant to drought, cotton to bollworm and bananas to wilting, the Uganda consortium said.

Editors: Claudia Carpenter, Dan Weeks

To contact the reporter on this story: Fred Ojambo in Kampala at fojambo@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Richardson at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net