Reconciling multiple interests in policy making: the case of biotechnology and agricultural innovation in Africa

Wamae, Watu and Mugwagwa, Julius (2010). Reconciling multiple interests in policy making: the case of biotechnology and agricultural innovation in Africa. In: Second Science with Africa Conference, 23-25 Jun 2010, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

URL: http://www.uneca.org/sciencewithafrica/swa2proceed...

Abstract

The aim of this article is to improve our understanding of the underlying policy-making processes, conflicts and contradictions in agricultural biotechnology in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It examines the nature of relationships that emerge in policy making processes and how these indicate some potential for institutional change. The emergence of biotechnology ‘champions’ is highlighted as a peculiarity of SSA and analysed within decision making processes to understand why biotechnology regulations appear to invariably take a particular shape. The analysis demonstrates how the relationships that form in practice within decision making processes influence the attainment of social imperatives. Effective public participation in biotechnology decision making processes is important. However, this does not in any way imply that the representation of public concerns will automatically influence the outcome of decision making processes, and importantly stamp out socio-economic challenges. It is but only one way of attempting to align biotechnology to context specific agricultural constraints. The paper recognises the significance of broader approaches and processes if effective harnessing of innovations is to emerge, and the need to continuously interrogate policy processes to ensure they justify the resources invested in them.

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