Africa’s population is growing by 3.1% annually, the fastest growth rate of any region in the world. The continent already ranks last in per capita food production. Of all places, say GM proponents, Africa needs GM crops the most. It's also the region least equipped to develop the technology, because of a scarcity of trained scientists and research facilities. GM research and development in Africa occurs largely in the public sector, in universities and agricultural research institutions. Only in South Africa is the local private sector making significant investment in GM research and development.

GM proponents cite the potential of public-private partnerships—for example, a Kenyan project to produce a virus-resistant cassava (a key staple grown by subsistence farmers in much of sub-Saharan Africa). The project is a collaboration between a Cornell University institute and Monsanto, the US-based biotech corporation.

Between 1990 and 1995, a total of 25 field trials of GM crops were conducted in South Africa, Egypt and Zimbabwe. The more recent introduction of National Biosafety laws and regulations in a number of African will open doors to more field trials in those countries. Commercial production of GM crops is concentrated in South Africa where, in 2000, land area planted to transgenic corn and cotton exceeded 100,000 hectares.

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