African environmentalists meet in Addis Ababa

Environmental experts from across Africa are meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in an attempt to find ways of staving off environmental disasters, the Ethiopian pro-government Walta Information Centre (WIC) reported on Wednesday. The experts are discussing scientific developments in bio-safety, genetic engineering and biotechnology, and their implications for the African environment.

WIC quoted one participant, Dr Tewoldeberhan, as saying: “This is our opportunity to regulate genetic engineering in Africa so that there will be no genetic-engineering nightmares.” A genetically modified crop could pass new genes on to other species with dangerous consequences for the balance of nature, he said.

The meeting, arranged by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), was expected to endorse the “African Model Law”, which aimed to regulate access to natural resources, as well as protect the rights of farmers and rural communities throughout the continent, WIC said.