A two-day workshop to train communicators on safety measures involved in the use, manipulation and transboundary movement of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Cameroon was held recently at the Limbe Botanic Gardens. Organised by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry with the support of the UN Environment Programme/Global Environment Facility (UNEP/GEF), the workshop was aimed at training communicators in triggering public understanding of GMOs.

One of the resource persons Dr D.A. Mbah defined biotechnology as "technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use."

Representing the Minister of Environment and Forestry, the Technical Adivser N° 1 in MINEF, Mrs Mary Fosi Mbantenkhu, called on participants to take the workshop seriously so that they can effectively inform the public on the positive and negative aspects of GMOs, biotechnology and the importance of preserving biodiversity.

Mrs Mary Fosi revealed that Cameroon is a signatory of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety formalized and adopted in Montreal-Canada with the objective to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms that result from modern technology. Cameroon ratified it in January 2002 followed by law N° 2003/006 of April 21, 2003 on Biosafety, Mrs Fosi went on.

Presenting a paper on the role of the media in sensitizing the public on biotechnology and GMOs, Mr Bonock Bouato, said a journalist, faithful to his job of sensitization had to disseminate information on GMOs objectively leaving the audience members to take decisions. Mr Banock Bouato said communicators should move from sending out scientific and technical information to information for development. "That is information that includes economic, technical, social and cultural aspects of development," he added. Mrs Bouake then urged communicators to embrace issues on biotechnology like any ordinary news event rather than looking at it as principally business.

After having examined both adverse and positive effects of some GMOs, participants resolved to intensify their efforts in the collection, management and dissemination of information on biotechnology and to collaborate with research institutions in the field Cameroon is thus faced with the challenge of balancing economic development with the conservation of her rich biodiversity.