The Government has challenged the College of Agricultural and Consumer Sciences of the University of Ghana to explore the potential of genetically modified crops to help raise the level of food crop production in the country. Deputy Agric Minister, Alfred Tia threw the challenge Wednesday at the launch of a 3-year Strategic Plan for the College at Legon. He told the gathering that “the potential of GM crops to serve the needs of the subsistence farmer is recognised but this potential remains unfulfilled. I urge you to explore to the fullest all the research opportunities that avail you in this regard”. He added that GM technology could be appropriate in some contexts. Genetically Modified foods have received a lot of flack from lobby groups all over the world who consider the practice as unnatural. Others have objected to GM foods over safety and economic concerns. According to Hon. Tia, last year the country produced only 33 per cent of its rice requirement and 30 per cent of its meat requirement, a reason he suggested contributed to the high rise in imports of food and meat products. The launch of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences Strategic Plan took place at the forecourt of the college’s Biotechnology laboratory during which the minister acknowledged the debate over GM but said the country’s institutions need to explore the opportunities available in the technology. The College’s Provost, Prof. B.K. Ahunu said the college has taken several measures to attract students to pursue agric education and as a profession. The Plan, he said, will guide their choices and direction in attaining the mission of making the college an internationally acclaimed African institution for scientific innovations in agriculture. Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. C.N.B. Tagoe pledged the University’s support to the College. He disclosed that the Bill Gates Foundation supported the Biotech Centre with 7 million dollars while the University also spent about 6 million dollars on the College. Story by Benjamin Tetteh, Joy FM Myjoyonline.com/Ghana