Disinformation jeopardizing national development goals- Kapula

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The Ministry of Agriculture has cautioned that misinformation and disinformation are emerging as major threats to progress in science, food security, and public health.

Speaking on behalf of Agriculture Minister Reuben Phiri at the opening of the Africa Biennial Biosciences Communication (ABBC) 2025 Symposium, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute Director Dr. Ndashe Kapula said falsehoods are eroding trust, delaying innovation and, in some cases, costing lives.

“Science is at war with misinformation. Zambia has not been spared the devastating effects of distorted information, which strike at the very heart of our economy and livelihoods agriculture. This sector supports more than 70 percent of our population and is central to rural development,” Dr. Kapula said.

He has said that government continues to invest heavily in research and innovation to boost food security and climate resilience.

Achievements include the development of drought- and fall armyworm tolerant maize varieties, climate-smart crops such as sorghum, cassava, beans, pigeon pea and millets, multiplication of fruit trees including citrus, avocados, bananas and improved mangoes, enhanced pest and livestock disease surveillance using biotechnology, and scaling up conservation agriculture to protect soils and water resources.

“These efforts risk being undermined if misinformation thrives. When science is discredited, public trust erodes, slowing the adoption of innovations such as climate-smart seeds and disease-resistant livestock,” he warned.

Dr. Kapula said the consequences of misinformation go beyond agriculture, affecting public health, environmental stewardship and the broader One Health agenda.

He has since called for urgent action to combat falsehoods undermining science, especially as Africa faces the ravages of climate change on human, animal and environmental health.

“By integrating science-driven interventions, guided by sound policy and effective communication, we can safeguard lives, strengthen economies and protect our environment. This symposium is a platform to identify drivers of misinformation, assess its cost, and co-create practical interventions,” he said.

Dr. Kapula has urged participants to build cross-border collaborations, empower youth, women and rural communities as science ambassadors, and amplify African solutions.

“If we succeed, we will overcome misinformation and advance Africa’s journey toward stronger One Health systems, healthier communities and improved livelihoods,” he said.

At the same event,Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa Chief Executive Officer John Mukuka said regional experience shows biotechnology can transform agriculture, boost climate resilience and enhance trade in safe, high-quality products.

He said COMESA–ACTESA, in partnership with International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCenter, and co-Convener of the Conference, is implementing a biotechnology plan to build awareness, strengthen biosafety regulation and promote capacity building among member states.

And  speaking earlier ISAAA) AfriCenter, and co-Convener of the Conference Director Dr Margaret Karembu said this year’s symposium has engaged over 5,000 stakeholders through expert panel discussions and case studies, shaping an enabling environment for biotech crop adoption, genome editing and other bioscience innovations.

Held under the theme “How Can We Overcome the Burden of Misinformation and Disinformation?” the symposium underscored Africa’s intersecting crises of food insecurity, disease burden and environmental degradation.

Experts have warned that dysfunctional food systems, intensified agriculture, deforestation, urban expansion and climate change are weakening natural regulatory processes, spreading infectious diseases and degrading resources vital for food production.

Ends……………………..

 

 

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