The Synergy Post

Africa’s possible life line.

The saying that you are never too old to learn something new never made as much sense as it did today. I had the pleasure of being “job shadowed” by a student from a local high school here in Johannesburg today and boy did we have fun, well at least I did, I am not sure whether poor Brenda understood half of my mad rumblings about business to business marketing, ERP’s and CRM’s.

I take it most of the population have heard of genetically modified fruit and vegetables. I am happy to say that I knew a bit about it, but what a wonderful surprise when Brenda told me that this was exactly the field of business her dad is in. Imagine my child-like excitement when I learnt about this. Gone were the business and marketing talk and straight into the wonderful work her dad is doing in Africa.

If it was up to me, Brenda’s dad and all the other wonderful souls in Africa doing this wonderful mission should win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Brenda’s dad is a telecommunications director and what he does is travel all over Africa to countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Burkina Faso, to name a few. He opens the communication channels between farmers, ministers and community leaders regarding their agricultural development. These talks are held in regions where famine and draught affect the lively hood of the people. Having discussed possible ways to improve agricultural growth in these rural communities he presents possible proposals to various companies around the world to help these scientists financially working on genetically modifying plants.

So what these scientists do is take the DNA of a cactus that has the ability to grow and strive in desert-like conditions and modify their DNA into the genes of bananas, wheat or corn so that these crops are able to grow in the dry seasons. By doing this it ensures rural communities can grow their own crops throughout the year.

Imagine the possibilities if this trend can catch on. No more horror stories of people suffering and dying of hunger.  It can uplift the continent’s people, give them an alternative way of life, but most importantly, give them HOPE.