By Christine Lagat NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- Africa could outshine the rest of the world in adoption of genetically modified crops based on enthusiasm by governments, farmers and industry to adopt new technologies that promise food security, a new report launched in Nairobi Thursday shows.

The 2013 Global Status of Commercialized GM crops Report indicates that African countries expanded acreage under biotech crops and intensified experiments on improved varieties in the year 2013.

“There is a broad consensus in Africa that traditional farming methods are not sustainable in the light of population explosion, shrinking arable land and climate change. Adoption of new technologies that help address those challenges is an imperative,” said Margaret Karembu, the director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications of Africentre.

Overall, the adoption of genetically modified crops went a notch higher across the world. The status report noted that 175.2 million hectares of biotech crops were grown globally in 2013 up from 170 million in 2012.

Developing countries made significant progress in the adoption of genetically engineered crops. According to the report, 8 out of top 10 biotech countries were in the global south.

Despite several earlier missteps, African countries have established systems to facilitate adoption of improved crop varieties.

Karembu told Xinhua that both the political and scientific leaders in the continent have agreed on the need to fast-track commercialization of biotech crops.

“We have political good will and evidence based research that support adoption of agricultural biotechnology to solve chronic hunger in the continent,” Karembu told journalists in Nairobi.

Currently, three African countries: South Africa, Burkina Faso and Sudan have commercialized genetically modified crops.

Seven African countries including Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda are conducting field trials on improved crop varieties.

Karembu noted that most African countries have focused on staples like maize, potatoes, cassava and sorghum to boost their resistance to drought, pests and diseases.

“We need to get current research products into the market and support creation of a vibrant local private sector to trade in biotech crops,” said Karembu.

She urged African governments to support local scientists to develop new and improved crop varieties.

African countries should learn best practices from emerging economies like Brazil, China and India to scale up adoption of agricultural technologies.

Scientists and policymakers agreed that a friendly policy and regulatory environment will facilitate large scale adoption of biotech crops in Africa.