Genome editing is one of the recent molecular biology innovations that utilize enzymes to introduce useful small changes in the genetic make-up of organisms. The technology is particularly important to Africa as it is relatively cheaper, and accessible to individual researchers or small enterprises, thus basically democratizing the benefits of science. In order to access and make best use of this technology, public institution researchers have been collaborating closely with the private sector.

Bt cotton is self protecting against the damaging bod borer pests that otherwise decimates cotton yields up to 100 percent. Adoption of Bt cotton has had the advantage therefore of ensuring that the maximum yields of the crop have been realized. In addition, the farmers save on the costs they would have used in the more than 12 spray rounds that they would apply on non-Bt cotton. With Bt cotton, farmers now only apply 2 to 3 rounds of spray against other important pests such as mealy bugs.