Department of Agricultural Biotechnology is one of the newly established departments at postgraduate level at University of Gondar with a mandate to train high caliber graduate students and researchers so as to carry out applied Biotechnology research and contribute to the staffing needs of these new institutions and hence to the development needs of the nation. Postgraduate training in Biotechnology began at University of Gondar with the launching of MSc. program in Agricultural Biotechnology stream in 2011. Since the initial launching, the teaching and research capacity of the Department gradually increased, thereby enabling the Department to currently expand its graduate program up to PhD level. The stream has become an independent and fully-fledged department to officially operate its work when the former Biotechnology department promoted to institute level in 2017.
Agricultural biotechnology refers to a range of tools—including genetic engineering and some conventional breeding techniques—to genetically modify living plants, animals, microbes, and other organisms for agricultural uses (e.g., food, feed, fiber). The term commonly refers to recombinant DNA techniques that introduce desired characteristics into target organisms, predominantly pest and herbicide resistance in crops. It also encompasses a range of new genome editing technologies (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9) that manipulate genetic material at precise locations in the genome.
When foods containing GE ingredients were first introduced in the 1990s, some members of the public called for banning them based on concerns about their potential to harm human health. In terms of the health and safety of the people consuming them, research repeatedly has found no difference between foods developed with and without genetic engineering. Even so, some consumers remain concerned about genetic engineering, citing health, personal preference, environmental, economic, and other objections. As such, the views of the scientific community, consumers, farmers and ranchers, and the organic industry on the safety, utility, and ethics of agricultural biotechnology do not always overlap. Society continues to debate these issues, and numerous advocacy and trade organizations promote various sides of the debate.