Daily Monitor Tuesday March 02 2021 The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role that scientific fields like biotechnology can play to better the human condition. However, despite decades of application in different disciplines, biotechnology use in agriculture still carries an aura of socio-political contempt. And this is not without its pitfalls, especially considering the huge amount of resources that goes into biotech research and development. Since 1996, Uganda has made significant investments in agricultural biotechnology research and development from multimillion-dollar facilities to hundreds of people in built human capacity. It paints the picture of a progressive nation; committed to harnessing the potential of modern agricultural biotechnology to enhance sustainable food production, boost investment opportunities and overall national development. However, for all this investment, the principal beneficiaries, including farmers and this nation’s bulging youthful population, are yet to realise any returns.