Similar to other biotechnologies, genome editing faces substantial obstacles in Africa. These include regulatory uncertainty, limited access to laboratories, equipment and reagents for molecular biology work, a shortage of trained professionals, and a low rate of returnees among the diaspora. There is also little investment: most countries devote less than 1% of their gross domestic product (GDP) to research and development. The dependency of African institutions on external funding, unequal collaborations with the Global North and control of intellectual property and licensing by foreign entities further hinder progress. Additionally, there are low levels of integration of biotechnology in school and university curricula, inaccurate risk perceptions and apparent low levels of public support (often due to misinformation), and, as a consequence, inadequate political will.

Genome editing, in contrast to more classical genetic modification approaches, promises greater accuracy, precision, efficiency and cost-effectiveness and, in turn, a better return on investment. In resource-constrained environments, reducing barriers to the genetics-based innovation offered by genome editing could enable local innovators to be more successful in sectors that are crucial for Africa’s biotechnology-based economic development. In addition, genome editing-based health products — including novel gene therapies — can have a notable effect on public health.

与其他生物技术类似，基因组编辑在非洲面临着巨大的障碍。其中包括监管不确定性、分子生物学工作的实验室、设备和试剂的使用机会有限、训练有素的专业人员短缺以及侨民回国率低。投资也很少：大多数国家用于研发的资金不到国内生产总值 (GDP) 的 1%。非洲机构对外部资金的依赖、与全球北方的不平等合作以及外国实体对知识产权和许可的控制进一步阻碍了进展。此外，生物技术在学校和大学课程中的整合程度较低，风险认知不准确，公众支持水平明显较低（通常是由于错误信息），因此政治意愿不足。

与更经典的基因改造方法相比，基因组编辑有望提高准确性、精确度、效率和成本效益，从而带来更好的投资回报。在资源有限的环境中，减少基因组编辑带来的基于遗传学的创新的障碍可以使当地创新者在对非洲基于生物技术的经济发展至关重要的领域取得更大的成功。此外，基于基因组编辑的健康产品——包括新型基因疗法——可以对公共健康产生显着影响。