Agricultural biotechnology encompasses the crop, livestock, fisheries and forestry sectors. The most obvious application of the technology to –date has been in the crop sector. Biotechnology is the use of biological systems to make useful products. Traditional biotechnology is exemplified by everyday products and processes such as cheese-, bread- beer and wine –making, whereas modern biotechnology refers to several techniques including tissue culture, the use of molecular markers in molecular breeding, and genetic modification. Genetic modification is a process where genes are introduced into living organisms to give them new traits and characteristics. Over generations, this process has been improved upon to give a wide range of products including those derived from plant and animal breeding and selection, the use of mutations to the more modern techniques of recombinant DNA technology, which include gene isolation and transfer technologies. More recently whole genomes have been elucidated, and that information used to identify novel genes, some with functions that were not known previously, and the massive data that comes out of such initiatives in being managed through highly sophisticated computer databases that constitute a whole new field known as bioinformatics. Other efforts are now directed at working on a very small scale, nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology. Some of these resources are available on the internet, and Africa must gear itself into accessing some of these new tools and products. Enabling policies must be put in place and greater awareness must be brought to bear on policy and decision-makers. Scientists have a responsibility to demystify the biotechnology jargon and encourage meaningful and responsible dialogue aimed at enlightening the public. Africa in particular must harness newer and alternate technologies that can improve agricultural productivity where traditional methods and approaches have failed alleviate hunger, improve incomes and livelihoods.