Gm Agricultural Technologies For Africa

Author : Chambers, Judith A.,Zambrano, Patricia,Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin,Gruère, Guillaume P.,Sengupta, Debdatta,Hokanson, Karen
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Page : 146 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2014-09-29
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 8210379456XXX

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GM agricultural technologies for Africa by Chambers, Judith A.,Zambrano, Patricia,Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin,Gruère, Guillaume P.,Sengupta, Debdatta,Hokanson, Karen Pdf

The African Development Bank (AfDB), in commissioning this report to be prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), highlighted the need for a comprehensive, evidenced-based review of agricultural biotechnology in order to better understand its current status, issues, constraints, and opportunities for Africa. Agricultural biotechnology comprises several scientific techniques (genetic engineering, molecular marker-assisted breeding, the use of molecular diagnostics and vaccines, and tissue cul­ture) that are used to improve plants, animals, and microorganisms. However, in prepar­ing this desktop analysis, IFPRI has focused on genetic modification (GM) technologies in particular and on the agricultural context in which they are being applied, because GM technologies are at the center of the controversy about biotechnology’s role in Africa. In addition, because we have attempted to focus our review on peer-reviewed evidence and documented examples, the preponderance of data presented in the report is focused on genetically modified (also abbreviated GM) crops in use and under development, although we recognize the potential of the technology for livestock, fisheries, and forestry.

Author : Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin,Gruère, Guillaume P.,Sithole-Niang, Idah
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Page : 266 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 2013-10-02
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9780896297951

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Genetically modified crops in Africa by Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin,Gruère, Guillaume P.,Sithole-Niang, Idah Pdf

A variable climate, political instability, and other constraints have limited agricultural development in African countries south of the Sahara. Genetically modified (GM) crops are one tool for enhancing agricultural productivity and food security despite such constraints. Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: Economic and Policy Lessons from Countries South of the Sahara investigates how this tool might be effectively used by evaluating the benefits, costs, and risks for African countries of adopting GM crops. The authors gather together studies on GM crops’ economic effects and impact on trade, how consumers view such crops, and other issues. They find that GM crops have had, on average, a positive economic effect in the nations where they were used and identify future steps for enhancing GM crop adoption’s positive effects. Promising policy initiatives include making biosafety regulations that do not make GM crop development prohibitively expensive, fostering intraregional trade in GM crops, and providing more and better information about GM crops to consumers who might currently be skeptical of them. These and other findings in Genetically Modified Crops in Africa indicate ways biotechnology can contribute to economic development in Africa south of the Sahara.

Author : Matthew A. Schnurr
Publisher : McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP
Page : 277 pages
File Size : 44,7 Mb
Release : 2019-11-07
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780228000457

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Africa's Gene Revolution by Matthew A. Schnurr Pdf

As development donors invest hundreds of millions of dollars into improved crops designed to alleviate poverty and hunger, Africa has emerged as the final frontier in the global debate over agricultural biotechnology. The first data-driven assessment of the ecological, social, and political factors that shape our understanding of genetic modification, Africa's Gene Revolution surveys twenty years of efforts to use genomics-based breeding to enhance yields and livelihoods for African farmers. Matthew Schnurr considers the full range of biotechnologies currently in commercial use and those in development - including hybrids, marker-assisted breeding, tissue culture, and genetic engineering. Drawing on interviews with biotechnology experts alongside research conducted with more than two hundred farmers across eastern, western, and southern Africa, Schnurr reveals a profound incongruity between the optimistic rhetoric that accompanies genetic modification technology and the realities of the smallholder farmers who are its intended beneficiaries. Through the lens of political ecology, this book demonstrates that the current emphasis on improved seeds discounts the geographic, social, ecological, and economic contexts in which the producers of these crops operate. Bringing the voices of farmers to the foreground of this polarizing debate, Africa's Gene Revolution contends that meaningful change will come from a reconfiguration not only of the plant's genome, but of the entire agricultural system.

Author : Jennifer Thomson
Publisher : CSIRO PUBLISHING
Page : 209 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2021-01-20
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 9781486312665

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GM Crops and the Global Divide by Jennifer Thomson Pdf

Attitudes to GM crops continue to generate tension, even though they have been grown commercially for over 20 years. Negative sentiment towards their development limits their adoption in Western countries, despite there being no evidence of harm to human health. These unfounded concerns about genetically modified crops have also inhibited uptake in many countries throughout Africa and Asia, having a major impact on agricultural productivity and preventing the widespread cultivation of potentially life-saving crops. GM Crops and the Global Divide traces the historical importance that European attitudes to past colonial influences, aid, trade and educational involvement have had on African leaders and their people. The detrimental impact that these attitudes have on agricultural productivity and food security continues to be of growing importance, especially in light of climate change, drought and the potential rise in sea levels – the effects of which could be mitigated by the cultivation of GM and gene-edited crops. Following on from her previous books Genes for Africa, GM Crops: The Impact and the Potential and Food for Africa, Jennifer Thomson unravels the reasons behind these negative attitudes towards GM crop production. By addressing the detrimental effects that anti-GM opinions have on nutrition security in developing countries and providing a clear account of the science to counter these attitudes, she hopes to highlight and ultimately bridge this global divide.

Author : Kristin Wedding,Johanna Nesseth Tuttle
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
Page : 40 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2013-10-16
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781442227880

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Pathways to Productivity by Kristin Wedding,Johanna Nesseth Tuttle Pdf

This report provides an overview of the debate in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda over genetically modified (GM) crops and their potential role in improving food security among smallholder farmers. Specifically, in each country, it examines regulatory structures, science and research capacity, communication and public opinion, the views of smallholder farmers, and the forecast for adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Additionally, it examines regional regulatory efforts and potential trade impacts. Finally, the report provides a set of policy recommendations targeted toward the U.S. government, focus country governments, the donor community, and nongovernmental organizations.

Author : Jemima Agyare
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 2011
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 0415596777

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The Politics of Genetically Modified Agriculture in Africa by Jemima Agyare Pdf

The issue of genetically modified (GM) agriculture and its relevance to developing countries is one that is fiercely contested. The debates surrounding the adoption of GM technology by developing countries are multifaceted and complex. The Politics of Genetically Modified Agriculture in Africa investigates claims regarding the use of GM crops to benefit the poor in Africa. The validity of claims for 'pro-poor' GM agriculture are analysed through a critique of the science model employed by scientists, policy-makers and some non-governmental organisations. This investigation is underpinned by further exploration of the conceptualisation of 'poor', the governance of GM and the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders. In regards to policy implementation, the book concludes that claims for 'pro-poor' GM agriculture cannot be substantiated, and are inadequate as a justification for policies to promote the adoption of this technology. The Politics of Genetically Modified Agriculture in Africa will be of interest to students and scholars of environmental politics, where the development of the GM food debate continues to cause political debate and contestation. It will also be of interest to those in the fields of African Studies and Politics.

Author : Steven Were Omamo,Klaus von Grebmer
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Page : 317 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2005-01-01
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780896297371

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Biotechnology, Agriculture, and Food Security in Southern Africa by Steven Were Omamo,Klaus von Grebmer Pdf

This book brings together experts from within and outside Africa to discuss the current status of biotechnology in southern Africa, the conceptual framework for multistakeholder dialogues, the political and ethical issues surrounding biotechnology, food safety and consumer issues, biosafety, intellectual property rights, and trade involving genetically modified foods.

Author : Jennifer A. Thomson
Publisher : Juta and Company Ltd
Page : 210 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2002
Category : Nature
ISBN : 1919713573

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Genes for Africa by Jennifer A. Thomson Pdf

Jennifer Thomson separates fact from fiction and explains why and how GM crops can help us combat poverty, starvation and disease in the developing world, in a safe and responsible way. She explains the technology and looks at the differences and similarities between genetic modification, conventional plant breeding, and natural processes such as cross pollination and mutations. There are chapters devoted to controversial issues such as food safety (for GM crops and organically grown food), patents labelling, regulations and controls, and a section dealing with frequently-asked questions. It ends with a focus on Africa and possible future developments in GM technology. Technical terms are explained and appendices provide additional information on testing for allergens, horizontal gene transfer, and international food safety assessment documents. For those who wish to explore the subject further, it also provides a list of more than 60 web sites dealing with issues related to the GM debate.

Author : Robert Paarlberg
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 254 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2009-08-05
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780674266346

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Starved for Science by Robert Paarlberg Pdf

Listen to a short interview with Robert PaarlbergHost: Chris Gondek | Producer: Heron & Crane Heading upcountry in Africa to visit small farms is absolutely exhilarating given the dramatic beauty of big skies, red soil, and arid vistas, but eventually the two-lane tarmac narrows to rutted dirt, and the journey must continue on foot. The farmers you eventually meet are mostly women, hardworking but visibly poor. They have no improved seeds, no chemical fertilizers, no irrigation, and with their meager crops they earn less than a dollar a day. Many are malnourished. Nearly two-thirds of Africans are employed in agriculture, yet on a per-capita basis they produce roughly 20 percent less than they did in 1970. Although modern agricultural science was the key to reducing rural poverty in Asia, modern farm science—including biotechnology—has recently been kept out of Africa. In Starved for Science Robert Paarlberg explains why poor African farmers are denied access to productive technologies, particularly genetically engineered seeds with improved resistance to insects and drought. He traces this obstacle to the current opposition to farm science in prosperous countries. Having embraced agricultural science to become well-fed themselves, those in wealthy countries are now instructing Africans—on the most dubious grounds—not to do the same. In a book sure to generate intense debate, Paarlberg details how this cultural turn against agricultural science among affluent societies is now being exported, inappropriately, to Africa. Those who are opposed to the use of agricultural technologies are telling African farmers that, in effect, it would be just as well for them to remain poor.

Author : Matin Qaim
Publisher : Springer
Page : 206 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2016-04-29
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781137405722

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Genetically Modified Crops and Agricultural Development by Matin Qaim Pdf

This book analyzes the impacts of current and possible future GM crop applications and shows that these technologies can contribute substantially to sustainable agricultural development and food security.

Author : Matthew A. Schnurr
Publisher : McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP
Page : 277 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2019-11-07
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780228000457

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Africa's Gene Revolution by Matthew A. Schnurr Pdf

As development donors invest hundreds of millions of dollars into improved crops designed to alleviate poverty and hunger, Africa has emerged as the final frontier in the global debate over agricultural biotechnology. The first data-driven assessment of the ecological, social, and political factors that shape our understanding of genetic modification, Africa's Gene Revolution surveys twenty years of efforts to use genomics-based breeding to enhance yields and livelihoods for African farmers. Matthew Schnurr considers the full range of biotechnologies currently in commercial use and those in development - including hybrids, marker-assisted breeding, tissue culture, and genetic engineering. Drawing on interviews with biotechnology experts alongside research conducted with more than two hundred farmers across eastern, western, and southern Africa, Schnurr reveals a profound incongruity between the optimistic rhetoric that accompanies genetic modification technology and the realities of the smallholder farmers who are its intended beneficiaries. Through the lens of political ecology, this book demonstrates that the current emphasis on improved seeds discounts the geographic, social, ecological, and economic contexts in which the producers of these crops operate. Bringing the voices of farmers to the foreground of this polarizing debate, Africa's Gene Revolution contends that meaningful change will come from a reconfiguration not only of the plant's genome, but of the entire agricultural system.

Author : Norman Clark,John Mugabe,James Smith
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 54 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2005
Category : Science
ISBN : UOM:39015064888418

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Governing Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa by Norman Clark,John Mugabe,James Smith Pdf

Author : Jemima Agyare
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2024-07-01
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 0739144367

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The Politics of Genetically Modified Agrilculture in Africa by Jemima Agyare Pdf

The issue of genetically modified (GM) agriculture and its relevance to developing countries is one that is fiercely contested. The debates surrounding the adoption of GM technology by developing countries are multifaceted and complex. The Politics of Genetically Modified Agriculture in Africa investigates claims regarding the use of GM crops to benefit the poor in Africa. The validity of claims for 'pro-poor' GM agriculture are analysed through a critique of the science model employed by scientists, policy-makers and some non-governmental organisations. This investigation is underpinned by further exploration of the conceptualisation of 'poor', the governance of GM and the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders. In regards to policy implementation, the book concludes that claims for 'pro-poor' GM agriculture cannot be substantiated, and are inadequate as a justification for policies to promote the adoption of this technology. The Politics of Genetically Modified Agriculture in Africa will be of interest to students and scholars of environmental politics, where the development of the GM food debate continues to cause political debate and contestation. It will also be of interest to those in the fields of African Studies and Politics.

Author : Judith A. Chambers
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
Page : 41 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2013-12-11
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781442228061

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Biosafety of GM Crops in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania by Judith A. Chambers Pdf

This report outlines the status of biotechnology regulatory structures in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, with a focus on regulation of genetically modified (GM) crops. Effective regulatory structures are important for the approval and use of agricultural technology. As technologies become more sophisticated, so too must regulatory structures and risk assessment frameworks. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the biotechnology regulatory structures in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda; outlines the current status of each country’s biotechnology regulatory structures; and evaluates to what extent the status of each of these countries’ regulatory structures permit and/or impede GM adoption. Finally, the paper examines potential areas for regulatory harmonization between these countries at a regional level.

Author : Jennifer Thomson
Publisher : CSIRO PUBLISHING
Page : 248 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2021-01-20
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 9781486312672

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GM Crops and the Global Divide by Jennifer Thomson Pdf

Attitudes to GM crops continue to generate tension, even though they have been grown commercially for over 20 years. Negative sentiment towards their development limits their adoption in Western countries, despite there being no evidence of harm to human health. These unfounded concerns about genetically modified crops have also inhibited uptake in many countries throughout Africa and Asia, having a major impact on agricultural productivity and preventing the widespread cultivation of potentially life-saving crops. GM Crops and the Global Divide traces the historical importance that European attitudes to past colonial influences, aid, trade and educational involvement have had on African leaders and their people. The detrimental impact that these attitudes have on agricultural productivity and food security continues to be of growing importance, especially in light of climate change, drought and the potential rise in sea levels – the effects of which could be mitigated by the cultivation of GM and gene-edited crops. Following on from her previous books Genes for Africa, GM Crops: The Impact and the Potential and Food for Africa, Jennifer Thomson unravels the reasons behind these negative attitudes towards GM crop production. By addressing the detrimental effects that anti-GM opinions have on nutrition security in developing countries and providing a clear account of the science to counter these attitudes, she hopes to highlight and ultimately bridge this global divide.