Crop biotechnology and the African farmer Export

@article{eicher_crop_2006, abstract = {Recent reports, workshops and meetings on GM (Genetically Modified) crops tend to characterize GM food production as a solution to Africa's food crisis. However, GM crops are currently grown commercially in only one country in Africa - South Africa. Biotechnology tools range from tissue culture to molecular breeding and genetic engineering. This paper focuses on GM crop improvement and analyzes the development of seven GM crops (six food staples and cotton) over the past 15 years in Africa. The case studies reveal a number of unexpected scientific, legal, economic and political barriers to the development of GM crops and long delays in developing and implementing national biosafety regulations and guidelines. We conclude that most GM crops are at least 10-15 years or longer from reaching smallholder farmers in Africa. During this time special attention should be given to strengthening conventional plant breeding programs in NARS (National Agricultural Research Systems), African universities and the CGIAR. Biotechnology approaches must be nested and integrated into plant breeding programs. Special attention should also be given to raising public awareness of biotechnology, mobilizing political support and commitment to strengthening African capacity in biotechnology, biosafety, food safety and IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) and mounting long-term training programs to train the next generation of African plant breeders and GM crop specialists.}, author = {Eicher, Carl K. and Maredia, Karim and Niang, Idah S.}, citeulike-article-id = {1779594}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VCB-4JFHFF9-1/2/c944fbdede4baed5bd7d08fd3f44b000}, journal = {Food Policy}, keywords = {africa, biotechnology, food, zotero-bibtex-citeulike}, month = {December}, pages = {504--527}, posted-at = {2007-10-17 13:20:27}, priority = {4}, title = {Crop biotechnology and the African farmer}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VCB-4JFHFF9-1/2/c944fbdede4baed5bd7d08fd3f44b000}, volume = {31}, year = {2006} }

TY - JOUR ID - eicher_crop_2006 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1779594 N2 - Recent reports, workshops and meetings on GM (Genetically Modified) crops tend to characterize GM food production as a solution to Africa's food crisis. However, GM crops are currently grown commercially in only one country in Africa - South Africa. Biotechnology tools range from tissue culture to molecular breeding and genetic engineering. This paper focuses on GM crop improvement and analyzes the development of seven GM crops (six food staples and cotton) over the past 15 years in Africa. The case studies reveal a number of unexpected scientific, legal, economic and political barriers to the development of GM crops and long delays in developing and implementing national biosafety regulations and guidelines. We conclude that most GM crops are at least 10-15 years or longer from reaching smallholder farmers in Africa. During this time special attention should be given to strengthening conventional plant breeding programs in NARS (National Agricultural Research Systems), African universities and the CGIAR. Biotechnology approaches must be nested and integrated into plant breeding programs. Special attention should also be given to raising public awareness of biotechnology, mobilizing political support and commitment to strengthening African capacity in biotechnology, biosafety, food safety and IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) and mounting long-term training programs to train the next generation of African plant breeders and GM crop specialists. JF - Food Policy EP - 527 TI - Crop biotechnology and the African farmer VL - 31 SP - 504 KW - africa KW - biotechnology KW - food KW - zotero-bibtex-citeulike AU - Eicher, Carl AU - Maredia, Karim AU - Niang, Idah PY - 2006/December// UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VCB-4JFHFF9-1/2/c944fbdede4baed5bd7d08fd3f44b000 ER -