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http://gmopundit.blogspot.com/2007/09/poverty-alleviation-features-in-reort.html
Poverty alleviation features in report on Agricultural biotechnology from ISAAA
WORLD: The globe’s biotech crops alleviate poverty in Asia and Africa
14.sep.07
Council for Biotechnology Information
http://whybiotech.ca/canada-english.asp?id=5981
The hard currency of biotechnology at work around the world is translated into simple things: a water well, a motor scooter, books and school uniforms. As 10 million farmers around the world grew 100 million hectares of biotech-improved crops in 2006, they proved their desire to raise incomes and send their children to school. These findings are quantified in the latest report of Clive James, Chair, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications. The stark fact is that 90 percent of farmers using biotech seed are smallholder, resource-poor farmers, improving agricultural productivity by fending off disease and pests.1
In Clive James’ annual report of global trends of commercialized biotech crops, he reports a 13 percent growth in plantings over 2005. The top four countries are United States, Argentina, Brazil and Canada followed by India and China.
For the first time, India grew more insect-resistant cotton (3.8 million hectares) than China (3.5 million hectares). India’s farmers tripled their plantings in one year, with the states of Maharashta, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh leading the way. Given that 60 percent of India’s population is employed in agriculture, the significant increase in biotech crops since 2002 is a vote for improving incomes and quality of life.2 About 2.3 million farmers used the technology, improving cotton yields from 308 kg per hectare in 2001-02 to 450 kg per hectare in 2005-06. Indian researchers have confirmed a significant reduction of 39 percent in the number of pesticide sprays.
As India’s example shows, James predicts the second decade of biotech crops will shift from the Americas to Asia. In the United States, a majority of the soybean and cotton crops — more than 80 percent — is derived from biotech seed. In Canada, 92 percent of the canola crop is biotech seed. Many of the North American hectares already sustain triple stacks of traits including herbicide tolerance and two kinds of insect resistance. In other words, the North American market is saturated for the technology and growth is now expected in the developing world. Drought-tolerance traits may be commercialized as early as the 2010 or 2011 crop years, driving growth in Asian countries.
While Asia is moving ahead quickly on plant biotechnology, Africa is determined not to be left behind. South Africa, the first to commercialize Bt white corn for human consumption, is conducting research and development in various vegetables, grains, fruits, legumes and trees. Nine other countries have followed the role model, conducting field trials of genetically modified (GM)crops.3 In addition, 19 African countries are engaged in research and development. Four countries have Biosafety Guidelines in place with eight more countries working on similar frameworks, reports Mary Alton Mackey, a Canadian director on the board of Africa Harvest Biotech International.4
“The focus of research and development is on sorghum, cowpeas, cassava, banana, sweet potato, millet and other crops,” explains Mackey. The initiative, African Biofortified Sorghum, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is supported by a consortium of seven African and two American institutions coordinated by Africa Harvest. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a subsidiary of DuPont, is the scientific lead. This is just one example of how industry is partnering with public, private and academic organizations to build African scientific expertise, to develop the intellectual property that can benefit indigenous cultures.5 Other companies such as Monsanto have shared expertise as diverse as developing good laboratory practice to putting together regulatory data packages.6
The public sector is also involved. The Government of Canada supported the building of the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA) Centre,7 a new centre of excellence in biosciences for agriculture, with the hub in Nairobi, Kenya says Mackey. Regional nodes have been built in other Eastern and Central African countries. It will serve as a focal point for African scientists to conduct, promote and fund advanced bioscience research on production of stress-tolerant, disease-resistant, and nutritionally enhanced strains of crops. This centre is also developing vaccines, diagnostic tests and genetic resistance to disease among livestock. Its ultimate aim is to help poor farmers keep their land, improve their productivity and income, and increase their market opportunities.
The African Union has agreed that biotechnology has a key role to play in developing African agriculture and reducing poverty, with 50 experts convened from research institutions, farmers associations, universities, the private sector and other stakeholders advising this platform. In February 2007, African Union ministers of agriculture endorsed the development of the African Seed and Biotechnology Programme.8 Their objective? To enhance seed trade and to harmonize trade between member states. Many African Union countries have pledged to earmark 10 percent of their national budgets to improve agriculture.
Even Zambia, the African country that locked up GM corn in 2002 instead of distributing it to citizens, has now agreed to table a bill to regulate research, development, application, import, export, transit and use of GM products.9
The global track record of biotech crops serves as a role model for other countries which have been more reluctant to embrace the food and environmental safety record. While 22 countries planted biotech crops in 2006, an additional 29 countries have granted regulatory approvals for biotech crops for import for food and feed use, including major food importer Japan.
References and links
1 Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops 2006
4 Africa Harvest Hails the Approval of Biotech Policy
5 Government Actions, Public and Private Partnerships Needed to Revolutionize African Agriculture, January 26, 2007
6 Why we partner: Collaborations between the private and public sectors for food security and poverty alleviation through agricultural biotechnology
7 Biosciences facility for east and central Africa opens
8 A Robust Seed and Biotechnology Program Needed in Africa
9 Zambia tables biosafety bill
