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Key Documents archive results 1-20 of 80 in Agriculture & Environment and Agri-biotech
Agrofuels and the use of genetic modification
This report from GeneWatch UK describes the use of genetically modified (GM) crops as agrofuels and makes policy recommendations on their use. Civil society groups have raised concerns over the sustainability of using food supplies to produce biofuel. Industry and government have responded by...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: July 2009 | EN
Coping with water scarcity: What role for biotechnologies?
This report combines a background paper and summary report from a moderated email conference held by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in March 2007. The background paper outlines the current and future challenges for water availability. The authors discuss options for dealing with water...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2008 | EN
Biotechnology Journal special issue: Talking Biotech with the Public
This special issue of Biotechnology Journal collects together opinion and case study articles to explore a multitude of challenges around public communication of biotechnology in different parts of the world. Topics include combating the negative emotions that many members of the public feel...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: September 2007 | EN
Innovation Systems Perspective on Developing-Country Agriculture: A Critical Review
Innovation systems perspectives on agricultural research and technological change are fast becoming a popular approach to the study of how society generates, disseminates, and utilises knowledge. It provides an opportunity to study and explore complex relationships between the many agents and...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2005 | EN
Putting GM technologies to work: public research pipelines in selected African countries
This scientific article provides an insight into the status of public research in genetically modified (GM) crops in Egypt, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe in 2004. The authors document 54 transgenic 'events' -- specific instances of genetic transformation -- across the four countries. They...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: November 2004 | EN
Towards the establishment of a vibrant South African biotechnology industry: will the recent policy interventions achieve their objectives?
This research article, by Rosemary Wolson at the University of Cape Town, assesses South Africa's biotechnology policies, reviewing three major initiatives -- the national research and development strategy, biotechnology strategy and proposed laws to govern intellectual property rights derived from...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2005 | EN
Industrial biotechnology applications for food security in Africa: opportunities and challenges
In this research article, Victor Konde of the University of Zambia argues that industrial biotechnologies can improve food security in Africa through improved livestock feeds and vaccines, as well as biotechnological pesticides, fertilisers and herbicides. He adds that biotechnology can also help...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2005 | EN
Linking biotechnology, chemistry and agriculture to create new value chains
These proceedings from the 2006 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing broadly focus on the development of new biotechnology and bioprocessing industries, including biofuel crops. Although they give a predominantly developed world perspective, they may be of interest to...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: July 2006 | EN
Agriculture and food: who benefits from GM crops?
This document from Friends of the Earth is a partisan analysis challenging claims that genetically modified (GM) crops have brought significant benefits for the environment and poverty alleviation. It nevertheless provides a useful summary of the key areas where the environmental movement takes...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January 2007 | EN
A comparative analysis of experiences and lessons from the UNEP-GEF biosafety projects
This analysis looks at lessons learnt from the 132 countries that participated in a UN and Global Environment Facility project supporting developing countries to design and implement national biosafety frameworks. The report examines how participating countries tailored their regulations to meet...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: December 2006 | EN
Agricultural deskilling and the spread of genetically modified cotton in Warangal
This article presents four years of field research into the commercialisation of genetically modified Bt cotton in Andhra Pradesh, India. The author, Glenn Stone, challenges the assumption that the rapid spread of Bt cotton is due to farmers carefully assessing the technology on a small scale...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: February 2007 | EN
Results from the FAO Biotechnology Forum
This report summarises six conferences from the Food and Agriculture Organization's forum on biotechnology in food and agriculture. The background documents for each conference are presented with a summary of the key points raised. The topics covered include: gene flow; biotechnology's role in...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January 2007 | EN
Ten years of genetically modified crops in Argentine agriculture
This report evaluates the impacts of genetically modified (GM) crops in Argentina between 1996 and 2005, alongside wider trends in the country's agriculture and national economy. The authors calculate the financial benefits of three GM crops -- soybeans, maize and cotton -- to be over US$20...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: December 2006 | EN
The role of biotechnology in the socio-economic advancement and national development: An overview
This paper provides a helpful overview of the history, current status and potential value of biotechnology from an African perspective. The authors -- three Nigerian scientists -- review modern biotechnological tools and techniques, outline their applications, and discuss their benefits and risks. ...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: December 2006 | EN
Blueprint for the development of plant-derived vaccines for the poor in developing countries
This document's authors say the development of plant-derived vaccines is straightforward, and that their production could "easily and economically be established in developing countries". Drawing on consultations with international experts, they examine the elements needed to realise the...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2005 | EN
Genetically modified insect resistant crops with regard to developing countries
This paper outlines the arguments in favour of adopting transgenic insect-resistant maize, rice and cotton in developing countries. Drawing on published studies, it reviews the characteristics of available insect-resistant crops and explains how they affect conventional cultivation practices. The...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2006 | EN
Choice of technology for herbicide-resistant transgenic crops in India: Examination of issues
This article discusses herbicide-resistant transgenic crops (HRCs) and their relevance to Indian agriculture. The Delhi-based authors present their assessment of the key issues arising from herbicide-resistant (HR) technology. Although the Indian government has not identified HR technology as a...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: August 2006 | EN
Promising crop biotechnologies for smallholder farmers in East Africa: Bananas and maize
This collection of seven policy briefs summarises recent research on the potential for transgenic improvement of banana and maize crops in East Africa. It is part of a series of briefings produced by the International Food Policy Research Institute and two other centres. The collection provides a...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: June 2006 | EN
Regulating GMOs in developing and transition countries
This document summarises the ninth email conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization's e-forum on biotechnology, which took place from 28 April to 1 June 2003. The conference focused on the regulation of genetically modified organisms in the developing world. Forty-four participants from 20...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2003 | EN
Biotechnology opportunities for developing countries
This special supplement of Nature Biotechnology presents findings from a three-year study of biotechnology success stories from the South. The methods used in Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, South Africa and South Korea are examined. The studies show that Brazil, with its rich biodiversity and...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: December 2004 | EN
