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The potential of biotechnology to improve agriculture in developing nations |
G. ACQUAAH, Langston Univ., 2617 N. Buckhorn Dr., Edmond, OK 73034 Most of the projected increase in world population by 2030 will occur in developing nations, which are already plagued by serious socioeconomic problems. Biotechnology has the potential to address some of the major food production problems in developing countries. Unlike the Green Revolution, biotechnology provides a greater variety of tools for introducing a greater array of novelty in both crop and animal production. It can address the issue of biotic stress (diseases and pests), abiotic stress (drought, heat, soil factors), post-harvest losses (due to spoilage of food), increased productivity (from improved planting materials), augmenting nutritional quality of food, and improving the productivity of cash crops. Developing countries vary in their scientific knowledge base and infrastructure to exploit biotechnology. Consequently, in order to take advantage of biotechnology, partnerships and collaborative ventures between the public and private sectors are crucial at all levels, both overseas and locally. Some of the technology should be developed in situ in developing countries. Further, developing countries should be directly involved in the choice of technology, to facilitate its acceptance. The role of outside partners and donors should be to ensure ready access to appropriate technologies and to inform the decision-making process of developing nations. It is important to embark on capacity building at the local level for sustaining international infusion of technology. Most of the initial international efforts should address the production problems associated with widely used crops in the developing world (e.g., rice, corn, cassava, potato, banana, plantains). Disease resistant varieties of these crops are needed immediately. In addition to Golden Rice, scientists are developing high protein sweet potato and pest resistant sugar cane and papaya. Micropropagation is being used to produce disease-free planting material in various crops, and for propagating tree crops.
Session 21, How will we feed the world in 2025?
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