Agricultural biotechnology and food security in developing countries

Introduction

Feeding the world 's poor is a daunting challenge (Carter , 2007 . The world is expected to have some 8 billion people by 2020 . Most of the growth from the present level of about 6 billion will be in the third world . Some 1 billion people suffer from chronic hunger , and more than half of them are farmers . There are strong compulsions to raise food production quickly . It is tempting to deploy new methods to achieve quick rises in food supplies , but such moves should be tempered by consideration of risks which

may be involved . Economic considerations must also be taken in to account , since it is conceivable that increased food stocks , and means of using new technologies may remain beyond the reach of the poor

This document considers various aspects of agricultural biotechnology as a means of improving farm production and food security in poor countries . The reviews the status of agricultural biotechnology in various developing countries and how it can best be deployed in the service of the poor

Current Status of Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries

No developing country is self-sufficient in agricultural biotechnology though many have abundant natural resources and scientific personnel The opportunity to achieve competitive advantage in this field has been surrendered substantially to the corporate sector . However , some of the larger countries have substantial resources invested in academic and mass production aspects of agricultural biotechnology

High development costs and integration issues with conventional research programs plague indigenous agricultural biotechnology development in poor nations (Corporate Document Repository , 2007 However , Asia and Latin America are ahead of sub-Saharan Africa in this respect (Corporate Document Repository , 2007

Privately owned biotechnology companies and multi-lateral organizations in the public sector dominate know-how and products which can give expression to agricultural biotechnology (Carter , 2007 . Agricultural biotechnology addresses quality aspects apart from productivity Specific projects which are on the anvil include the introduction of rice and edible oils which have been fortified with vitamins and minerals . This kind of agricultural biotechnology tackles malnutrition and deficiency issues , apart from making greater food supplies available . Similarly , there are efforts to improve protein quality and content in the crops which provide staple diets to major communities of the poor in various parts of the world . Agricultural biotechnology also addresses the debilitating pests which ravage important food sources , by instilling genes for resistance in indigenous species . The shelf-life of farm produce can be extended , reducing post harvest losses . Another productive use of agricultural biotechnology is to develop crop varieties which can withstand and metabolize toxic metals , thus enabling the conversion of some marginal lands for additional farm production

Biotechnology , as the name implies , rests on biological resources . The latter , in their natural states , are the properties of nation states However , know-how for some key break through products has become the exclusive property of international corporations . The latter have developed projects such as those related to new crop varieties tolerant to their chemical products , which are directed at protecting sectarian profits , rather than to...