Washington, DC
September 24, 2008
Source: The Council for
Biotechnology Information
Asia and Africa have the
highest population growth rate in the world, making it difficult
to maintain adequate food supplies. Yet agriculture productivity
has stagnated in many countries in those regions in the past two
decades for many reasons, including poor seed varieties,
shortage of arable land, inadequate rainfall, and an abundance
of pests and diseases. While some countries have embraced
agricultural biotechnology to improve crops and yields, many
have not.
Next week, the National Academy of Sciences will hold a meeting
to discuss the findings of its recently-published report that
identifies the most serious constraints to improving
agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia,
including the lack of access to biotechnology. The report,
entitled "Emerging Technologies to Benefit Farmers in
Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia," recommends that nine
technologies be immediately incorporated into agricultural
programs to significantly improve crop yields, including
increased availability of agricultural biotechnology such as
sequencing of plant genes, plant-based gene slicing, and
biopesticides.
The report states "farmers need innovations that can help them
improve productivity and efficiency in the face of some of the
worlds most extreme environmental stresses and competing
demands for natural resources."
The most serious
agricultural constraints in sub-Saharan Africa and South
Asia: perspectives from scientists in those regions
Soil fertility, lack
of fertilizer, soil degradation
Drought, insufficient water, difficulties in managing
water
Animal nutrition, diseases, and arthropod vectors
Insufficient markets and international regulation
Weak government, institutions, and finance for small
farmers
Germplasm of plants and animals
Education of farmers, extension, and information
systems
Need for biotechnology, other new technologies
Weeds, plant diseases, and arthropod pests
Lack of infrastructure and manpower
Energy and mechanization for small farmers
Climate change and related problems
Information and resources for local scientists
Postharvesting technologies
Population growth
A summary of the National
Academy of Sciences' report is available on the Council for
Biotechnology web site at
http://www.whybiotech.com/resources/tps/BriefGatesEmergingTechnologiesAfricaSouthAsia.pdf
The Council for Biotechnology Information communicates
science-based information about the benefits and safety of
agricultural biotechnology and its contributions to sustainable
development. For more information, visit
www.whybiotech.com.
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