The growing food security challenge
Simply put, to feed a global population of 9 billion in the coming decades, food production must increase. While no one technology will accomplish this task, all available technologies will be called upon for success to be realized.
In the Handbook on Agriculture, Biotechnology and Development, editors Stuart Smyth, Peter Phillips and David Castle present a compendium of knowledge and insights that compares and contrasts the impact of biotechnology in a full range of applications, providing access to the latest, most detailed knowledge of both products and processes that determine the scope and impact of agbiotech on development and global food security.
Chapters on processes examine important subjects such as intellectual property right, technology transfer and industrial organization structures, while product focused chapters examine not only the traditional GM products such as canola, corn, cotton and soybeans, but also provide unique perspectives on GM papaya, rice and banana.
The answer to this question is not as clear as some assert. The challenge faced by the three editors was to delve deeply into a diverse array of crucial subject areas, drawing out information and insights that will facilitate greater understanding of the subject.
Drawing on expert perspectives of leading authors from 48 different institutions in 18 countries, the Handbook provides a unique, global overview of agbiotech following 20 years of adoption. While this depth of knowledge and insights is indeed rich and very challenging to summarize, a few key ones contravene popular sentiment.
Overall, the message is that there are economic and social benefits from the technology and these benefits are increasingly accruing to farmers, especially small landholders in developing countries, and to consumers, regardless of whether they directly consume foods derived from GM crops.
While the adoption of GM crops initially occurred in North America, the rate of adoption of this innovative technology has been nothing short of phenomenal. The Handbook also explores the spillovers of agbiotech to South America, Australia, the Philippines, China and India, examining the impact on consumers and industry and the dynamics of disputes. Discussions are also presented on Europe’s aversion to agbiotech and the spillover impact this has on the continent of Africa. In an increasingly globalized world of innovation, production and trade, the problems and challenges of the current trans-Atlantic gap in agbiotech pose a conundrum to the future production of crops and food. The impact and influence of non-governmental organizations on the debate is also contained in the Handbook.
As a consumer of food, regardless of how it was produced, your opinions are of interest to us as editors. Leave us a comment, letting us know what you think about agricultural biotechnology or any of its related themes of interest.
Handbook on Agriculture, Biotechnology and Development authors:
Kent Blacklidge
Posted on 01/05/2014
Wondering if any of you have any direct education in genetics?