Biotechnology in African Agricultural Research: Opportunities for Donor Organizations

Agricultural research in Africa is generally very dependent on financial support from donor agencies and international lending organizations such as the World Bank. In May 1998 the Rockefeller Foundation requested ISNAR to analyze the needs and opportunities for greater investment in biotechnology r...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Komen, John, Mignouna, J., Webber, H.
Formato: Brief
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Service for National Agricultural Research 2000
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136232
_version_ 1855535824816308224
author Komen, John
Mignouna, J.
Webber, H.
author_browse Komen, John
Mignouna, J.
Webber, H.
author_facet Komen, John
Mignouna, J.
Webber, H.
author_sort Komen, John
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Agricultural research in Africa is generally very dependent on financial support from donor agencies and international lending organizations such as the World Bank. In May 1998 the Rockefeller Foundation requested ISNAR to analyze the needs and opportunities for greater investment in biotechnology research concerning African crops. In response, ISNAR carried out a survey which yielded information on fifty African research institutes in nine countries, and on a selected group of relevant international institutes and programs. The main findings and recommendations of ISNAR's report to the Rockefeller Foundation have been summarized in this Briefing Paper, since they may well be of interest to other donor organizations, policymakers, and research directors responsible for agricultural research in Africa. The main findings are that a wide range of biotechnology tools is available for application in crop improvement programs, especially those related to tissue culture and genetic markers. Genetic engineering is not widely applied, and is primarily in the experimental phase. Research capacities in the nine countries are severely limited, with some exceptions, and too often donor-dependent. Resources are spread over a wide range of crops, and emphasize the ""low tech"" applications of biotechnology. Recommendations therefore stress that donor support to agricultural biotechnology should focus on a limited number of priority crops, and involve the institutes with the capacity to undertake advanced research. Technical assistance on management aspects of biotechnology, such as instituting biosafety mechanisms, should be an integral component of any new initiative.
format Brief
id CGSpace136232
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2000
publishDateRange 2000
publishDateSort 2000
publisher International Service for National Agricultural Research
publisherStr International Service for National Agricultural Research
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1362322025-01-09T06:04:14Z Biotechnology in African Agricultural Research: Opportunities for Donor Organizations Komen, John Mignouna, J. Webber, H. biotechnology agriculture research development aid development agencies Agricultural research in Africa is generally very dependent on financial support from donor agencies and international lending organizations such as the World Bank. In May 1998 the Rockefeller Foundation requested ISNAR to analyze the needs and opportunities for greater investment in biotechnology research concerning African crops. In response, ISNAR carried out a survey which yielded information on fifty African research institutes in nine countries, and on a selected group of relevant international institutes and programs. The main findings and recommendations of ISNAR's report to the Rockefeller Foundation have been summarized in this Briefing Paper, since they may well be of interest to other donor organizations, policymakers, and research directors responsible for agricultural research in Africa. The main findings are that a wide range of biotechnology tools is available for application in crop improvement programs, especially those related to tissue culture and genetic markers. Genetic engineering is not widely applied, and is primarily in the experimental phase. Research capacities in the nine countries are severely limited, with some exceptions, and too often donor-dependent. Resources are spread over a wide range of crops, and emphasize the ""low tech"" applications of biotechnology. Recommendations therefore stress that donor support to agricultural biotechnology should focus on a limited number of priority crops, and involve the institutes with the capacity to undertake advanced research. Technical assistance on management aspects of biotechnology, such as instituting biosafety mechanisms, should be an integral component of any new initiative. 2000-02 2024-01-04T07:47:41Z 2024-01-04T07:47:41Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136232 en Open Access application/pdf International Service for National Agricultural Research Komen, John, Mignouna, J., Webber, H. 2000. Biotechnology in African Agricultural Research: Opportunities for Donor Organizations. International Service for National Agricultural Research
spellingShingle biotechnology
agriculture
research
development aid
development agencies
Komen, John
Mignouna, J.
Webber, H.
Biotechnology in African Agricultural Research: Opportunities for Donor Organizations
title Biotechnology in African Agricultural Research: Opportunities for Donor Organizations
title_full Biotechnology in African Agricultural Research: Opportunities for Donor Organizations
title_fullStr Biotechnology in African Agricultural Research: Opportunities for Donor Organizations
title_full_unstemmed Biotechnology in African Agricultural Research: Opportunities for Donor Organizations
title_short Biotechnology in African Agricultural Research: Opportunities for Donor Organizations
title_sort biotechnology in african agricultural research opportunities for donor organizations
topic biotechnology
agriculture
research
development aid
development agencies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136232
work_keys_str_mv AT komenjohn biotechnologyinafricanagriculturalresearchopportunitiesfordonororganizations
AT mignounaj biotechnologyinafricanagriculturalresearchopportunitiesfordonororganizations
AT webberh biotechnologyinafricanagriculturalresearchopportunitiesfordonororganizations