Biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in Africa

After a decade of global diffusion, and the realisation of some economic benefits, the environmental impact of Genetically Modified (GM) crop technologies remains inconclusive and a source of considerable threat to biodiversity-rich Africa. Drawing on evidence from Ethiopia and South Africa, this pa...

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Autor principal: Ayele, Seife
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Inderscience Publishers 2008
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/1592
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author Ayele, Seife
author_browse Ayele, Seife
author_facet Ayele, Seife
author_sort Ayele, Seife
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description After a decade of global diffusion, and the realisation of some economic benefits, the environmental impact of Genetically Modified (GM) crop technologies remains inconclusive and a source of considerable threat to biodiversity-rich Africa. Drawing on evidence from Ethiopia and South Africa, this paper characterises debates, considers policy and discusses the rationale for proactive GM technology policy (as in South Africa) and precautionary ones (such as in Ethiopia). It shows that GM crop adoption, or rejection, crucially depends on the scientific, technological and institutional capabilities for the development and use of the technology and perceptions about risk and socio-economic impacts. Overly protective policies (inadvertently) suppress the development of biotechnological capacities that have the potential to add more value to biodiversity-derived products, and reduce loss of biodiversity. It argues that Africa's progress in science and biotechnological innovation is central to conservation and sustainable use of its biodiversity for the improvement of the livelihoods of its people.
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spelling CGSpace15922024-05-01T08:18:56Z Biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in Africa Ayele, Seife crops genetics After a decade of global diffusion, and the realisation of some economic benefits, the environmental impact of Genetically Modified (GM) crop technologies remains inconclusive and a source of considerable threat to biodiversity-rich Africa. Drawing on evidence from Ethiopia and South Africa, this paper characterises debates, considers policy and discusses the rationale for proactive GM technology policy (as in South Africa) and precautionary ones (such as in Ethiopia). It shows that GM crop adoption, or rejection, crucially depends on the scientific, technological and institutional capabilities for the development and use of the technology and perceptions about risk and socio-economic impacts. Overly protective policies (inadvertently) suppress the development of biotechnological capacities that have the potential to add more value to biodiversity-derived products, and reduce loss of biodiversity. It argues that Africa's progress in science and biotechnological innovation is central to conservation and sustainable use of its biodiversity for the improvement of the livelihoods of its people. 2008 2010-05-19T20:13:32Z 2010-05-19T20:13:32Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/1592 en Limited Access Inderscience Publishers Ayele, S. 2008. Biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in Africa. International Journal of Biotechnology 10(2/3):207-223.
spellingShingle crops
genetics
Ayele, Seife
Biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in Africa
title Biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in Africa
title_full Biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in Africa
title_fullStr Biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in Africa
title_full_unstemmed Biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in Africa
title_short Biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in Africa
title_sort biotechnology and biodiversity debates and policies in africa
topic crops
genetics
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/1592
work_keys_str_mv AT ayeleseife biotechnologyandbiodiversitydebatesandpoliciesinafrica