Genomics and developing countries

"To some degree Margaret Karembu's paper was the most significant given the heat that is usually generated in the debate concerning biotechnology. In addition to her role at Nairobi University Dr Karembu is a researcher for the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Africenter, an institution regarded by critics as something of a Trojan horse for the biotechnology industry from which it receives much of its funding, in addition to USAID. Despite such potential pressures Dr Karembu went to some effort to demonstrate that there is much more to biotechnology than genetic engineering (something often unappreciated, or ignored, by both sides of the GM debate). Her presentation provided the opportunity to raise a question from the floor about appropriate priorities for the biotechnology sector. In so doing it was pointed out that senior figures in both industry and academia have drawn attention to the fact that marker assisted selection offers much greater overall potential for the future of world agriculture than genetic engineering (for example, annual improvements in wheat yields from the use of this technology are predicted to arise at twice the rate previously anticipated by the FAO). Moreover - and most importantly - it is a technology for which it is difficult to find objection from either consumers or environmental campaigners. So the question was posed: if the most promising biotechnology is also one which is acceptable to society at large should that not be the area where attention is focused rather than genetic engineering? Significantly Dr Karembu responded largely in agreement indicating that there was no need to rush to genetic engineering until other possibilities had been exhausted. Perhaps even more importantly her response downplayed the role of plant breeding in general as a universal solution (in contrast to the seemingly simplistic conclusion reached later by Dennis Avery: 'There is no answer other than biotechnology'), indicating that emphasis also needed to be placed on management systems such as integrated pest management."
Inaugural World Food and Farming Congress
NLPWessex Special Report, 25-26 November - click here for full report