Successful Agricultural Innovation In Emerging Economies

Description: World population is forecast to grow from 7 to 9 billion by 2050, 1 in 6 is already hungry and food production must increase by 70-100% if it is to feed this growing population. No single solution will solve this problem but recent developments in the genetic technologies of plant breeding can help to increase agricultural efficiencies and save people from hunger in a sustainable manner, particularly in African nations where the need is greatest. These advances can rapidly incorporate new traits and tailor existing crops to meet new requirements and also greatly reduce the time and costs taken to improve local crop varieties. This book provides a collected, reliable, succinct review which deals expressly with the successful implementation of the new plant genetic sciences in emerging economies in the context of the interrelated key regulatory, social, ethical, political and trade matters.

Contents: List of contributors; Part I. The Issues of Plant Science and Food Security: Introduction Professor Sir David Baulcombe FRS; 1. Reaping the benefits of plant science for food security Professor Sir David Baulcombe FRS; 2. Global population growth, food security and food and farming for the future Professor Jim Dunwell; 3. New genetic crops in a global context Professor Sir Gordon Conway FRS and Katy Wilson; 4. The economic and environmental impact of first generation biotech crops Graham Brookes; 5. The interface of plant genome science, plant breeding and conservation of genetic resources Professor Wayne Powell; 6. Using molecular breeding to improve orphan crops for emerging economies Professor Ian Graham; Part II. New Genetics Crops across the Emerging World: Introduction Professor Chris Leaver FRS; 7. Status of crop biotechnology and biosafety in Africa Professor Diran Makinde; 8. Transforming agriculture in Argentina: the role of genetically modified (GM) crops Eduardo J. Trigo and Eugenio J. Cap; 9. China - earlier experiences and for the future Professor Lu Bao-rong; 10. Genetically engineered crops would ensure food security in India Professor Kameswara Rao; 11. Plant genetic improvement and sustainable agriculture Professor Pamela Ronald; 12. Nutritional enhancement by biofortification of staple crops Dr Adrian Dubock; 13. Transforming the cowpea, an African orphan staple crop grown predominantly by women Dr T. J. Higgins, Professor Larry Murdock and Professor Idah Sithole-Niang; 14. Transgenic marine algae for aquaculture: a coupled solution for protein sufficiency Professor Jonathan Gressel; Part III. Lessons Learned About Implementing New Genetics Crops in Policy: Introduction Professor Sir Brian Heap CBE FRS; 15. Enabling factors for an innovation-ready agricultural landscape in African countries Samuel Burckhardt, Dr Claudia Canales Holzeis, Julian Gray and Professor Sir Brian Heap CBE FRS; 16. Regulatory systems and agricultural biotechnology Mark Cantley and Drew L. Kershen; 17. Biotechnology research for innovation and sustainability in agriculture in the European Union Alfredo Aguilar, Danuta Cichocka, Jens Hogel, Piero Venturi and Ioannis Economidis; 18. Europe, GM crops and food - understanding the past, looking to the future Martin Porter; 19. US international engagement in agricultural research and trade Dr Jack A. Bobo and Dr Roger Beachy; Part IV. Social, Legal, Ethical and Political Issues: Introduction Dr David Bennett; 20. Have GM crops and food a future in Europe? Professor George Gaskell and Dr Sally Stares; 21. Dealing with challenges and societal expectations - the industry's response Nathalie Moll and Carel du Marchie Sarvaas; 22. Media and GM: a journalist's challenge Tim Radford; 23. The environmental movement's earlier and current viewpoints and positions Piet Schenkelaars; 24. Social and ethical issues raised by NGOs and how they can be understood Dr Richard Jennings; 25. Advancing the cause in emerging economies Professor Klaus Ammann; Index.

Author Biography: Dr David Bennett has long-term experience in the relations between the biosciences, industry, government, education, law, the public and the media. He works with the European Commission, government departments, companies, universities, public interest organisations and the media, having worked in universities and companies in the UK, USA, Australia and Europe. Dr Richard Jennings is an Affiliated Research Scholar at the University of Cambridge. His research interests are the ethics of science and technology. He pioneered the University's teaching of ethics in science, continues to run graduate workshops on this and is developing a Framework for Assessing Ethical Issues in New Technologies.