Why Africa needs agricultural biotech

Wambugu, Florence

doi:10.1038/21771

Cited by 82 publications

(41 citation statements)

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“…This was also reflected by our finding that articles referring to general environmental consequences of GM crops often dealt with questions concerning socio-economic aspects (e.g., Goga and Clementi 2002;Bruce 2002a;Bruce 2003). Even articles in natural sciences journals (''Science'' and ''Nature'') dealt with socio-economic concerns such as concerns about food security and living conditions of farmers in developing countries (e.g., Serageldin 1999;Wambugu 1999).…”

Section: Moral Concerns About the Use Of Gm Crops In The Academic Debatementioning

confidence: 62%

“…In the reviewed literature, environmental concerns were closely linked to socioeconomic concerns in several articles, for example, to questions about ecological and social justice or to the trustworthiness of science, politics, and the market (e.g., Wambugu 1999;Scott 2000;Scott 2003;Goga and Clementi 2002;Bruce 2002a;Bruce 2003). This shows that the debate about the ecological and environmental ethical aspects of GM crops is also a debate about the role of science, the role of politics and the market, and the role of laypersons in public as consumers.…”

Section: Moral Concerns About the Use Of Gm Crops In The Academic Debatementioning

confidence: 99%

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Ethical Discourse on the Use of Genetically Modified Crops: A Review of Academic Publications in the Fields of Ecology and Environmental Ethics

Gregorowius

Lindemann‐Matthies

Huppenbauer

2011

J Agric Environ Ethics

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The use of genetically modified plants in agriculture (GM crops) is controversially discussed in academic publications. Important issues are whether the release of GM crops is beneficial or harmful for the environment and therefore acceptable, and whether the modification of plants is ethically permissible per se. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the moral reasoning on the use of GM crops expressed in academic publications from 1975 to 2008. Environmental ethical aspects in the publications were investigated. Overall, 113 articles from 15 ecology, environmental ethics, and multidisciplinary science journals were systematically reviewed. Three types of moral concerns were used to structure the normative statements, moral notions, and moral issues found in the articles: concerns addressing consequences of the use of GM crops, concerns addressing the act (the technique itself), and concerns addressing the virtues of an actor. Articles addressing consequences (84%) dealt with general ecological and risk concerns or discussed specific ecological issues about the use of GM crops. Articles addressing the act (57%) dealt with the value of naturalness, the value of biotic entities, and conceptual reductionism, whereas articles addressing the actor (43%) dealt with virtues related to the handling of risks and the application of GM crops. The results of this study may help to structure the academic debate and contribute to a better understanding of moral concerns that are associated with the key aspects of the ethical theories of consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics.

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Section: Moral Concerns About the Use Of Gm Crops In The Academic Debatementioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Moral Concerns About the Use Of Gm Crops In The Academic Debatementioning

confidence: 99%

Ethical Discourse on the Use of Genetically Modified Crops: A Review of Academic Publications in the Fields of Ecology and Environmental Ethics

Gregorowius

Lindemann‐Matthies

Huppenbauer

2011

J Agric Environ Ethics

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“…Florence Wambugu (1999) cites the example of sweet potato, a staple crop on parts of the continent. The yields are approximately 6 t ha K1 compared with the global average of 14 t ha K1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The yields are approximately 6 t ha K1 compared with the global average of 14 t ha K1 . There is the potential for African production to double if soil fertility could be improved and viral diseases controlled (Wambugu 1999). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of biotechnology for agricultural sustainability in Africa

Thomson

2007

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Sub-Saharan Africa could have a shortfall of nearly 90 Mt of cereals by the year 2025 if current agricultural practices are maintained. Biotechnology is one of the ways to improve agricultural production. Insect-resistant varieties of maize and cotton suitable for the subcontinent have been identified as already having a significant impact. Virus-resistant crops are under development. These include maize resistant to the African endemic maize streak virus and cassava resistant to African cassava mosaic virus. Parasitic weeds such as Striga attack the roots of crops such as maize, millet, sorghum and upland rice. Field trials in Kenya using a variety of maize resistant to a herbicide have proven very successful. Drought-tolerant crops are also under development as are improved varieties of local African crops such as bananas, cassava, sorghum and sweet potatoes.

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“…A significant section of this debate has focused on potential benefits of GM crops for farmers in the Global South [1][2][3], with Africa receiving particular attention at an early stage [4,5]. Many argue that as Africa missed the first Green Revolution, it is in particular need of a new Green Revolution where GM technology helps increase crop yields and reduce environmental impacts [5,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Science Studies on European and African Agriculture Compared: Bringing Together Different Strands of Academic Debate on GM Crops

Fischer

Eriksson

2016

Sustainability

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This study explored the social science-orientated literature on genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe and compared it with the corresponding literature on GM crops in African contexts, in order to determine the nature and extent of north-south cross-fertilisation in the literature. A total of 1625 papers on GM crops and agriculture falling within the 'social science and humanities' subject area in the Scopus abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature were analysed for major trends relating to geographical areas. More detailed analysis was performed on papers discussing African (56 papers) and European (127 papers) contexts. The analysis revealed that studies on policy and politics were common in both strands of the literature, frequently focusing on effects of the relatively restrictive European Union regulations on GM crops. There were also clear differences, however. For example, papers focusing on Africa frequently examined farm-level impacts and production, while this theme was almost non-existent in the Europe literature. It focused instead on policy impacts on trade and consumer attitudes to GM products. The lack of farm-level studies and of empirical studies in general in the European literature indicates a need for empirical research on GM crops in European farming. Social science research on GM crop production in Europe could draw lessons from the African literature.

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Why Africa needs agricultural biotech

Abstract: Break the culture of dependency: Africa is forced to import at least 25 per cent of its grain. GUY MANSFIELD / PANOS PICTURES

Cited by 82 publications

References 1 publication

Ethical Discourse on the Use of Genetically Modified Crops: A Review of Academic Publications in the Fields of Ecology and Environmental Ethics

Ethical Discourse on the Use of Genetically Modified Crops: A Review of Academic Publications in the Fields of Ecology and Environmental Ethics

The role of biotechnology for agricultural sustainability in Africa

Social Science Studies on European and African Agriculture Compared: Bringing Together Different Strands of Academic Debate on GM Crops

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