"Technology transfer is extremely important to developing
countries."
By Annick de Framond
In June 2001, I had the opportunity to travel to Mali with the Syngenta
Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. This was my first visit to the
African continent - the first of many, I hope.
In Mali, I was able to learn about the various institutions involved
in the country's agricultural research. I was deeply touched by the
incredible hospitality I received during my brief visit. In addition,
there was an outstanding and lively exchange of information with Malian
researchers at the newly established Biotechnology Center at the Institut
Polytechnique Rural - Institut de Formation et de la Recherche Agricole
Appliquée.
The motivation and dedication shown by people carrying out research
on tiny budgets reminded me of how fortunate we scientists are in the
industrial world, and how easy it is to take our very expensive research
facilities for granted.
I have been working as a plant molecular biologist for the last 17
years - initially for Ciba-Geigy, and later for Novartis and now Syngenta.
The aim of plant biotechnology research is to develop transgenic crops
resistant to various pests such as insects and fungi. Syngenta's portfolio
now offers several transgenic products such as insect-resistant maize
and herbicide-resistant soyabean. This new technology has also led to
the development of Golden Rice, rich in beta-carotene, which is converted
into vitamin A in the human metabolism. This rice variety will be made
available to developing countries free of licensing fees.
In my view, although biotechnology on its own is not capable of solving
the world's food problems, it represents an important tool for achieving
this. I am therefore in no doubt that the polemics currently surrounding
the topic of genetically manipulated organisms will abate as consumers
become more familiar with them and understand their value. Biotechnology
can and will be used to help achieve food security throughout the world
in the future. This will require specific research on the staple foods
grown in developing countries, as well as ensuring that small-scale
farmers in these regions have access to the improved products that are
developed. The research itself should also be carried out where these
crops are grown, by the local scientists who know them best.
Technology transfer is extremely important to developing countries
- and it depends on goodwill and coordinated efforts on the part of
various private and public-sector organizations. Successful transfer
of biotechnology to Africa and other regions of the world will necessitate
careful planning, with clear and realistic objectives, with the research
program focused clearly on a few major foodstuffs. The initial steps
have already been taken, with international institutions such as the
Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSP) at Michigan State
University and the International (ISAAA) advising national governments
on developing targets. For example, the ISAAA, a network financed by
public and private organizations, argues for transferring biotechnologically
less sophisticated research methods, in order to avoid overloading the
developing countries' own national research networks. Its work sets
priorities for biotechnological research work capable of producing results
in the short term. In addition to work on the staple crops such as maize,
rice, and wheat, the ISAAA also provides support for important secondary
basic foodstuffs in developing countries, such as bananas and sweet
potatoes.
In addition, the ABSP has established an inventory of agricultural
biotechnology for East and Central Africa, in which the major crops
are described, the available biotechnological methods for pest control
are detailed, and all current research programs by private and public
organizations are listed. At the same time, the ABSP provided Monsanto,
for example, with the information necessary for technology transfer
before the company entered into the partnership with the Kenya Agricultural
Research Institute that led to virus resistances being made available
for use in sweet potatoes. The ABSP also provides support for the governments
of developing countries in relation to intellectual property rights
and legal regulations relating to biosafety issues.
Cooperative projects involving national and international public and
private research institutions also need to integrate agricultural extension
services and small-scale farmers into the development and testing of
new products, to ensure that the products are actually used in farming.
Farmers' needs should be included in the description of research goals,
and existing agricultural practices should be taken into account.
Finally, we - the researchers of the North - can make a contribution
at the individual level by taking up the challenge of the food problem,
sharing our knowledge, and building up contacts and cooperative projects
with researchers in developing countries.
Annick de Framond is a molecular biologist at Syngenta Biotechnology,
Inc., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and is involved in research
work on food security in developing countries. |
