The Gene Revolution: GM Crops and Unequal Development - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844074099 ISBN 13: 9781844074099

Publisher: Routledge, 2006

Synopsis

Whether or not to embrace GM technologies is a fundamental and politically charged question facing humanity in the 21st century, particularly in light of rapidly growing populations and the unknown future impacts of climate change. The Gene Revolution is the first book to bridge the gap between the naysayers and cheerleaders and look at the issues and complexities facing developing and transitional countries over decisions about GM in light of the reality of what is happening on the ground. The first part of the volume looks at the rise of GM crops, commercialization and spread of the technology and the different positions of the USA and the European Union on the GM question and the effect of global markets. The second part consists of country perspectives from Argentina, Brazil, China, India and South Africa, which provide insight into the profound challenges these countries face and the hard choices that have to be made. The final part takes the analysis a step further by comparing developing and transitional country experiences, and charts a future course for government policy on GM that supports growth, sustainability and equity for the many billions of people affected worldwide.

About this title

Review

'A much needed antidote to the highly polemical writing on both sides of the this issue' Raymond C. Oppenheiser, President, Oxfam America '...a hugely valuable contribution to the dialogue and debate surrounding the future of genetic technologies for developing countries.' New Agriculturist 'An accessible introduction to the food and environmental policy issues posed by the Gene Revolution ... should be required reading!' Vernon W. Ruttan, University of Minnesota 'Shows how biotechnology research and development could be fostered on the principle of social inclusion in access to its fruits ... [and] clearly elucidates the pathway to avoiding the addition of the genetic divide to the other divides prevailing globally and nationally' Professor M. S. Swaminathan, Chairman, National Commission on Farmers, Government of India 'An indispensable guide for evidence-based discussions on the institutional aspects of biotechnology' Calestous Juma, Harvard University, USA 'Should the developing world embrace genetically modified crops? Should NGOs and development advocates get fully on board? Read this book to understand why the answer is, absolutely, yes ... and to explore what the conversation now should be really about: the policy and institutional fixes in patents, licensing, seed marketing, biosafety regulation, and more that will ensure the potential benefits of the agro-tech revolution reach the world's poor' Nancy Birdsall, President, Center for Global Development

Synopsis

The high-yield selective breeding of 'the Green Revolution' of the 1960s and '70s is now being overtaken by 'the Gene Revolution' - the development and spread of GM crops across the world. With over 90 million hectares already under cultivation and 60 countries conducting research, GM is reviled by some as a vast Pandora's Box and corporate sell-out, while hailed by others as the necessary technological solution to stagnating agricultural output, ballooning populations, climate change and drought. Sandwiched in between are developing and transitional countries where the need to feed vast populations and to compete against the US in international markets are compelling reasons to get on the GM bandwagon. This is the first book to bridge the gap between the 'naysayers' and 'cheerleaders', and to provide a penetrating examination of the realities, complexities, benefits and pitfalls of GM adoption in developing countries that are desperately fighting poverty while trying to stay afloat in the hyper-competitive global economy.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1844074099
• ISBN 13: 9781844074099
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 280
• Editor: Fukuda-Parr Sakiko