| tart --> | | | | would remain a dream as long as Africa continues to |
| Two major U.S.-based foundations have announced a | | | | view new agricultural technologies prescribed by the |
| grand scheme to rejuvenate Africa's agriculture. The | | | | west as tools of domination. This has been, |
| Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller | | | | especially, the case with agricultural biotechnology. |
| Foundation will spend $150 million towards green | | | | Anti-biotechnology activists have made African |
| revolutionizing Africa's agriculture. | | | | farmers to believe that agricultural biotechnology only |
| The program, according to a joint press release from | | | | serves the interests of multinational seed companies. |
| the two foundations, "intends to improve agricultural | | | | This is misleading. |
| development in Africa by addressing both farming | | | | As Africa gears up to receive the Rockefeller and |
| and relevant economic issues, including soil fertility and | | | | Gates Foundations largesse, it must, first of all, |
| irrigation, farmer management practices, and farmer | | | | appreciate that dismissing such innovative agricultural |
| access to markets and financing." | | | | technologies as biotechnology by a hand wave will |
| There is no doubt that this initiative has come at an | | | | not serve its agricultural interests. |
| opportune time. Africa's agriculture is near total | | | | It's instructive to mention that the African Union (AU) |
| collapse and requires urgent reengineering. Africa has | | | | has a pivotal role to play in ensuring that Africa gains |
| been slow in embracing cutting edge agricultural | | | | maximum benefits from novel agricultural technologies |
| technologies such as biotechnology that have | | | | such as biotechnology. |
| transformed the economies of many developing | | | | Late last year, the AU through the New Partnership |
| countries such as India, South Africa, Mexico, | | | | for Africa's Development (NEPAD), commissioned a |
| Argentina, Brazil and China. | | | | panel of African scientists and policy makers to study |
| This initiative stands a good chance to transform | | | | how modern biotechnology could be integrated into |
| Africa's agriculture. For this dream to be realized, | | | | Africa's agricultural and health sectors. The panel, |
| however, every modern agricultural technology must | | | | co-chaired by Prof. Calestous Juma of Harvard |
| be explored. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates | | | | University, has already drafted a report that, among |
| Foundation envisages "African plant scientists | | | | other things, proposes the establishment of regional |
| developing higher-yielding and drought resistant crops | | | | "Centers of Excellence" for biotechnology research. |
| and African entrepreneurs starting seed companies to | | | | The report will be submitted to African heads of |
| reach small-scale farmers..." | | | | state meeting in January 2007. |
| Developing high yielding and drought resistant crops | | | | |