Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries

This publication is based on invited papers presented at the conference "Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries: Towards Optimizing the Benefits for the Poor", held in November 1999 at the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn. The conference was convened in collaboration with the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), Hoechst Schering AgrEvo GmbH (now Aventis CropScience) and the German Foundation for International Development (Deutsche Stiftung fUr internationale Entwicldung - DSE). The financial and organizational support by all co-organizers is gratefully acknowledged.

The event grew out of ZEF's research project on the economics of biotechnology, which is being sponsored by the German Research Council (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft - DFG) and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft fUr Technische Zusammenar- beit - GTZ). Empirical studies within this research project were carried out in close cooperation with ISAAA. Both organizations felt that the time was ripe to overcome the emotional polemics of the current debate about agricultural biotechnology by organizing an international and interdiscipli- nary forum on biotechnology strategies that can benefit the poor. Experts and interested persons from over 30 different countries participated in the conference, including economists, political and social scientists, molecular biologists, plant breeders, development practitioners and private-sector business people as well as representatives from governmental and non- governmental organizations. The paper presenters were selected for their extensive knowledge and experience with the individual topics covered.

For the purpose of this publication, the individual papers as well as the design of the volume were peer reviewed. The authors revised their manuscripts accordingly and also took into account comments received during the conference. The book examines a wide - but not all encompassing - range of issues associated with agricultural biotechnology. A fairly young and very dynamic discipline, most of modern biotechnology'S big potentials for the developing world have yet to materialize. Rather than providing conclusive facts about the outcome of these potentials, this book offers a state-of-the-art analysis of the field and highlights the institutional and policy weaknesses that need to be overcome to optimize the technology'S benefits for the poor. A lively and constructive discussion - free of prejudices - among all stakeholders is a precondition for making progress in this important subject, and we hope that this book helps to move this conversation forward.