Corn kernels await planting at a farm in rural Angola. "Get
Biotechnology on the Agenda for Africa" Op-Ed, The Japan Times
June 30, 2008 Author: Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice
of International Development; Director, Science, Technology, and
Globalization Project; Principal Investigator, Agricultural
Innovation in Africa Leaders at the Group of Eight
industrialized nations' summit in Hokkaido next month need to
take strong measures to promote cooperation in using
biotechnology to address Africa's food challenges. At present
there is resistance from Europe, and even Japan is dragging its
feet on this vital issue. Critics often argue that using modern
biotechnology in African agriculture would harm farmers, wreck
the environment and expose consumers to unknown risks. But by
failing to adopt biotechnology, Africa puts its poor populations
at greater risk of starvation. Without substantial investment in
biotechnology to address critical challenges such as drought,
Africa will continue to experience food