Discussion on Implications of GM Crops for Small-holder African Farmers

International experts, key policy makers, and representatives of farmers associations and the private sector met in Entebbe from May 19-21 to examine the potential benefits and challenges of producing genetically modified (GM) crops in Africa. The conference, "Delivering Agricultural Biotechnology to African Farmers: Linking Economic Research to Decision Making," was organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology and the Science Foundation for Livelihoods and Development.

Participants discussed the issue of whether to make GM crops a priority in African countries' agricultural development. They shared research findings on the economic impacts of GM crops on small farmers, and barriers to gaining access to and using GM technology.   Prof. Robert Paarlberg of Wellesley College and author of Starved for Science: How Biotechnology is Being Kept Out of Africa said in his opening speech that for GM crops to be adopted, African governments will need more flexible biosafety regulations and greater support from donors.

All conference information including presentations are available at http://africabiotech.wordpress.com/