The article on the Role of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa written by Dr. Daniel Mataruka of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation recently appeared in the Council for Biotechnology Information website. The article highlighted the increase in global acreage of biotech crops that benefited millions of poor people. He also commented on the anti GM stance of African countries which were influenced by European colonial linkages. He stressed that GM technologies have a role in addressing agricultural problems due to climate change such as rainfall patterns, prolonged drought spells, and unprecedented floods, as well as problems brought by post harvest pests. To address these challenges, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation has initiated several public-private partnerships to enhance agricultural productivity in Africa, including the development of:

• Bt cowpea for protection against the Maruca-pod borer with potential to increase yield from 0.3 to 2.5 kg/ha.
• Water Efficient Maize for Africa that is expected to provide about 30% more yield under moderate drought.
• Nitrogen-Use Efficient Rice for better performance under lower soil N.
• Bananas resistant to bacterial wilt in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, where the disease is causing upto 100% crop loss.

View the short article at: http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=915#more-915.