Successful Agricultural Innovation in Emerging Economies: New Genetic Technologies for Global Food Production

Description

World population is forecast to grow from 7 to 9 billion by 2050, 1 in 6 is already hungry and food production must increase by 70-100% if it is to feed this growing population. No single solution will solve this problem but recent developments in the genetic technologies of plant breeding can help to increase agricultural efficiencies and save people from hunger in a sustainable manner, particularly in African nations where the need is greatest. These advances can rapidly incorporate new traits and tailor existing crops to meet new requirements and also greatly reduce the time and costs taken to improve local crop varieties. This book provides a collected, reliable, succinct review which deals expressly with the successful implementation of the new plant genetic sciences in emerging economies in the context of the interrelated key regulatory, social, ethical, political and trade matters.

Dr David Bennett has long-term experience in the relations between the biosciences, industry, government, education, law, the public and the media. He works with the European Commission, government departments, companies, universities, public interest organisations and the media, having worked in universities and companies in the UK, USA, Australia and Europe. Dr Richard Jennings is an Affiliated Research Scholar at the University of Cambridge. His research interests are the ethics of science and technology. He pioneered the University's teaching of ethics in science, continues to run graduate workshops on this and is developing a Framework for Assessing Ethical Issues in New Technologies.

'Each chapter is well written; judging by the contributors' biographies, a strong team was assembled to attack the host of problems society is facing. Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.' L. C. Davis, Choice '... required reading for anyone who wishes to take part in serious discussions about the genetic modification of crop plants.' Richard Strange, Food Security