Mon, 07/12/2010

African Perspectives on Genetically Modified Crops: Assessing the Debate in Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa, Center for Strategic & International Studies, July 2010

From the report:  This report gauges the current status of the debate on biotechnology in Africa with a snapshot of three countries at different stages along the thought process on GMOs: Zambia, where a strong emphasis on the precautionary principle remains very much in place; Kenya, where recent  legislation has opened the door to eventual commercialization of GM crops; and South Africa, where GM food crops are widespread and where elaborate regulatory capacities are fully established. It looks at what practical steps countries are taking to settle the question and examines the wider issue of what debates around GM technology say about the role of science in Africa. The research is based on interviews conducted with policymakers, scientists, farmers’ groups, anti-GMO campaigners, and other interest groups in all three countries in October through December 2009.

Access the report here.