| Biotechnologists have developed
genetically modified rice that is fortified with beta carotene which the body
converts into vitamin A and additional iron, and they are working on three kinds
of nutritionally in proved crops. Biotech can also improve farming productivity
in places where food shortages are caused by crop damage attributable to pests,
drought, poor soil and crop viruses, bacteria or fungi. Damage caused by pests
is incredible. In trials of pest-resistant cotton in Africa yields have
increased significantly. So far, fears that genetically modified, pest-resistant
crops might kill good insects as well as bad appear unfounded. Viruses often
cause massive failure in staple crops in developing countries. Two years ago
Africa lost more than half its cassava crop — a key source of calories — to the
mosaic virus. Genetically modified, virus resistant crops can re duce that
damage, as can drought-tolerant seeds in regions where water shortage limits the
amount of land under cultivation. Biotech can also help solve the problem of
soil that contains excess aluminum, which can damage roots and cause many
staple-crop failures. A gene that helps neutralize aluminum toxicity in rice has
been identified. Many scientists believe biotech could raise overall crop
productivity in developing countries as much as 25% and help prevent the loss of
those crops after they are harvested. Yet for all that promise, biotech is far from being the whole answer. In developing countries, lost crops are only one cause of hunger. Poverty plays the largest role. Making genetically modified crops available will not reduce hunger if farmers cannot afford to grow them or if the local population cannot afford to buy the food those farmers produce. Nor can biotech overcome the challenge of distributing food in developing countries. Taken as a whole, the world produces enough food to feed everyone {{U}}but much of it is simply in the wrong place.{{/U}} Especially in countries with undeveloped transport infrastructures, geography restricts food availability as dramatically as genetics promises to improve it. Biotech has its own "distribution" problems. Private-sector biotech companies in the rich countries carry out much of the leading-edge research on genetically modified crops. Their products are often too costly for poor farmers in the developing world, and many of those products won't even reach the regions where they are most needed. Biotech firms have a strong financial incentive to target rich markets first in order to help them rapidly recoup the high costs of product development. But some of these companies are responding to the needs of poor countries. To increase the impact of genetic research on the food production of those countries, there is a need for better collaboration between government agencies — both local and in developed countries — and private biotech firms. Biotech is not a {{U}}panacea{{/U}}, but it does promise to transform agriculture in many developing countries. If that promise is not fulfilled, the real losers will be their people, who could suffer for years to come. |