Agrobiotechnology choices in developing countries Online publication date: Sun, 13-Jul-2003
by Robert Paarlberg
International Journal of Biotechnology (IJBT), Vol. 2, No. 1/2/3, 2000
Abstract: Today's agrobiotechnology revolution - especially the move toward transgenic or genetically modified (GM) crops - is being researched, commercialised, and (hotly) debated mostly in Europe, the USA, and elsewhere within the rich industrial world. Yet it is in the developing countries where the greatest human and environmental promise - or peril - of this new technology may lie. This paper argues that it is time to move the terms of the GM crop policy debate in the direction of developing country interests. Farmers and consumers in the industrial world are already wealthy and well fed, and can afford, if they wish, to take a highly sceptical, precautionary view toward this new technology. A majority of farmers and consumers in developing countries, on the other hand, are neither wealthy nor well fed, so for them the precautionary approach might not be sufficient. At the same time, governments and societies in the industrial world are also different from the developing world in their scientific and institutional capacity to manage these powerful new technologies safely.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Biotechnology (IJBT):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook