Title: Agricultural innovation and economic growth in Africa: renewing international cooperation

Authors: Calestous Juma

Addresses: Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Abstract: Rising food prices and the associated political upheavals have rekindled interest in international cooperation on food security in particular and economic development in general. This paper argues that efforts to promote food security in sub-Saharan Africa need take into account three key issues: food security is inseparable from economic development; science and innovation are a necessary part of economic development; universities in most countries are engines of development and must be so in Africa as well. Industrialised countries and Africa should to forge long-term cooperation in advancing specific technology missions in fields such as biotechnology.

Keywords: agriculture; biotechnology; entrepreneurship; food security; agricultural innovation; regional integration; science and technology; sub-Saharan Africa; universities; higher education; international cooperation; economic growth; economic development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTG.2008.020330

International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, 2008 Vol.4 No.3, pp.256 - 275

Published online: 16 Sep 2008 *

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