Brimming with Bananas: Calestous Juma, director of the Center’s Science, Technology, and Globalization project, observes tissue culture propogation of bananas at a genetics technology lab in Nairobi, Kenya.
GTIL

"Biotechnology Support is Key to Africa's Economic Renewal"

Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

Winter 2008-09

Author: Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development; Director, Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; Principal Investigator, Agricultural Innovation in Africa

Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Science, Technology, and Globalization; Science, Technology, and Public Policy

Biotechnology—defined broadly to include the use of living processes to produce goods and services—is emerging as a key driver of economic renewal in developing countries. But controversies surrounding the safety of genetically-modified (GM) foods are threatening to undermine international cooperation in this emerging field.

Part of the problem is that much of the debate is limited to agricultural applications. Other important applications, such as the use of biotechnology in environmental management and improvement of human health, are often ignored. Moreover, much of the debate focuses on the narrow area of genetic modification while other techniques, including tissue culture propagation, are increasingly being adopted in developing countries.

Tissue culture propagation, for example, is now widely used to distribute disease-free banana suckers for cultivation in Kenya. Universities and local enterprises, such as the Genetics Technologies International Ltd (GTIL), are providing crop and tree seedlings produced through tissue culture.

The next frontier of biotechnology research in Africa will include the use of genetic medication techniques. This will entail greater partnerships between Africa and the rest of the world. The facilities of the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA) in Nairobi offer unique opportunities for promoting research cooperation on issues of relevance to Africa.

There is considerable interest in figuring out how to engage African biotechnology researchers in Diaspora to focus on local African problems. Facilities such as BecA laboratories and other institutions can help to host African researchers residing in the industrialized countries. Building state of the art research facilities in African universities will also help stimulate international research partnerships.

Such cooperation will benefit from improvements in the legal environment for biotechnology research. It will also make it easier for African countries to attract financial investments needed to commercialize research results.

For more information about this publication please contact the Belfer Center Communications Office at 617-495-9858.

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