Maize is more vulnerable to climate change than had previously been thought, Mar. 13, 2011. Scientists found that under drought conditions, a 1 decree C rise in temperature could cut yields from 3/4 of Africa's maize-growing regions by at least 20 percent
AP Photo

"Preventing Hunger: Biotechnology is Key"

Journal Article, Nature, volume 479, pages 471-472

November 24, 2011

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: Agricultural Innovation in Africa; Science, Technology, and Globalization; Science, Technology, and Public Policy

"To survive the droughts, wars and other major causes of famine, Africa must embrace technologies that enable it to produce more, better food with less effort.

Indeed, without the advances in molecular biology and other scientific fields that occurred in the second half of the twentieth century, African nations would be much worse off than they are now. Without this Green Revolution, which enabled developing nations to import cheaper grains and grow high-yield seed varieties, analysts estimate that crop yields in developing countries would have been 23.5% lower and prices between 35% and 66% higher in 2000. Caloric intake would have dropped by up to 14.4%, and the proportion of malnourished children would have increased by nearly 8%. Put another way, the Green Revolution helped to raise the nutritional status of up to 42 million preschool children in developing countries (R. E. Evenson and D. Gollin Science 300, 758–762; 2003)...."

Continue reading: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v479/n7374/full/479471a.html

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