Author : Qaim, M.

Summary : This report analyzes international research projects jointly launched by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Monsanto, and other organizations to develop genetically engineered sweet potatoes with resistance to major pests and diseases. The expected economic ramifications are analyzed for small-scale farming systems in Kenya, where the transgenic varieties will first be deployed in the near future. The report shows that both sweet potato producers and consumers will profit from the technology. In addition to these direct, positive impacts on the income and food security situation of households, the initiatives advance significant biotechnology capacity formation in the Kenyan agricultural research system. Indeed, the examples in the study clearly demonstrate the viability of public-private sector research partnerships for the benefit of developing countries. Working with typical semisubsistence crops-such as sweet potato-is particularly attractive because it targets the poor and avoids conflicts with the private sector's business interests. Having analyzed transgenic potato technology in Mexico and tissue culture banana technology in Kenya, the present study is the third fieldwork-based socioeconomic biotechnology assessment carried out independently by the ZEF and published in collaboration with the International Service for the Acquisition with the ISAAA. The combined results of these studies underline even more firmly that modern agricultural biotechnology can provide great benefits will not materialize without public support. The international community must translate the promise of biotechnology for the South into actual benefits through appropriate policies. Apart from higher financial commitments for public biotechnology research targeting smallholders and poor consumers, profound institutional changes in national and international agricultural innovation systems are necessary to respond efficient to the rapidly changing framework conditions.