Crop biotechnology and the African farmer

Recent reports, workshops and meetings on GM (Genetically Modified) crops tend to characterize GM food production as a solution to Africa’s food crisis. However, GM crops are currently grown commercially in only one country in Africa – South Africa. Biotechnology tools range from tissue culture to molecular breeding and genetic engineering. This paper focuses on GM crop improvement and analyzes the development of seven GM crops (six food staples and cotton) over the past 15 years in Africa. The case studies reveal a number of unexpected scientific, legal, economic and political barriers to the development of GM crops and long delays in developing and implementing national biosafety regulations and guidelines. We conclude that most GM crops are at least 10–15 years or longer from reaching smallholder farmers in Africa. During this time special attention should be given to strengthening conventional plant breeding programs in NARS (National Agricultural Research Systems), African universities and the CGIAR. Biotechnology approaches must be nested and integrated into plant breeding programs. Special attention should also be given to raising public awareness of biotechnology, mobilizing political support and commitment to strengthening African capacity in biotechnology, biosafety, food safety and IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) and mounting long-term training programs to train the next generation of African plant breeders and GM crop specialists.     

高职生物技术及应用专业顶岗实习现状、存在问题、影响因素及其对策分析

本文以南通职业大学生物技术及应用专业为例,分析了高职生物技术及应用专业顶岗实习现状、存在问题及其影响因素,并从政府、学校、企业、学生四个层面初步提出了提高高职生物技术及应用专业顶岗实习质量的对策。     

生物技术产业的特征及作用

生物技术产业属于高技术、高投入、高风险和高回报的行业,因其前期投入大、科技含量高、生产工艺复杂、质量要求严格、受国家扶持,所以进入壁垒高、垄断性强、利润丰厚,蕴藏着巨大的经济潜能。生物技术产业的作用是：改善医疗卫生水平;解决粮食短缺问题;对传统工业的改造;加快改变能源格局。     

陕西农业生物技术专利保护策略探讨

文章对陕西农业生物技术的专利保护策略进行了探讨。为了更好地保护农业生物技术专利,各方主体应该加强农业生物技术专利保护的法治意识;明确农业生物技术的专利保护范围;建立完善的农业生物专利技术的政策机制;鼓励、引导农业生物技术的开发应用。     

Developing Social Responsibility: Biotechnology and the Case of DuPont in Brazil

The development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has caused worldwide debate and has required us to reevaluate theories of social responsibility. This article, first, briefly discusses the progressive stages of social responsibility that scholars have outlined as they examine the history of businesses. Next an overview of the development of the DuPont corporation in the United States is presented, tracing DuPont’s transformation from an explosives and chemicals company into a life-science corporation and demonstrating how outside factors influenced this change. The article then turns to the activities of the DuPont corporation in Brazil, a country with one of the world’s largest agricultural economies – and examines how the debate on GMOs is unfolding within the Brazilian context. It discusses how differing interest groups have taken part in this debate, the limits of their arguments, and the need to develop means for providing open collaborative efforts in evaluating new technologies. Margaret Griesse holds a Ph.D. in Education and International Development from the University of Frankfurt. She is currently Coordinator of the Martha Watts Cultural Center at the Methodist University of Piracicaba, Brazil.     

陕西省生物创新合作模式研究

利用中国知网2006-2011年生物论文数据,运用文献计量分析和社会网络分析,分别从区域层面和机构层面对陕西省生物产出特征和创新网络展开分析,探讨了陕西省生物创新的产出模式和合作模式。实证研究表明,陕西省生物论文产出在区域上和机构上均呈现较高集中性,高校是最重要的论文参与者,合作广泛存在但合作频次普遍较低,较高频次的合作主要发生在同区域机构间,以及和学术中心北京、邻近省份的机构间。     

Planting Decisions and Uncertain Consumer Acceptance of Genetically Modified Crop Varieties

There exists much uncertainty about consumer attitudes toward genetically modified foods. If it happens that sufficient (insufficient) acres are planted under nonmodified seed to meet postharvest demand, then a price premium will not (will) emerge for the nonmodified varieties. A nonlinearity originates in the fact that a price premium may not be supported. This nonlinearity interacts with demand uncertainty to determine equilibrium plantings and the probability that postharvest varietal prices differ. Also, as planting approaches signals will be broadcast about the nature of postharvest demand. We show how the nonlinearity affects the types of signals that growers will prefer to receive.