Assessing the Potential Impacts of Agricultural Biotechnology in East Africa
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
http://www.usaid.gov
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public Information: (202) 712-4810
2003-065
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2003
Background
This USAID-funded project features an integrated, multi-scale analysis of potential costs and benefits of selected biotechnology products. Activities are designed to identify potential bottlenecks to adoption of the technologies by East African stakeholders and assess the potential magnitude and distribution of the economic benefits at regional, national, and farm scales.
Objective
Research will contribute to the generation of information and the capacity to support successful integration of biotechnology into African agriculture.
Activities
USAID is establishing a coalition of research and development and sectoral stakeholders for biotechnology assessment in East Africa on three different levels, including:
- Regional scale analysis: DREAM, IFPRI's economic surplus model, will be used to assess the benefits of technology and policy interventions. Stakeholder groups and other informed scientists will define the data elements of the analysis.
- National scale analysis: Review the status and viability of the technical and regulatory capacity necessary to transform scientific opportunities into commercialized biotechnology products. International Service for National Agricultural Research has recently developed a relevant framework for guiding assessments of biosafety regulatory systems in the BIONET region.
- Farm scale analysis: Econometric and other techniques will be employed, using a combination of experimental data, existing farm household survey data and new data on farmer preferences for specific traits, to predict the likelihood - depending on market, agroecological, household, and variety-specific factors - of stakeholder adoption of biotechnology products. Formal surveys may be complemented by focus-group or other participatory research methods.
Expected results
Results will also be obtained at three levels:
- Regional scale: Knowledge of the potential economic benefits to producers and consumers of selected biotechnologies, under various market and adoption scenarios (banana, maize, and cassava).
- National scale: Foundation for designing regulatory and enabling environments to promote access to biotechnology and policy implications for biotechnology-related investments.
- Farm scale: Identification of household, agroecological, and market factors affecting the adoption of selected biotechnologies, focusing on constraints to adoption and externalities.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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