Technological Abundance for Global Agriculture: The Role of Biotechnology

11 Pages Posted: 13 Mar 2012

See all articles by Calestous Juma

Calestous Juma

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Date Written: March 1, 2012

Abstract

Science and innovation have always been the key forces behind agricultural growth in particular and economic transformation in general. More specifically, the ability to add value to agricultural production via the application of scientific knowledge to entrepreneurial activities stands out as one of the most important lessons of economic history. The Green Revolution played a critical role in helping to overcome chronic food shortages in Latin America and Asia. The Green Revolution was a result of both the creation of new institutional arrangements aimed at using existing technology to improve agricultural productivity, as well as new scientific breakthroughs leading to superior agricultural inputs, particularly improved strains of wheat and rice. In the wake of the recent global economic crisis and continually high food prices, the international community is reviewing its outlook on human welfare and prosperity. Much of the current concern on how to foster development and prosperity in developing countries reflects the consequences of recent neglect of sustainable agriculture and infrastructure as drivers of development. But all is not lost. Instead, those developing countries that have not yet fully embraced agricultural technology now have the chance to benefit from preexisting scientific advances in agriculture, particularly in biotechnology. Areas of the developing world lagging in the utilization and accumulation of technology have the ability not only to catch up to industrial leaders in biotechnology, but also to attain their own level of research growth.

Keywords: agricultural technology, biotechnology, innovation, international development, Africa

Suggested Citation

Juma, Calestous, Technological Abundance for Global Agriculture: The Role of Biotechnology (March 1, 2012). HKS Working Paper No. RWP12-008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2020447 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2020447

Calestous Juma (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) ( email )

79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-496-8127 (Phone)
617-495-8963 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
308
Abstract Views
4,210
Rank
179,865
PlumX Metrics