Golden Rice and technology adoption theory: A study of seed choice dynamics among rice growers in the Philippines

Glover, Dominic; Kim, Sung Kyu; Stone, Geoffrey R.

doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.101227

Cited by 29 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Through the incorporation of 2 genes from other species, scientists were able to enrich the rice grains with beta-carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A [ 45 ]. In development since 2001, the commercial production of Golden Rice has been long delayed due to many compounding factors including regulation, resistance to transgenic crops, and misapprehension of the cultures of rice cultivation and consumption in target regions [ 46 – 48 ]. The Philippines, a country where many are affected by Vitamin A deficiency, announced that 2022 will be the first year that Golden Rice seeds will be mass produced for cultivation by Filipino farmers [ 49 ].…”

Section: Unfulfilled Promise: Transgenic Crops In the Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of recombinant DNA technology, this question has been the subject of innumerable studies and much debate [ 83 , 84 ]. Issues including (but not limited to) biological challenges, strong intellectual property protections, seed industry privatization and consolidation, regulatory obstacles, activist protest, consumer distrust, and limited corporate visions have all played a role in constraining the crop varieties developed based on recombinant technology [ 48 , 85 – 90 ]. It is not the intention of this Essay to revisit the complex historical trajectories of transgenic crops in different farming contexts around the world.…”

Section: Looking Ahead: Engagement Beyond the Laboratorymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Turning promise into practice: Crop biotechnology for increasing genetic diversity and climate resilience

Garland

Curry

2022

PLoS Biol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As climate change increasingly threatens agricultural production, expanding genetic diversity in crops is an important strategy for climate resilience in many agricultural contexts. In this Essay, we explore the potential of crop biotechnology to contribute to this diversification, especially in industrialized systems, by using historical perspectives to frame the current dialogue surrounding recent innovations in gene editing. We unearth comments about the possibility of enhancing crop diversity made by ambitious scientists in the early days of recombinant DNA and follow the implementation of this technology, which has not generated the diversification some anticipated. We then turn to recent claims about the promise of gene editing tools with respect to this same goal. We encourage researchers and other stakeholders to engage in activities beyond the laboratory if they hope to see what is technologically possible translated into practice at this critical point in agricultural transformation.

show abstract

Section: Unfulfilled Promise: Transgenic Crops In the Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Looking Ahead: Engagement Beyond the Laboratorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Turning promise into practice: Crop biotechnology for increasing genetic diversity and climate resilience

Garland

Curry

2022

PLoS Biol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…With an annual inflation rate of over two per cent in 2020 and 2021, they have likely increased significantly, as have overall food prices. The cultivation of hybrid varieties requires high levels of overall investment that may not be economical for cultivation in the wet season, dry-season cultivation without irrigation, or low-lying plots of land (Glover et al, 2020 ). By relying on farmer-saved seeds rather than costly hybrid or certified seeds, replacing synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides with low- to no-cost organic fertilizers and natural pest management, and employing the labour-sharing principle of Bayanihan, MASIPAG farmers can substantially lower input costs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strengthening agroecological resilience through commons-based seed governance in the Philippines

Kliem

2022

Environ Dev Sustain

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Filipino agricultural sector is exposed to multiple climatic, economic, and social risks that will likely intensify in the near future. Building agroecological resilience has been proposed to protect small-scale farmers’ livelihoods and improve food security in the context of (unexpected) shocks and disruptions, and slow system changes such as climate change. This paper argues that commons-based seed production, based on collective management and ownership of seeds and varieties, can play a central role in building resilience capacities in smallholder communities. I explore this by applying an indicator-based framework to assess the contribution of the Filipino farmer network Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) to agroecological resilience. I find that the networks’ commons-based seed governance builds agroecological resilience in various ways. By equipping small-scale farmers with the tools to regain control over seed production and breeding, they become stewards of an actively evolving collection of varieties. The in situ maintenance and development of traditional, open-pollinated varieties and a network of diversified trial and backup farms build up buffering capacities and foster agrobiodiversity and local adaptation. A focus on regionally available natural resources reduces vulnerabilities to external factors. Adaptive capacities are strengthened through a high degree of flexibility and responsiveness achieved by self-organization and polycentric organizational structures. Broad participation, shared learning and spaces for experimentation support the development of farmers’ capacities to respond to diverse challenges. Commons-based approaches to seed governance can thus strengthen agroecological resilience and long-term food security in smallholder agricultural systems.

show abstract

“…the assumption that better seed will automatically lead to changes in farmers' seed purchase behavior. For example, Glover et al [ 92 ] question if the highly anticipated Golden Rice variety, a genetically engineered rice variety developed to address Vitamin A deficiency, still has a chance on the market as the transgenic trait has been transferred in two outdated rice varieties that are no longer competitive. Within many public breeding programs supported by CGIAR, efforts to incorporate a stronger end user focus has been made more explicit through the introduction of ‘product profiles’ [ 93 , 94 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demand-side challenges to increase sales of new maize hybrids in Kenya

Rutsaert

Donovan

Kimenju³

2021

Technology in Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In Eastern and Southern Africa, as the public sector has retreated from maize seed production and the private sector has emerged to fill the resulting void, a key issue for researchers, governments and private donors has been the capacity of privately owned, typically small scale, seed businesses to effectively produce and distribute hybrid seed. Roughly two decades on, research and development programming continues to focus on supply side issues in supporting the maize seed industry to bring new varieties to farmers. Motivated by thinking on agri-food value chains, this article explores the potential for achieving a stronger demand orientation in programming to support the maize seed industry, a requirement for varietal turnover. In 2019 data were collected in Kenya from i) 80 agro-dealers on their relations with seed businesses and their marketing of maize seed, ii) 466 farmers on their seed choice and engagement with agro-dealers and iii) 8 seed companies on their distribution and sales strategies. Results confirmed the overarching supply-push orientation of the industry, characterized by limited innovation and risk taking, weak collaboration between actors, low margins for retailers, and limited investments in seed marketing. Farmers showed weak appetite for acquiring new seed products, preferring instead to purchase seeds that they knew from experience. Better strategies for building seed value chains will require deeper insights on stakeholders needs and strategies, to include the capacity of seed businesses and retailers to innovate in business management and marketing.

show abstract

Golden Rice and technology adoption theory: A study of seed choice dynamics among rice growers in the Philippines

Cited by 29 publications

References 27 publications

Turning promise into practice: Crop biotechnology for increasing genetic diversity and climate resilience

Turning promise into practice: Crop biotechnology for increasing genetic diversity and climate resilience

Strengthening agroecological resilience through commons-based seed governance in the Philippines

Demand-side challenges to increase sales of new maize hybrids in Kenya

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About