Introduction: is it possible to create pro‐poor agriculture‐related biotechnology?

Abstract

Biotechnology represents hope for those who believe that new technology can contribute to overcoming a range of pressing productivity and environmental constraints facing poor farmers. Pouring money into the science and technology however without recognizing institutional and systemic complexities associated with creating 'pro-poor' technologies is unlikely to deliver much for those farmers. Moreover, there are a range of economic and political contextual factors which further complicate efforts to put the technology to use for poorer farmers. This article outlines some of the issues and possible new approaches which are discussed in more detail in later articles in this special issue. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Private‐sector investment in R&D: a review of policy options to promote its growth in developing‐country agriculture

“…Fourth, an arguably insufficient number of comparable PPPs actually exist in the field of agricultural R&D: PPPs in the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a network of research centers that is most strategically placed to engage in global collaborative research initiatives like PPPs, represent just 4% of the CGIAR's aggregate financing over the 2001-2005 period (Spielman & von Grebmer, 2006). Nonetheless, recent studies by Binenbaum, Pardey, and Wright (2001), Pray (2001), Chataway (2005), Spielman and von Grebmer (2006), and Spielman et al, (2007) examine the role of research-based PPPs in developing-country agriculture and how these arrangements promote R&D under alternative organizational structures, incentive schemes, and policy scenarios. Findings generally suggest that the success of PPPs is closely tied to a complex set of issues relating to IPR ownership and stewardship, inadequate risk management and mitigation strategies, conflicting organizational cultures, negative misperceptions across the sectors, and poor project design.…”

Unplugged!: An analysis of agricultural biotechnology PPPs in Kenya

“…In development related literature on PPPs, the extent and significance of factors exogenous to PPPs is not explicitly recognised. The few exceptions (Ikiara et al, 2004;Chataway, 2005;Hall, 2005;Ayele et al, 2006) allude to and/or address the role of the national system in providing an 'enabling environment' under which partnerships can flourish and contribute to national goals.…”

Is Participation Rooted in Colonialism? Agricultural Innovation Systems and Participation in the Netherlands Indies

“…Within the same Ugandan context, the programme to introduce so-called Farmer Field Schools, a tool to enhance farmer participation, appeared to have in-built barriers, due to arrangements made among various actors, including international donors (Isubikalu 2007). Besides looking at the role of particular institutions or specific participatory methods to increase the involvement of end-users, the analysis might also be focused on the 'systems conditions' that favour (or impede) the uptake of a particular innovation, like for example biotechnology (Chataway 2005).…”