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Genetic Engineering may not solve Africa’s fall armyworm problems
Fred Gould presented at the Entomology 2017 Annual Meeting in Denver, CO on the prospects of using GMO technology to help alleviate the issue of crop pests in Africa.
In this video Dr. Gould describes why it would take great dedication and large resources in money and people to use this approach in an equitable and sustainable manner.
Prospects for the use of transgenic maize in the management of fall armyworm in Africa
Maize farmers in Africa face many different contexts and constraints than the vast majority of maize farmers in North and South America. The past impacts of GE crops on resource-poor farmers and potential for the future were explored. Also discussed were some current cropping problems faced by these farmers for which GE varieties have been suggested as solutions but where a practical pathway toward implementation is not apparent.
Today’s news says “County governments (in Kenya) in maize growing areas want the National Government to fast-track the approval of Genetically Modified (GM) Bt maize variety for food sufficiency.” See
https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/government-urged-to-approve-gm-maize-variety/
This is a step ahead, hoping it will influence the national government lift the GM ban imposed about a decade ago.