Biotechnology / Biotechnologie

Permanent URI for this collection

Browse

Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 20 of 25
  • Item
    Tackling Meningitis in Africa
    (2012)
    Since the late 1990s, governments of Brazil and Cuba have been promoting scientific interaction emphasizing South-South collaborations. The Brazil-Cuba vaccine targeted the meningitis strain in Africa when vaccination stocks ran low, and subsequently the two organizations developped an inexpensive health product accessible also to the local populations. The Brazil-Cuba meningitis project was not their only collaboration to have benefited a third party. They are now jointly promoting health and development in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake and will construct hospitals, support immunization programs, and strengthen laboratories for disease surveillance in Haiti.
  • Item
    Difusión del algodón GM y su repercusión en la rentabilidad de los pequeños productores. Estudio de caso de cuatro localidades chaqueñas
    (2012)
    En este trabajo se analiza la adopción del algodón genéticamente modificado (GM) por parte de pequeños productores del Chaco, Argentina. Se utiliza el marco conceptual de la configuración socio-técnica de la tecnología, en que se postula que existe un conjunto de factores que inciden de manera relevante en la forma en que funcionan las tecnologías. Desde este marco, se describen las condiciones en que los pequeños productores del Chaco adoptan el algodón GM y se señalan las diferencias existentes con los grandes productores, en quienes se centra la mayor parte de la literatura. A partir de metodologías cualitativas, se analizan las rupturas y continuidades ocurridas desde la introducción del algodón GM en las prácticas productivas que afectan a la rentabilidad de los pequeños productores. Se constata que las dificultades productivas que estos enfrentan no han variado esencialmente y, en algunos casos, se han profundizado.
  • Item
    Configuration of agricultural biotechnologies in dual agricultural systems: GM cotton adoption by commercial farmers and family farmers in Argentina
    (2012-06)
    Drawing on a socio-technical systems perspective this paper compares the ways in which novel genetically modified (GM) crop artefacts, related devices and techniques, actors, practices, and institutions have been configured across two distinctive cotton production systems in north east Argentina, one based around large scale commercial farming and the other based around small scale family farming. In the former system, linkages between new GM seeds, and new actors, complementary artefacts, agricultural techniques, technical support, and modified supply markets and regulatory rules have resulted in GM-based cotton production systems that perform well. In the latter system, the new GM artefacts were unavailable, whilst conventional seeds disappeared from input markets. Instead, linkages were formed between copied GM seeds, of unreliable identify and poor quality, informal seed multipliers and dealers, largely unmodified production practices, declining technical support, uncontrolled pest problems, and an absence of regulatory oversight, resulting in a poorly performing technology. In effect, working agricultural biotechnologies are different in the two farming systems; they have different characteristics and capabilities and perform in different ways. The paper considers how regulatory and public agricultural research institutions have mediated those configuration processes, and how public policies in these areas could help shape cotton production systems in ways that better support small farmers’ Livelihoods.
  • Item
    When are agricultural biotechnologies adapted to host country contexts? Evidence from the commercialisation of GM cotton in Argentina
    (2012) Arza, Valeria; Zwanenberg, Patrick van
    In this paper we explore how and why the affiliate of a multinational seed firm has adapted genetically modified cotton technologies, created elsewhere, for commercialisation within Argentina's agricultural sector. We argue that whilst a conventional economic rationale, such as market size, costs of local research and development, and the ability to appropriate benefits partly explain patterns of adaptation, the kinds of adaptation actually undertaken also reflect the outcome of political bargaining processes. Our findings imply that developing country governments may have scope for encouraging the international transfer and adaptation of foreign technology beyond the provision of economic incentives.
  • Item
    Pequeños algodoneros chaqueños: ¿cómo viven y producen desde la llegada de los OGM?: Notas para repensar las políticas de promoción de tecnologías según el tipo de usuarios
    (2012)
    La llegada de los organismos genéticamente modificados (OGM) y su paquete de tecnologías asociadas significó un cambio tecnológico radical en la agricultura mundial. Sin embargo, su uso y efectos en contextos de pobreza han sido, por ahora, poco estudiados y comprendidos. Los resultados de esta investigación cuestionan tanto los beneficios de estas tecnologías para los agricultores pequeños como los modelos uniformes de transferencia tecnológica como receta para salir de la pobreza. El caso de los pequeños algodoneros chaqueños ofrece un ejemplo para demostrar que el impacto de los OGM está lejos de ser neutral y homogéneo. Conviene, por tanto, repensar las políticas de promoción de estas tecnologías según el contexto en el que se insertan. El trabajo finaliza con recomendaciones de políticas para pensar el diseño y difusión de tecnologías para el algodón según las necesidades de los usuarios más vulnerables.
  • Item
    Cómo mejorar los beneficios socioeconómicos de la utilización de algodón GM entre los pequeños agricultores del MERCOSUR - Informe Técnico Final
    (2012-05) Arza, Valeria
    El uso y efectos de la difusión de los organismos genéticamente modificados (GM) en contextos de pobreza han sido poco estudiados. Por esa razón, el proyecto se propuso caracterizar la configuración socio-técnica del algodón GM, que se ha difundido ampliamente en Argentina, Brasil y Paraguay, para identificar cómo podrían incrementarse los beneficios de su adopción por parte de los pequeños productores en cada país. La investigación se llevó a cabo mediante talleres participativos efectuados con pequeños algodoneros en doce localidades y 76 entrevistas con actores clave vinculados a la política tecnológica agropecuaria, en los tres países. Los resultados de esta investigación cuestionan tanto los beneficios de estas tecnologías para los agricultores pequeños como los modelos uniformes de transferencia tecnológica como receta para salir de la pobreza. El impacto de la difusión de los transgénicos está lejos de ser neutral. Conviene, por tanto, repensar las políticas de promoción de estas tecnologías según el contexto en el que se insertan. Las actividades del proyecto han permitido identificar una serie de propuestas concretas para mejorar los beneficios productivos de los pequeños algodoneros en los tres países que amplían los horizontes de la política agrícola para la pequeña producción. El trabajo finalizó con recomendaciones de políticas para pensar el diseño y difusión de tecnologías para el algodón según las necesidades de los usuarios más vulnerables que se difundieron mediante documentos de divulgación y jornadas de discusión con hacedores de políticas en los tres países.
  • Item
    Difusión de algodón GM y su impacto sobre la rentabilidad de pequeños productores : estudio de caso de cuatro localidades chaqueñas
    (Centro de investigaciones para la transformación (CENIT), Buenos Aires, AR, 2011)
    Este trabajo analiza la adopción de algodón genéticamente modificado (GM) por parte de pequeños productores de Chaco, Argentina. Adoptamos el marco conceptual de la configuración socio-técnica de la tecnología, que postula que existe un conjunto de factores técnicos, culturales, económicos, sociales y políticos que inciden de manera relevante en la forma en que las tecnologías funcionan. Desde este marco, describimos las condiciones en las que los pequeños productores del Chaco adoptan el algodón GM y señalamos las diferencias que existen con los grandes productores, en quienes se centra la mayor parte de la literatura que analiza los beneficios de la adopción de esta tecnología. A partir de metodologías cualitativas basadas en entrevistas en profundidad y talleres participativos con pequeños productores realizados durante 2010, analizamos rupturas y continuidades ocurridas a partir de la introducción del algodón GM en las prácticas productivas que afectan la rentabilidad de los pequeños productores. Encontramos que las dificultades productivas que enfrentan los pequeños productores no se han modificado esencialmente y, en algunos casos, se han profundizado. Estos productores adoptan una versión incompleta del paquete tecnológico asociado al algodón GM y continúan atrapados en una cadena de comercialización que los perjudica. Esta situación les impide alcanzar los incrementos de rendimientos y rentabilidad que, de acuerdo con lo que reporta la literatura, obtienen los productores de mayor tamaño. Por lo tanto, nuestro estudio concluye que las diferencias en las configuraciones socio-técnicas existentes según tamaño de productor contribuye a la ampliación de la brecha de rentabilidad entre productores grandes y pequeños. Para finalizar, se proponen lineamientos de acciones tendientes a reducir dicha brecha.
  • Item
    GM papaya and biotechnology regulation in China : policy brief
    (2012)
    This brief provides a synthesis of results from four surveys with consumers, producers and other stakeholders, focusing on genetically modified papaya. Investment from the Chinese public sector in biotechnology has increased rapidly since the 1990s. The commercialization of genetically modified (GM) products has expanded from non-food crops, like cotton, to fruits and food crops.
  • Item
    Reflections on the missing actors and institutions : the case of Rhizobium inoculants bio-innovation in Madhya Pradesh, India
    (Research and Information System for Developing Countries, 2011) Sangar, Sunita; Singh, Wafa
    Although Rhizobium inoculants were initially hailed as a bio-innovation owing to their successful adoption for soybean production, strategies for capacity building are necessary to strengthen weakened or absent organizations and institutions to combat sharp declines in productivity. Rhizobium inoculants are potentially beneficial to poor smallholder farming systems in Madhya Pradesh, but without adequate policy support to create a suitable environment for active participation of private entrepreneurs at the local level, its wider production and application are very limited. An innovation system framework is used to analyze the actors (institutions and organizations) relevant to the successful implementation of bio-innovation processes.
  • Item
    South-South entrepreneurial collaboration in health biotech
    (Nature America, 2010)
    A survey and detailed analysis of entrepreneurial collaborations among health biotech firms in developing countries reveals a surprisingly high level of collaboration but lack of emphasis on new health biotech products and processes. Although South-South collaboration in science and technology has been high on developing countries’ agendas since the 1960s, there is limited amount of empirical data derived from examining these collaborations. 288 biotech firms completed the current survey. Results show that R&D collaborations are not nearly as numerous as end-stage commercial collaborations. South-South collaborations rarely include clinical trials. This survey establishes a baseline for future studies towards effective policy making.
  • Item
    South-South collaboration in health biotechnology : final technical report (January 2007-December 2010)
    (McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CA, 2011)
    This research examines the potential of, and characteristics of collaboration between developing countries, in the field of genomics and health biotechnology, focusing on both research and entrepreneurial collaboration, in order to gain a better understanding of factors that cultivate and influence South-South collaboration. Key findings indicate that entrepreneurial collaborations seem to be more prevalent, showing that access to new markets is an important biotech driver. Project activities, outputs and outcomes are reviewed. Survey results varied from country to country; to visually represent the geographical spread of collaborative linkages, findings were mapped.
  • Item
    Public knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards genetically modified organisms in India : final report
    (Gene Campaign, New Delhi, IN, 2010) Sahai, Suman; Haribabu, E.
    Attitude to food is overwhelmingly guided by cultural-religious factors, irrespective of education and economic status. This, rather than a rational analysis of the benefits of a particular food, determines food choices. The sanctity of food is underlined by the clear articulation in rural communities that any food transformed in the way that GM foods are, would be unacceptable for special ceremonies and religious festivals. Many people felt that NGOs provide useful, reliable information; others felt that NGOs doctored their information to suit their ideology. This paper reports on a three-year research project undertaken by Gene Campaign and the University of Hyderabad to study the awareness, attitudes and perceptions to GM technology.
  • Item
    Evaluation of the project Biosafety Management of Genetically Modified Crops - China (IDRC grant number: 103783-001) : final evaluation report
    (International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC, 2010)
    Significant regulatory and decision-making challenges remain for ensuring protective and efficient biosafety systems. IDRC provided a grant to the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy (CCAP) to examine biosafety and biotechnology management issues. The overall assessment is of an excellent project, outputs, and policy outreach efforts that has influenced policy making in China while advancing science in terms of contributions to methods and approaches to biotechnology assessment. The assessment also provides a detailed list of potential research and policy outreach that IDRC could pursue in terms of biosafety and biotechnology management in China, sub-regions in Asia and at the global level.
  • Item
    Biosafety management of genetically modified crops (China) : final technical report
    (Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy (CCAP), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Beijing, CN, 2009)
    There is evidence of rising secondary pests in Bt cotton fields in recent years and potential rise in bollworm resistance to Bt protein. Moreover, some field surveys indicate that farmers lack information on proper use of GM technology. China’s Bt seed industry is growing and diversifying, however it is not clear if the seed market is sufficiently transparent and well regulated enough to provide farmers with information about products so they can effectively utilize new seeds. GM crop biosafety management in China is another topic of this paper, which combines published articles, as well as chapter overviews for a book publication.
  • Item
    Transgênicos em debate : edição para jovens
    (Museu da Vida, Rio de Janeiro, BR, 2008) Massarani, Luisa; Natércia, Flávia; Gomes, Nato