Agricultural biotechnologies to meet the needs of smallholders in developing countries

Ruane, J. (ed.); Mba, C. (ed.); Boettcher, P. (ed.); Koskela, J. (ed.); Mair, G. (ed.); Ramasamy, S. (ed.) (2023) Case studies of the use of agricultural biotechnologies to meet the needs of smallholders in developing countries #188 p.

There are a wide range of biotechnologies available and many of them have been, and are currently being, used in many situations and sectors worldwide to solve the myriad problems that farmers are facing. Documentation of the application of agricultural biotechnologies for smallholders is an important part of FAO’s role in facilitating knowledge sharing regarding agricultural biotechnologies. 

This document synthesizes a unique series of 15 case studies where agricultural biotechnologies were used to serve the needs of smallholders in developing countries. The introduction chapter provides an overall background and objectives of the compilation of case studies. 

The case studies cover different regions, production systems, species and underlying socioeconomic conditions in the crop, livestock and aquaculture/fisheries sectors. 

The biotechnologies covered include some that are considered quite traditional, such as artificial insemination, as well as other more modern ones, such as the use of DNA-based diagnostics. The case studies were prepared by scientists and researchers who were directly involved in the initiatives, and the authors aimed to provide the background, achievements, obstacles, challenges and lessons learned from each case study. The final chapter of the document provides a summary overview of the challenges, results and lessons learned from the 15 case studies.

This publication will certainly be helpful to clarify many of the benefits of biotechnology in many sectors of agriculture. Biotech offers a lot of affordable tools, especially for diagnostics and rapid plant multiplication with tissue culture. Orchid propagation in Philippines is done at home but with simple biotech tools. Covid rapid RNA testing was a good lesson in the use of low-cost rapid tests. Banana tissue culture in West Africa is another good example of rapid disease-free propagation, although due to the artificial growth media, it is usually not accepted in organic agriculture..

 

It is positive that most of the cases are focused on non-GMO aspects of biotechnology. It is unfortunate that genetically modified organism technology is often confused with other more useful biotechnologies such that “biotechnologies” overall are villainized.