Since the first transgenic crop was released in in the world in 1994, cultivation of several varieties has grown rapidly to reach 175 million hectares, more than 10% of the world’s arable land, in 27 countries. Adoption and commercialization of transgenic products is growing by 3% per year in developed and developing countries.
There is ample evidence that application of transgenic products significantly increases crop productivity and food nutrition and provides higher net financial and environmental benefits.
In 2014, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partners commissioned a report to analyze the current capacity for transgenic research in CGIAR centres and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in a sample of countries in Africa.
Th report includes the policy and regulatory situation, donor perspectives on transgenic research, and the implications for research for development as a basis for a strategic framework for transgenic research and product development by the CGIAR centres and partners in Africa.
The report and brief were supported by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the International Potato Center (CIP), and the Africa Rice Center.
ILRI BioSciences 