Pioneer, Gates to give African farmers biotech seed
Washington, D.C. - Pioneer Hi-Bred is joining with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help scientists in Africa develop genetically engineered corn varieties that would allow poor farmers increase their yields with less fertilizer.
The aim of the project is to increase corn yields by 50 percent over the average now reached by African varieties, said Paul Schickler, president of Pioneer, a Johnston-based unit of DuPont.
The project represents the latest effort by U.S. seed giants to promote their products as being potentially beneficial to small-scale farmers in Africa, a continent with chronic food shortages but where countries have been reluctant to permit genetically modified crops. |
Corn is a staple food throughout eastern and southern Africa, but yields are typically only a fraction of what they are in the United States because of the poor soils, insufficient rainfall and farmers' lack of access to fertilizer, insecticides and high-quality seeds, experts say.
Um, well then maybe they should be doing something for food other than growing corn, which is a pretty heavy feeder? Especially hybrid GM stuff like Monsanto comes up with?
For some reason, the phrase "setting fires in order to have something to put out" comes to mind.
Well, Bill; much of teh Internet hates you for Microsoft; now they can hate you for Monsanto, too.
What do Microsoft and Monsanto have in common? Historical obsession about proprietary issues maybe?
Match made in hell.
In Africa, many poor farmers use little or no fertilizer already because of its cost.
And, as we all know, you can't just grow plants sustainably. Fertilizer only comes from God - er, Monsanto and Bill Gates. |
