One of the important goals policymakers have for the next millennium is to develop a global food security strategy that harnesses the considerable potential offered by transgenic crop technology. One way they can achieve this goal is by establishing novel and equitable partnerships with the private sector. These partnerships must address three major global challenges: feeding a growing world population; reducing and ultimately eradicating poverty; and protecting the biodiversity and natural resources in tropical forests and fragile ecosystems by increasing food productivity in input-efficient, sustainable systems on the more fertile arable lands.

The dominant traits in the transgenic crops grown in 1998 are listed in the table. The benefits of this first generation of crops are better weed and insect control, higher productivity, and more flexible crop management. These benefits accrue primarily to farmers and agribusinesses. The broader benefits—a safer environment through reduced use of pesticides—contribute to a more sustainable agriculture and better food security.

The next generation of crops with improved output traits could confer nutritional benefits to millions who suffer from malnutrition and deficiency disorders. A gene encoding for beta-carotene/vitamin A has been incorporated into rice and can enhance the diets of the 180 million children who suffer from the vitamin A deficiency that leads to 2 million deaths annually. Similarly, a gene that increases iron levels in rice threefold is a potential remedy for the iron deficiency that affects more than 2 billion people and causes anemia in about half that number.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics recently concluded that a compelling moral imperative exists to make transgenic crops available to developing countries that want them to combat hunger and poverty. Creative partnerships between developing countries, CGIAR centers, and the private sector could provide the institutional mechanism for sharing the new technologies.

Equitable joint ventures between public- and/or private-sector entities from developing countries and private-sector entities in developed countries should be assigned high priority. These ventures can accelerate the adoption of tested technologies by farmers. Developing countries typically will contribute adapted germplasm and the external private sector will provide the proprietary gene that enhances the product. Building trust between parties to ensure equity remains the key challenge. Independent, honest-broker institutions can help build trust to achieve the mutual objectives of both the developing countries and the private sector. Both parties can make in-kind contributions to initiate projects and they can agree on their respective returns after the economic value of the enhanced product has been evaluated in the field. Similar strategic alliances could also apply to germplasm developed by the IARCs.

Joint ventures with multinational agri-biotechnology companies also have great potential for both the public institutions and local private companies in developing countries. They are particularly attractive to the latter, which normally lack the R&D and capital investments to develop their own technology. Joint ventures offer the opportunity to license the technology and gain experience with its use and distribution. The latter activity is one of the weakest links in the chain of crop production in developing countries. Development agencies should also consider participating in more joint-venture pilot projects.

Government Incentives for R&D. Government should develop a national strategy for biotechnology, with specific priorities for crop biotechnology. These priorities should include the development of applications that will improve the productivity of the orphan crops of resource-poor farmers that the private sector normally does not invest in because of inadequate returns. Investment incentives, such as favorable tax consideration for R&D, venture capital, and repatriation of foreign exchange, are needed to expedite an effective national strategy. A national strategy should also include support for local public- and private-sector capacity in biotechnology; a vigorous program for acquiring and transferring technology from external sources; and commodity prices and an orderly market that provide incentives for farmers to adopt new technologies in order to enhance productivity and sustainability.

Public Awareness. Crop biotechnology directly affects nutrition, the food that consumers eat, choice and labeling of products, the environment, and the ethical concerns of special interest groups. Governments must establish a public awareness program from the outset that effectively communicates with citizens about the rationale for decisions and the risks and benefits of crop biotechnology. The program should also encourage public participation in the decisions regarding the use of transgenic products.

Regulation of Biosafety and Food Safety. Regulations should be science-based; transparent; harmonized with international protocols, domestic legislation, and import-export requirements; and implemented by credible institutions.

Intellectual Property (IP). This issue affects patents, plant variety protection, seed certification, and access to biodiversity. Protection of IP provides the economic incentive to the private sector. With appropriate antitrust laws, enforceable IP protection encourages competition and leads to more products for farmers. More than 140 countries have already signed the TRIPs (Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights) agreement, which is intended to harmonize global seed-related IP issues. IP is often the major constraint to technology transfer. Honest-broker institutions can assist developing countries in this area.

For further information see Clive James, Global Review of Commercialized Transgenic Crops: 1998, ISAAA Brief No. 8 (Ithaca, N.Y.: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, 1998); Clive James, Progressing Public-Private Sector Partnerships in International Agricultural Research and Development, ISAAA Brief No. 4 (1997); and AgBiotechNet, CAB International, http://www.cabweb.org (then click on the AgBiotechNet link).

Clive James is chair of the Board of Directors of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) (e-mail: cjames@candw.ky); Anatole Krattiger is executive director of ISAAA, c/o Cornell University, U.S.A. (e-mail: A.Krattiger@isaaa.org).