Abstract

Reference: de Vries and Toenniessen, 2001
Title: Securing the Harvest: Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops
Authors: de Vries, J. and Toenniessen, G.
Publisher: CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK
Publication details: 2001. 224p.

The title of Part I of this book, Biotechnology, Breeding, and Seed Systems for African Crops: Re-thinking a 10,000-year-old Challenge, reflects the authors efforts to encapsulate in a brief format our current understanding of the nature of the task of extending better-performing crop varieties to Africa’s farmers. While it is clear that any one group can only focus on selected portions of this process, it is hoped that the opportunities identified can mobilize additional resources and generate new partnerships that cover the full scope of the challenge ahead.

Part II of the book analyse the crop improvement needs and opportunities for seven major food crops in Africa and the role that new biotechnologies may play in the development of new crop varieties. 

The authors also foresee need for gaining a greater understanding of agro-ecologies in Africa and for the application of participatory methods as well as biotechnology. By generating new crop varieties with greater yield stability, greater productivity and greater local acceptability, and by getting the new genetic resources into farmers’ hands through more responsive seed systems, they believe increased food security can be attained.   

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