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Borderline Personality Disorder - BPD & Me!
Raising questions, finding answers
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental
illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods,
interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This
instability often disrupts...
Invaluable Embryonic Stem Cells Research
Embryonic Stem Cell (ESCs) Research is back in the news again. Unfortunately, it is under the political and religious pressure. ESC is moving at a slower pace at the expense of, as stated by the White House, "millions of people who suffer from life...
Nature's Calling
Throughout history mankind's progress has been charted and
referred to by his use of materials. Throughout the stone,
bronze iron and steel ages these materials made a major
contribution to mankind's development. But now in the 21st
century, we...
Radical Healing
Radical Healing: This title to a book by Rudolph Ballentine deserves more thought than we might give it. The book deserves more thought than I will give it too. It might be of interest to note that Dr. Ballentine is a Duke graduate and likely...
The future of the Human Species - Part 3: How do we engineer an Earth-like environment?
The process of making an unearthly world more earth-like for the purpose of supporting human life is called teraforming - Steven Wintergerst. Teraforming Mars is the only way we, humans can live and reproduce thus starting all over again on the red...
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Kenya Inches Close to Food Sustainability
Kenya has begun a countdown to commercializing genetically
modified maize(corn). Scientists at the Kenya Agricultural
Research Institute (KARI), International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Insect Resistant Maize for
Africa (IRMA) have already developed a new maize seed, resistant
to the stem borer. Stem borer destroys 400,000 tonnes of Maize
in Kenya, alone. In Sub-Saharan Africa, chronic cases of stem
borer infestation account for 10-70 per cent of yield losses.
This has had devastating effects on Africa's efforts to feed its
ever soaring population. Maize is the primary staple food and an
occasional cash crop in many parts of Africa.
The first case of stem borer was discovered in Malawi in 1932.
Since then, a raft of methods, pointedly, biological control,
habitat management and use of natural pesticides, have been used
to deal with the stem borer menace. Unfortunately, very little
has been achieved. Bounty yields, a common occurrence in
countries such as US, Canada, Argentina, India and China, which
have embraced biotechnology, have not been forthcoming. For
instance, Niger, one of the poorest countries in Africa is
currently facing acute food shortage due to crop failure and
drought. About 3.6 million people are on the verge of death due
to hunger. Horrifying is news that 800,000 children are
chronically malnourished.
Niger is a semi-desert country where lack of rain can result to
massive crop failures. This situation and others in Africa can
be avoided. Dishing emergency food aid, as is happening at the
moment, will help in the short
run. But long-term measures need
to be explored.
The development of seeds with tolerance to drought and low soil
fertility through modern biotechnology could benefit Niger and
other countries in similar situations.
Maize varieties with improved nutritional content will be a boon
to malnourished children who strand the African continent.
It is worth noting that the development of maize seed resistant
to pests such as stem borer not only heralds a new chapter in
Kenya but Africa as a whole. Other African countries should now
borrow a leaf from these two countries. They should swim by the
waves rest they continue to be perpetual beneficiaries of relief
food.
Kenyan scientists have demonstrated determination to seek
homegrown solutions to Africa's food problems. It would be
interesting to hear the views of critics of modern biotechnology
about this latest development.In the past, they have accused
rich countries of foisting novel technologies such as
biotechnology on "hapless" Africa, in total disregard of their
environmental impact or health complications associated with
consumption of genetically modified food.
The jury is now out. To quote Dr Stephen Mugo, a plant breeder
with CIMMYT, "The converted seeds have been studied, multiplied
and tested in laboratories and greenhouse conditions."
About the author:
James Wachai is a communication specialist who uses his
expertise to increase public understanding of science and
technology, specifically biotechnology. Read more from James at
http://www.gmoafrica.org.
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