Publications in the Food & Agriculture category:

Transgenic cotton: a ‘pro-poor’ success?

Many policy makers, journalists and politicians are keen to celebrate the ‘pro-poor success’ of genetically modified (GM, transgenic) crops in developing countries. However, a detailed look at the evidence reveals…

Pathways in and out of maize

In a region where droughts and other extreme weather events are common, maize is central to food security for most households across East and Southern Africa. From national policy to…

Reforming the Global Food and Agriculture System: Towards a Questioning Agenda for the New Manifesto

In the face of the pressing challenges posed by hunger, malnutrition and the vulnerability of our food system, it is imperative that radical reforms to the food system are articulated…

Undying Promise: Agricultural Biotechnology’s Pro-poor Narrative, Ten Years On

Many people and organisations have sought to promote genetically modified (GM, transgenic) crops as a ‘pro-poor’ technology. However, developing-country farmers’ experiences with GM crops have been mixed. Some farmers have…

Rethinking Regulation: International Harmonisation and Local Realities

The STEPS Rethinking Regulation project is examining the harmonising regulation of two widely available technologies – transgenic cotton seeds and antibiotics – in China and Argentina. We wish to explore…

Time to outbreed animal science? A cattle-breeding system exploiting structural unpredictability: the WoDaaBe herders in Niger

Cutting-edge research on agri-food systems contends that mainstream agricultural science is ill-equipped to address issues of complexity, diversity and uncertainty. The paper tackles this issue looking at animal breeding, an…

Rice Biofortification: Lessons for Global Science and Development

You can download the Accepted Manuscript of Chapter 4 of this book – An Alliance Around an Idea: The Shifting Boundaries of HarvestPlus Download Chapter 4 Buy this book About…

Environmental Change and Maize Innovation Pathways in Kenya: Seeking Resilience through Diversity (maize briefing 1)

In Kenya, STEPS Centre research partners from the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), the Centre for African Bio-entrepreneurship (CABE), Tegemeo Institute at Egerton University, in association with the Institute…

Biosafety Regulation: Lessons from Kenya and the Philippines

Both Kenya and the Philippines have been regarded as ‘test cases’ for biotechnology and biosafety regulatory development in their respective regions. Biosafety and its regulation has become the lightning rod…