The Use of GM Crops in Developing Countries
Appendix 3: Examples of GM crops with relevance to developing countries
The following table gives examples of GM crops which are either currently used in developing
countries or are the subject of ongoing research. The table does not provide an exhaustive list of
all applications or research projects. Rather, it aims to give an overview of the kinds of projects
which are being undertaken and it aims to detail the stage of research or use.
| L Laboratory studies | F Field studies |
| G Greenhouse studies | C Commercialised |
| N Not specified |
| Crop | Country | Improved trait | Comments | Stage |
| Banan | Egypt(1) | Viral resistance | Resistance to banana bunchy top virus and banana cucumber mosaic virus Research undertaken by the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Egypt | L |
| Uganda, South Africa, Belgium and France(2) | Pest resistance (e.g. nematodes and weevils) Fungal resistance | Aims to enhance the resistance of the local East African Highland bananas to the wide range of pests and diseases currently affecting the crop Project undertaken by the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP) Project began in 2001 with an expected duration of 5 years See case study 6 | L |
| 1 AGERI Production of Transgenic Banana Plants Resistant to Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) and/or Banana-Cucumber Mosaic Cucumovirus (Banana-CMV). Available: http://www.ageri.sci.eg/topic6/banana.htm. Accessed on: 9 Jan 2003. |
| 2 INIBAP (2001) Novel approaches to the improvement of banana production in Eastern Africa the application of biotechnological methodologies. Available: http://www.inibap.org/presentation/biotechnology_e g.htm. Accessed on: 17 Jan 2003. |
| Crop | Country | Improved trait | Comments | Stage | |
| Banana | US(3) | Biopharmaceutical | Vaccine for hepatitis Research undertaken at Cornell University, US See case study 8 | L | |
| Australia(4) | Fungal resistance | Resistance to black Sigatoka Project undertaken by the Queensland University of Technology and the companies Demegen and Farmacule BioIndustries See case study 6 | L/F (5) | ||
| Barley (6) | Egypt | Abiotic stresses | Development of varieties tolerant to salt, drought and heat shock Partnership between AGERI and the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) | L | |
| Cassava (7) | Various developed and developing countries | Pest and disease resistance Enhanced protein and nutrient levels | Project undertaken by the Global Partnership for Cassava Genetic Improvement, a partnership of institutions including the FAO and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology | N(8) | |
| Coffee (9) | Hawaii, Brazil and Central America | Controlled ripening Caffeine-free | Research by the company Integrated Coffee Technologies, Hawaii | L |
3 Demegen (2001) International plant biotech groups collaborate. Available: http://www.demegen.com/prs/pr011213.htm.
Accessed on: 20 May 2003.
4 Demegen (2001) International plant group collaborate. Available: http://www.demegen.com/prs/pr011213.htm. Accessed
on: 29 May 2003.
5 AEBC (2002) Looking Ahead - An AEBC Horizon Scan (London: Department of Trade and Industry), p50.
6 ICARDA (2001) ICARDA Annual Report 2001. Available:
http://www.icarda.cgiar.org/Publications/AnnualReport/2001/cooperat/nile.htm. Accessed on: 20 May 2003; AGERI Development of Transgenic Barley with Improved Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses. Available: http://www.ageri.sci.eg/topic6/barley.htm. Accessed on: 9 Jan 2003.
7 FAO (2002) Partnership formed to improve cassava, staple food of 600 million people, News Release 5 Nov 2002. Available: http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2002/10541-en.html. Accessed on: 9 Jan 2003.
8 The Global Partnership for Cassava Genetic Improvement was launched on 5 Nov 2002. The Partnership next aims to raise funds for specific research projects.
9 Action Aid (2001) Robbing Coffees Cradle - GM coffee and its threat to poor farmers (London: Action Aid).