Such vagaries of agriculture have had extremely serious impacts on the poor, as we are seeing right now in parts of Africa, where drought is again taking a terrible toll. The ability to stabilize yields will obviously offer great benefits to U.S. farmers and consumers as well. An eloquent statement on this topic comes from Florence Wambugu, director of an African agricultural institute with expertise in biotechnology. Africa cannot afford to be excluded or to miss another major global technological revolution. It must join the biotechnological endeavor.
Biotech pharmaceuticals can also make a difference.
Biotechnology is being used to create a variety of medicines, such as new vaccines, anti-cancer drugs and human insulin. Developing countries will benefit by biotechnology's ability to produce a broader range of medicines in a more timely and cost-effective manner. Nevertheless, there are barriers to the use of modern biotechnology in the developing world. To gain the benefits of modern biotechnology, adequate financing must be found. For modern biotechnology to help the poor farmer in developing countries, we must find ways to finance the use of this technology for the farmer's benefit.