Why GM crops aren’t feeding Africa
Despite decades of research, few countries grow them there
The species of bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis produces proteins that some caterpillars find toxic. Insert the underlying genes into a maize plant, and creepy-crawlies will be poisoned by their lunch. That is the idea behind Bt maize, a genetically modified (GM) variety that has been grown in dozens of countries worldwide.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “The non-appliance of science”
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