Reports show that traditional breeding techniques are years ahead of GM technologies in developing crops to withstand drought and poor soils, writes Lawrence Woodward. Yet GM advocates are sticking rigidly to their script even as the evidence mounds against them.

 

Since its launch in 2010, the Improved Maize for African Soils Project (IMAS) has developed 21 conventionally bred varieties which have increased yield by up to 1 tonne per hectare.

 

The plan is to commercialize these varieties and introduce them in eight countries.

 

In contrast, the project's researchers say that they are at least 10 years away from developing a comparable GM variety.

 

In another programme - The Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa project - 153 new, conventionally bred varieties have improved yields in 13 countries.

 

In field trials, these varieties increase yields by up to 30% under drought conditions.

 

 

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