The contradictions of the biorevolution for the development of agriculture in the third world: Biotechnology and capitalist interest [Book Review]

Agriculture and Human Values 5 (3):61-70 (1988)
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Abstract

All biotechnology-related promises are based upon its technological potential; yet, many of these promises assure the solution for chronic socio-economic problems in the Third World through a new technological revolution in agriculture. The forecasting is that such a revolution will start delivering its most profound impact early in the 21st century. However, 11 years before the year 2000, a critical analysis of its promises against its current trends indicates that the future use and impact of biotechnology in the Third World rely presently upon crucial contradictions.As a result of such contradictions—Social Goals vs. Private Gains, Social Problems vs. Technical Solutions, Agricultural vs. Industrial Revolution, Cooperation vs. Competition, and Control over Nature vs. Control Over People—there is a high likelihood that (1) traditional farming will become increasingly obsolete, (2) technological and economic dependence of developing on developed countries will persist and even increase, (3) food and fiber production will be increasingly dislocated from developing to developed countries and from farms to industries, (4) the market for specific tropical products will be destroyed and therefore entire economies may collapse, (5) hunger and poverty will persist and even increase, and (6) social unrest may increase worldwide

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References found in this work

Eclipse of reason.Max Horkheimer - 1947 - New York: Continuum.
The domination of nature.William Leiss - 1972 - Boston,: Beacon Press.
Biotechnology: The University-Industrial Complex.Martin Kenney - 1987 - Journal of the History of Biology 20 (3):429-430.
The Socio-Economic Impact of Biotechnology on Agriculture in the Third World.Hope Shand - forthcoming - Symposium “Agricultural Bioethics,” Iowa State University.

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