Transgenic seeds in developing countries

Genetically modified seeds are in use for a number of years in developing countries and increasingly in newly industrialising countries such as Argentina, China and India. Their potential effects on food production have become a highly controver-sial issue within the debate of benefits and risks of genetic engineering. On the one hand there are far-reaching expectations that genetic engineering will contribute to the security of food supply and economic development, on the other hand there are major fears of adverse effects on traditional methods of production and ways of life.
The aim of the project is to review the general level of debate and to demonstrate as concretely as possible how the use of transgenic seeds in the last 10 years has actually developed, what consequences have resulted from this and what – in view of current technological, economical and political circumstances – can be derived from this for the future. Based on this analysis, options for action for the possible future development of German (and European) development policy will be derived.