Genetic modifications through the use of the modern recombinant DNA technology may play an important role in improvement of the crop only when it complements and integrates with other fields of science and not done in isolation . Moreover, to be cost-effective, the technology outputs must be tested and evaluated in whole-plant and within relevant cropping systems under prevailing environments as well as under predicted climatic changes in the 21st century . Connor et al., in their recently revised Crop Ecology text book , have rightly commented on the current research efforts targeted towards genetically transferring the quite complex C4 photosynthetic syndrome to C3 rice, where significant financial support was recently devoted to, by saying: “What a pity that cassava does not share the world-food limelight with rice.
This species has the most, and best studied, intermediate photosynthetic types, and beneficial growth and yield responses have been demonstrated in them . The pathway to success ought to be shorter for this crop. It would be exciting to see progress in the search for this current ‘holy grail’ of biotechnology during the lifetime of this book.” Quote. Research institutions and donors agencies concerned with agricultural research and development must be aware of the high potential of cassava as food, feed, and industrial crop and its role in the face of global climate change. The author wishes to express his gratitude to Colombian farmers for their hospitality during conducting some of this research. Without the collaboration of the many former field laborers, secretaries, research associates, students and colleagues, who are now dispersed across countries, the achievements highlighted here would have never been obtained. The invaluable courtesy copies of books documenting important research on crop ecology by David Connor, Robert Loomis and Kenneth Cassman, and on climate change by Mary Beth Kirkham, and Cynthia Rosenzweig, article reprints from Andy Jarvis, Julian Ramirez-Villegas and David Rosenthal were appreciated.
I am grateful for the waiving of the required pagecharges by the Editors of OJSS.Thanks to Farah El-Sharkawy Navarro for the editorial and the WWWnet search assistance. With nearly 60% of its population under the age of 25 years, Africa is the “youngest” continent on earth . Currently hosting a total of 1.37 billion people , corresponding to almost a double of Europe’s 750 million, the continent is expected to reach the size of 2.5 billion inhabitants by 2050 and of approximately 4 billion by 2100 . By then, one person in every three worldwide will be from the African continent. This exponential growth is expected to be accompanied by an equally significant increase in the continent’s need in animal source foods. Indeed, Africa’s demand for meat, milk and eggs will almost quadruple by 2050 , with annual growth rates of consumption estimated at 2.3% for milk and 2.8% for meat . Currently, however, not only Africa is overall a net food importer , but it is also the most food insecure region in the world, the only one in which the absolute number of undernourished people has increased in the past 30 years , and where that of stunted children under five is still rising . Presently, nearly 60% of Africans are moderately or severely food insecure, with more than 90% of them residing in sub-Saharan Africa . At thesame time, overweight rates are also increasing , highlighting the continent’s need for nutritious foods. Yet, Africa harbours 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land , with one-quarter of the world’s cultivable land being in sub-Saharan Africa but only producing 10% of the global agricultural output .
Therefore, the continent’s rising demand for animal protein could be potentially met, at least partly, through enhanced local agricultural production, made possible by improving the productivity of farming processes , as envisaged by the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and New Alliance for food security and nutrition . This agricultural transformation process may also include possible access by livestock keepers to wild areas hardly attended or inhabited thus far, to make room for livestock rearing and grazing . By creating new human–animal–environment interfaces, such an expansion may however bring health risks, as pathogens from wildlife could spill over onto domestic animals and people . Moreover, the ongoing climatic changes and global warming may also compound this scenario.