Abstract
Major efforts are needed to improve the efficiency of the agricultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa, for which it is an important engine of economic development. Advances in agricultural biotechnology (agbiotech) have led to the development of crops that have the potential to enhance the agricultural productivity of resource-poor smallholder farmers. Most of the research and development of these biotech crops are led by public–private partnerships (P3s). However, such partnerships face challenges to accountability and trust due to public distrust of the private sector, and the controversy surrounding the application of biotechnology to agriculture. There is also the concern about ensuring that these projects effectively engage in stakeholder- and farmer-oriented innovation. This chapter explains how social audits can play a role in fostering accountability and trust, which are important components in the effectiveness of P3s. It also shows the importance of social audits in engaging farmers and stakeholders, and providing them with a voice in the innovation process.
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Notes
- 1.
Full access to the case studies is available at: http://www.agricultureandfoodsecurity.com/supplements/1/S1
Abbreviations
- AATF:
-
African Agricultural Technology Foundation
- agbiotech:
-
Agricultural biotechnology
- CIET:
-
Community Information and Epidemiological Technologies
- CIMMYT:
-
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
- GM:
-
Genetically modified (not expanded in text, no need)
- NGO:
-
Non-governmental organization
- P3:
-
Public–private partnership
- PI:
-
Principal Investigator
- R&D:
-
Research and development
- SSA:
-
Sub-Saharan Africa
- WEMA:
-
Water Efficient Maize for Africa
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Acknowledgements
This work was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and supported by the Sandra Rotman Centre, an academic centre at the University Health Network and University of Toronto. The findings and conclusions contained within are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect official positions or policies of the foundation. We would like to thank Jennifer Deadman and Justin Mabeya for helpful comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript.
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Ezezika, O.C., Oh, J. (2014). Social Audits and Their Role in Stakeholder-Oriented Innovation and Fostering Accountability and Trust in Agricultural Biotechnology Development Programs. In: Wambugu, F., Kamanga, D. (eds) Biotechnology in Africa. Science Policy Reports, vol 7. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04001-1_14
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