The Honorable Ruth Oniang'o - a member of the Parliament of Kenya and
Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology:

Twenty-five percent of the undernourished people in the developing
world are located in sub-Saharan Africa; and according to FAO, approximately
35 percent of the population in 14 countries in the region are chronically
undernourished. However, efforts to reduce hunger in this region have been
hampered by a shortage of arable land, inadequate rainfall, low soil
fertility and the devastating effects of plant pests and diseases.
Twenty-five percent of the undernourished people in the developing
world are located in sub-Saharan Africa; and according to FAO, approximately
35 percent of the population in 14 countries in the region are chronically
undernourished. However, efforts to reduce hunger in this region have been
hampered by a shortage of arable land, inadequate rainfall, low soil
fertility and the devastating effects of plant pests and diseases.
"I've been saddened. I've gotten frustrated at the levels of hunger,
levels of food insecurity on this continent, food crises one after another,"
says The Honorable Ruth Oniang'o - a member of the Parliament of Kenya and
Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology - in an exclusive video interview and podcast
discussing the need for food biotechnology in Africa. "We have not always
been food insecure. I think what has happened is we have not kept up with
the world events, with the technologies. ? And I don't know of any country,
which developed without using science and technology."


Increasing or intensifying food production is key to reducing hunger
in sub-Saharan Africa, where 50-75 percent of the population and labor force
is engaged in agriculture. "And so I believe that it is incumbent on our
government and on our scientists ? to bring a technology, which can address
a small-scale farmer," says Oniang'o, who is also founder and executive
director of Rural Outreach Program - a not-for-profit organization that
undertakes development activities aimed at improving the livelihoods of the
rural poor in Kenya, more than 55 percent of whom live below the poverty
line.

"They need different kinds of information, and I believe that science
has now come up with this technology - biotechnology. I'm not saying it's
going to be a magic bullet, but surely it should be one of the major
approaches to use," Oniang'o continues.

Using food biotechnology, researchers can provide protection against
plant pests and diseases through seed - requiring small-scale farmers to use
few - if any - additional inputs or machinery. "And, we already have
situations where we know this is working. In South Africa, I'm aware and
I've been there - it is working," continues Oniang'o. "You know, when we're
hungry, we actually import maize from South Africa. So for us to sit here
telling ourselves - oh, we don't want biotech food, and ? we can't bring
this to our farmers - it is not right."

Biotech varieties of cotton, corn and soy are approved for commercial
planting and account for approximately 92 percent of South Africa's cotton,
29 percent of corn and 59 percent of soybeans. While South Africa is
currently the only country with commercial plantings of food biotechnology
crops, nine countries have conducted field trials in Africa including
Burkina Faso, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia
and Zimbabwe. An additional 11 countries are engaged in food biotechnology
research and development.

"What I would like is to see a situation where families can feed
themselves. ? I believe we should start now. We can't say we shall start in
a decade, or next year. No, no, no. We need to start now," explains
Oniang'o.

In addition to this video with Dr. Oniang'o, visitors to the
Conversations about Plant Biotechnology Web site can access comments from
other renowned thought leaders including Nobel Peace Prize recipient and
leader of the Green Revolution Dr. Norman Borlaug; Director of The Earth
Institute and Director of the United Nations Millennium Project Dr. Jeffrey
Sachs; 2001 World Food Prize Laureate Dr. Per Pinstrup-Andersen; as well as
Chairman of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech
Applications (ISAAA) Dr. Clive James. The personal experiences of farmers
who grow crops developed through genetic engineering are also available -
including conversations with African small-scale farmers from South Africa
and Burkina Faso.

Conversations about Plant Biotechnology is designed to give a voice
and a face to the farmers and families who grow GM crops and the experts who
research and study the benefits of biotechnology in agriculture. The Web
site contains nearly 60, two- to three-minute, extremely candid,
straightforward and compelling video segments with the people who know the
technology best. The Web site is hosted by Monsanto Company -- a leading
global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that
improve farm productivity and food quality.

[www.prweb.com]