RENEWING AFRICAN AGRICULTURE Technological Opportunities and Institutional Innovation Calestous Juma [email protected] Belfer Center for Science.

RENEWINGAFRICAN AGRICULTURETechnological Opportunities and

Institutional Innovation

Calestous [email protected]

Belfer Center for Science and International AffairsKennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Des Moines, IowaOctober 18, 2006

Technology in Iowa

“Senator George O’Malley stated in his closing remarks for the bill that he and his family had used the white margarine for years and he was tired of having to mix it to make it yellow. Then he reported that his health was perfect, pointed to his big stock of gray hair and noted that he was 6 foot three inches tall! Finally, he reminded the Senate that he and his wife were the parents of ten children. The Senate passed the bill the next day.”

The Borlaug legacy

Technological changeInstitutional innovationEnvironmental management

Learning to develop

Development as a learning processInfrastructure as the foundationTechnical knowledge as the fuelBusiness as the locus of growthGovernment as a facilitator

Technological masteryUse of existing knowledgeStrategic alliancesGenerating new knowledgeKnowledge-based institutions

AFRICAN PANEL ON BIOTECHNOLOGY

Taking risks

Responding to challenges

Mecca: June 20, 1511

Muhtasib Khair-Beg

Convened the ulema

Outlawing reprehensible meetings

Banning coffee

Ignorant asses

“Your physicians are asses. Our lawyers and physicians in Cairo are better informed. They recommend the use of Coffee, and I declare that no faithful will lose heaven because he drinks coffee.”

Supplanting wine

Belinghi, 17th century Italian poet: “… this seditious disturber of the world,

Has, by its unparalleled virtue,

Supplanted all wines from this blessed day.”

Satan’s drink

Pope Clement VIII, 1600:

“Why, this Satan’s drink is so delicious … it would be a pity to have the infidels have exclusive use of it. We shall fool Satan by baptizing it and making it a truly Christian beverage.”

MandateTo provide the AU and NEPAD with independent and strategic advice on developments biotechnology and its implications for agriculture, health and the environment.

It will focus on intra-regional and international issues of regulating the development and application of genetic modification and its products.

Strategic considerations

Formulating long-term biotechnology missions

Promoting regional cooperation

Strengthening local capabilitiesCritical role of universities

Commercialization: technology prospecting

Regulation: balanced regulation

Building international partnerships

Improving policy and implementation

INSTITUTIONAL REFORM: EARTH UNIVERSITY, COSTA

RICA

The mission of EARTH: To be a leader in university education, committed

to the formation of ‘agents of change’ with strong ethical and human values, social and environmental consciousness, and an entrepreneurial mentality, who are committed to serving others.

To be innovative and critical in the generation of knowledge which promotes the well being of the Earth's inhabitants and the development of the communities of the humid tropics.

To promote the interchange, analysis, synthesis and dissemination of knowledge and skills which will lead to improvements in the quality of life in the humid tropic region.

ELEMENTS THE EARTH MODEL

Work experience

Entrepreneurial development

Social and community interaction

Internship

Graduation research project

WORK WORK

EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE

WORK WORK

EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE

ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTREPRENEURIAL

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTREPRENEURIAL

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

GRADUATION GRADUATION RESEARCH RESEARCH PROJECTPROJECT

GRADUATION GRADUATION RESEARCH RESEARCH PROJECTPROJECT

Innovations in universitiesIncremental changes

Rwanda, Zambia, South Africa, Ghana

Novel transformationsUniversities in community development

Universities as sources of entrepreneurs

Universities as business incubators

Businesses as university incubators

Managing changePolicy context: vision, urgency, executive leadershipCurriculum: entrepreneurialPedagogy: experientialStudents: leadership and change agentsLocation: problem-basedFunding: incentives, linkagesGovernance: autonomy

RENEWINGAFRICAN AGRICULTURETechnological Opportunities and

Institutional Innovation

Calestous [email protected]

Belfer Center for Science and International AffairsKennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Des Moines, IowaOctober 18, 2006