Communication and public perception of GM crops: the experiences of South-South LA projects shaping a communication strategy.

Communicating agricultural biotechnology and biosafety issues encompasses a spectrum of issues from the factual dissemination of scientific research to societal values and beliefs. This affirms the need for deliberate strategies for biotechnology and biosafety communication to ensure consistency in messaging for the varied stakeholders. Despite remarkable progress in commercialization of GM crops in an increasing number of countries, their adoption in Africa and some Latin-American (LAC) countries remains extremely low. In Brazil, illegal introduction of GM soybeans in 2000 was an experience that has shown the importance of a solid and workable legal framework as well as a robust communication strategy. Nowadays Brazil is the second largest grower of GM crops in the world. A study developed between 2010-2012 in south-south (S-S) LAC partnership on environmental risk assessment (ERA), public perception and communication (1), demonstrated the importance of developing a communication strategic plan that would promote public awareness and stimulate a well-informed public debate on biosafety (2). Based on these achievements a similar S-S project was developed between Brazil, Kenya and Uganda (2014-2016) to share Brazil?s experiences in using the communication strategic plan and science-based information to safely advance with GM crops. This was expected to enable the two African countries to make decisions on GM crops in accordance with their own values and needs without repeating Brazil?s mistakes (3). Much advancement was achieved with this initiative. One of the key lessons learned is the fact that interest groups are similar in all the countries but the power structure differs among the groups. It is therefore important to define a clear communication strategy to ensure delivery of messages that inform the decision-making process on GM crops

Introduction and evaluation of improved banana cultivars for agronomic and yield characteristics in Kenya

Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most important food and cash crops in Kenya. However, most of the cultivars grown particulary the local ones are low yielders and are thus not very suitable for commercial production. To address this constraint, a study was conducted at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Thika to evaluate introduced improved cultivars for agronomic and yield characteristics. The study involved six FHIA and four Cavendish type of bananas obtained from Bioversity International. Different growth and yield parameters werecollected for the first, second and third crop cycles. Cultivar SH3436-9 took the longest time to reach the shooting stage, while SH3640 took the shortest time. FHIA 25 took the longest time from shooting stage tomaturity, while FHIA 23 took the shortest time. FHIA 25 had the highest bunch weight in the first and third crop cycles, while FHIA 17 had the highest weight in the second crop cycle. Overall, GCTCV-119 produced the smallest bunch. For finger length, FHIA 21 and FHIA 25 led in the first and second crop cycle, respectively. Cultivars FHIA 17, FHIA 18 and FHIA 25 were identified as the most promising for commercial production, but further evaluation is required in other zones to establish whether this impressive performances would be sustained

Introduction And Evaluation Of Improved Banana Cultivars For Agronomic And Yield Characteristics In Kenya

Banana ( Musa spp.) is one of the most important food and cash crops in Kenya. However, most of the cultivars grown particulary the local ones are low yielders and are thus not very suitable for commercial production. To address this constraint, a study was conducted at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Thika to evaluate introduced improved cultivars for agronomic and yield characteristics. The study involved six FHIA and four Cavendish type of bananas obtained from Bioversity International. Different growth and yield parameters were collected for the first, second and third crop cycles. Cultivar SH3436-9 took the longest time to reach the shooting stage, while SH3640 took the shortest time. FHIA 25 took the longest time from shooting stage to maturity, while FHIA 23 took the shortest time. FHIA 25 had the highest bunch weight in the first and third crop cycles, while FHIA 17 had the highest weight in the second crop cycle. Overall, GCTCV-119 produced the smallest bunch. For finger length, FHIA 21 and FHIA 25 led in the first and second crop cycle, respectively. Cultivars FHIA 17, FHIA 18 and FHIA 25 were identified as the most promising for commercial production, but further evaluation is required in other zones to establish whether this impressive performances would be sustained.La banane ( Musa spp). Est l'une des nourriture les plus importantes et de production des revenus au Kenya. Cependant, la plupart des cultivars dévéloppées particulièrement local est moins productitif et est moins convenable pour la production commerciale. Pour adresser cette contrainte, une étude a été dirigée à Institut de Recherche Agricole au Kenya, Thika pour évaluer des cultivars améliorés introduits pour les caractéristiques agronomique et de rendement. L'étude a impliqué six FHIA et quatre types de bananes Cavendish obtenues d'INIBAP. Les différentes croissances et nivequx de rendement ont été recueillis pour les premiers deuxièmes et troisièmes cycles de récolte. Le cultivar SH3436-9 a pris le temps le plus long pour atteindre l'étape de l'emergence de rejetons, pendant que SH3640 a pris le temps le plus court. FHIA 25 ont pris le temps le plus long concernant l'emergence de rejetons d'étape à l'échéance, pendant que FHIA 23 a pris le temps le plus court. FHIA 25 a eu le regime de plus haut poids dans le premier et troisième cycle de récolte, pendant que FHIA 17 a eu le poids le plus haut dans le deuxième cycle de récolte. En général, GCTCV-119 a produit le plus petit regime. Pour la longueur de doigts des bananes, FHIA 21 et FHIA 25 ont respectivement mené dans le premier et deuxième cycle de récolte. Les cultivars FHIA 17, FHIA 18 et FHIA 25 ont été identifiés comme le plus promettant pour la production commerciale, mais l'évaluation plus poussée est recmmandée dans les autres zones pour établir si ces performances impressionnantes seraient soutenues