The implications of Chapter 14 are twofold: for developing countries and for a careful and considerate use of natural resources. Chapter 14 is a key point in the document known as "Agenda 21", an international agreement resulting from the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) that came to be known as the Earth Summit, and which took place from 3rd–14th June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The chapter in question, entitled "Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development" states (pessimistically) that "the capacity of available resources and technologies to satisfy the demands [...] for food and other agricultural commodities remains uncertain. Agriculture has to meet this challenge, mainly by increasing production on land already in use and by avoiding further encroachment on land that is only marginally suitable for cultivation." A strategy paper pertaining to East and South Africa given out by the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC) succinctly reveals the crux of the matter: "The sustainable management of resources is a prerequisite for economic and social development as a whole."

Maize accounts for a quarter of the calorie intake of the people in Africa.

This is one reason why the ETH Centre for International Agriculture (ZIL) (1) and the Swiss Forum on International Agricultural Research (SFIAR) (2) held their Annual Meeting under the motto of "Sustainability – networked thinking continued. Towards a New Paradigm in Agricultural Research, the Challenge of Sustainable Development". Silvia Dorn, Professor of Applied Entomology at the ETH Institute of Plant Sciences and member of the board of ZIL says that, "The goal is optimal quality and the quantity of nutrition." In order to do this, she adds, "we need to investigate and look at the entire nutritional chain". That the latter is an important prerequisite, is confirmed by Urs Scheidegger, lecturer at the Swiss College of Agriculture in Zollikofen and Co-President of SFIAR.

Drought resistance and higher crop yields

How this could be – and is partially being – achieved is explained and described at the meeting by two speakers. Marianne Bänziger, ETH graduate and Senior Scientist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Research Center (Cimmyt) in Harare (Zimbabwe), and Joseph K. Mukiibi, Professor of Plant Sciences at the Makerere University in Kampala (Uganda) and one-time President of the Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa. "Fifty per cent of the people in Africa live off less than a dollar per day, and eighty per cent has less than two dollars. And the numbers of these people has increased," says Marianne Bänziger. One important research goal must therefore be to secure adequate and affordable food supplies for the entire population. "Maize harvest failures must be minimised and the development of resistant strains must be fostered. Because maize means life."

IIn tropical regions 17 per cent of the maize harvest is destroyed each year by drought. Scientists at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Research Center seek out and study plants that are drought resistant. Pictures: CIMMYT/Mexico

Marianne Bänziger tells participants of first successes. In small steps she has succeeded in cultivating two drought resistant strains of maize. The yield of these strains, "Grace" and "Zm521", are between 30 and 50 per cent higher, as "Science" reported in October 2001 (3). Currently, the agronomist is working with small farmers to develop a maize strain that is drought tolerant as well as tolerant of low of nitrogen in the soil feed.

"Co-operation with local farmers is tremendously important," says Joseph K. Mukiibi. Many current problems are the results of logistical errors. This is why a re-organisation of agricultural research is necessary. Exactly how this should be tackled is still open to debate. "I cannot answer this question," says Mukiibi.

"Africa needs biotechnology"

This question was not answered either by the between-talks poster session (4). Nevertheless, ideas abound. Researchers from the University of Zurich, for example, were looking at the issue of the liberalised market and asked themselves what role local institutions must play; ETH scientists analysed the information flow of new data; and agronomists at the Swiss College of Agriculture Zollikofen presented new management concepts for companies of the future. Another part of the poster session was devoted to the latest results of plant science research. ETH researchers, for example, showed how the iron and zinc can be better absorbed by rice or how cassava be made immune to viruses pathogens. More than one presented poster dealt with questions of livestock farming or pest control.

"It is important that the farmers can decide for themselves what they want to plant," says Marianne Bänziger. Even whether the seed should be genetically improved or not. "Every country has the right to choose scientific technique – or not, as the case may be." Joseph K. Mukiibi is more reserved. However, he too finds that "Africa needs biotechnology".