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Opinions archive results 1-16 of 16 in Agriculture & Environment and Indigenous knowledge
Local engagement key to bringing biotech to Africa
Moves to introduce biotechnology to Africa must consider the needs and values of local people, argues socioeconomist Wilhemina Quaye.
The forgotten farm labourer
Helping farm labourers access new technologies and knowledge should be a priority for policymakers, argues innovation expert Anil Gupta.
Could biodiversity negotiations stifle research?
Biodiversity negotiations will greatly impact academics, and scientists must speak up before it is too late, warn Sikina Jinnah and Stefan Jungcurt.
OPINION | 30 January 2009 | EN
Lessons from the Ottoman Empire
Two centuries ago the Ottoman rulers of Turkey adopted technology, management and methods of learning from Europe. That experience has lessons for today's developing countries, says Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.
OPINION | 3 October 2007 | EN
Room for traditional medicine in Ghana?
Traditional healers can help deliver key health services in Ghana, argues Kofi Akosah-Sarpong.
OPINION | 16 May 2007 | EN
How local knowledge can boost scientific studies
More should be done to strengthen ties between formal scientific research and informal grassroots innovations, says Anil Gupta.
OPINION | 15 March 2007 | EN
Saving languages to save species
Ehsan Masood argues that saving rare languages could help efforts to protect and sustainably use biological resources.
OPINION | 3 April 2006 | EN
Does Africa need benefit-sharing more than patents?
SciDev.Net readers debate ways for Africa to benefit from research that makes use of its natural resources.
OPINION | 9 March 2006 | EN
Should Africa reject science it does not own?
A call for Africa to reject 'enslaving' Western technologies has provoked diverse reactions across the continent and beyond.
OPINION | 24 February 2006 | EN
African science must regain control of local resources
Kazhila Chinsembu says Africa risks being 'enslaved' by technology it doesn't own and urges African nations to regain control over their biological resources and indigenous knowledge.
OPINION | 1 February 2006 | EN
Indigenous knowledge and rights must be protected
Alejandro Argumedo explains the importance of indigenous knowledge, and says the debate over its use needs to be changed.
OPINION | 12 July 2004 | EN
Indigenous knowledge in the shopping basket
Malegapuru Makgoba says that the emerging market for a traditional South African vegetable demonstrates that science and indigenous knowledge can combine to contribute to national development.
OPINION | 8 June 2004 | EN
In defence of traditional Chinese medicine
Tianhan Xue and Rustum Roy argue that traditional Chinese medicine texts can provide hints to effective remedies for specific diseases.
OPINION | 2 May 2003 | EN
The promises and perils of ‘farmer innovation’
William Critchley and Kithinji Mutunga say that programmes supporting innovation by small farmers have much to offer, but warn that such programmes should not try to accomplish too much too quickly.
OPINION | 23 August 2002 | EN
Why we must fight biopiracy
Martin Khor argues that a major effort is needed to prevent intellectual property rules from undermining the indigenous knowledge that is essential for sustainable development.
OPINION | 23 August 2002 | EN
Curtain falls on hopes of legal bioprospecting
Joshua Rosenthal argues that the termination of a US research project of indigenous plants in Mexico may reduce scientists' ability to develop sustainable uses of biodiversity for local and global benefit.
OPINION | 7 March 2002 | EN
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Missed the Global Health Forum 2009?
Our blog, by SciDev.Net columnist Priya Shetty, will fill you in, as will our interview with the Global Forum's Gill Samuels
