The Role of NGOs in Bioscience Policy-Making for Food Security

The project will study the role of NGOs in promotion or discouragement of GM technology and thus contributes to Core Funding Area of Genetics ‘Can GM Crops Help to Feed the World?’, and its two questions of ‘scientifically established nutritional, social and environmental consequences of GM crops, particularly for small landholders’(1) and ‘barriers to the acceptance and use of GM crops’(3)(JTF, 2011). Planned for two years, it will provide knowledge of how policies on GM crops in relation to food security are being shaped and lobbied in practice. In the first year, we will research these processes in 7 selected countries in Africa and the EU. During the second year the research will carry on understanding these processes in the USA and 3 selected BRIC countries (China, India and Russia). The data will be collected with the research methods of the social sciences, and will be analysed with contemporary methods, such as content analysis, social network analysis). This proposed comprehensive, balanced and neutral approach is more than ever needed since there is no previous research of this kind on the topic of GM debates and NGOs, while NGOs are influential actors in these debates. The project will produce a study report, a summary briefing document, three academic publications to be published in top academic journals and an academic monograph. The research results will be presented at international arenas to target academic audiences, members of NGOs and policy-makers. An important part of this research is a design and delivery of a series of academic seminars to be delivered at the Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge, and academic presentations to be made at international events. Thus, this research contributes to greater knowledge about recent world debates on genetics and food security and promote more open and inclusive approach to be adopted by all sides of the debate. It meets all the criteria and follows the behests of Sir John Templeton.