ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on local experience with the dynamics of GM crops that embeds in local practices but not in the technology. GM crops have precipitated acute political and scientific controversy arguably on a scale without precedent in modern times, resulting in real disruption to some of the world's largest companies and to the plans of incumbent governments. Since the second world war, crop yields have increased dramatically through three routes: improved hybrid varieties as a result of intensive selection breeding; the use of more effective agrochemicals and altered agronomic practice. The development of hybrid crops in agriculture yield variety of cereal grains, a central plank of the Green Revolution. Hybrid varieties of crops such as rice, wheat and maize were researched and developed by public agricultural research centres namely the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) in Mexico, the International Rice Research Initiative (IRRI) in the Philippines, and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
