The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa

SOURCE : http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/20504/new_harvest.html

The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa

Book, Oxford University Press

January 2011

Author: Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development; Director, Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; Principal Investigator, Agricultural Innovation in Africa

Image taken from agricorner.com

Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Agricultural Innovation in Africa; Science, Technology, and Globalization; Science, Technology, and Public Policy

OVERVIEW

African agriculture is currently at a crossroads, at which persistent food shortages are compounded by threats from climate change. But, as this book argues, Africa faces three major opportunities that can transform its agriculture into a force for economic growth: advances in science and technology; the creation of regional markets; and the emergence of a new crop of entrepreneurial leaders dedicated to the continent’s economic improvement.

Filled with case studies from within Africa and success stories from developing nations around the world, The New Harvest outlines the policies and institutional changes necessary to promote agricultural innovation across the African continent. Incorporating research from academia, government, civil society, and private industry, the book suggests multiple ways that individual African countries can work together at the regional level to develop local knowledge and resources, harness technological innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, increase agricultural output, create markets, and improve infrastructure.

The New Harvest is a product of the Agricultural Innovation in Africa Project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Features:

• Integrates research and policy ideas from an international panel of some of the most influential thinkers on agricultural development
• Presents enactable policy ideas for advancing agriculture throughout Africa, at the national and regional levels
• Includes a wealth of case study material from Green Revolution and educational initiatives in India, China, and throughout Latin America

Download the entire book here:
http://belfercenter.org/files/TheNewHarvest-rev.pdf

Individual chapters are available for download below.

Chapters

• Introduction
• The Growing Economy
• Advances in Science, Technology, and Engineering
• Agricultural Innovation Systems
• Enabling Infrastructure
• Human Capacity
• Entrepreneurship
• Governing Innovation
• Conclusions and the Way Ahead