In an interview on marker-assisted selection (MAS) based on a study by the United Nations FAO, working group chairperson Shivaji Pandey outlines some of the promising features of this technology, in addition to the drawbacks, one of which is the high cost associated with its use. The most prominant "plus", however, is that MAS technology is free from the controversial issues that plague the use of GMOs and, therefore, many of the regulatory restrictions that prevent their use in developed countries. When asked about the potential for MAS to reduce poverty in developing countries, his answer was more cautious than conclusive, indicating that obviously investment into agriculture and rural development "must be at the heart of any strategy for hunger and poverty reduction."
Sources:
Read the whole interview by E. Northoff: Benefits and Limits of an Important Biotech Tool. FAO Newsroom, July 24, 2007.
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