REDBIO México 2010

Folio: 316
Tipo de presentación: Oral
Tema: Otro
Este trabajo se presentará en "Presentaciones Libres 9: Biotecnología y Sociedad" el Miercoles dentro del horario 10:00 a 11:20

Mujeres algodoneras y sus experiencias y percepciones con variedades transgénicas: Un projecto piloto en Colombia

Patricia Zambrano * (1), Jorge H. Maldonado (2), Sandra L. Mendoza (2), Lorena Ruiz (3), Luz Amparo Fonseca (3), Iván Cardona (3).
* Autor para correspondencia (Corresponding author) p.zambrano@cgiar.org

1- International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI, Washington DC; 2- Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia; 3- Confederación Colombiana del Algodón – CONALGODÓN. Bogotá, Colombia

RESUMEN (ABSTRACT)
"It has been widely documented that addressing gender differences and inequalities can have positive effects over poverty and development. Despite this fact, and only with some few notable exceptions, researchers in the area of impact evaluation of crop biotechnology have only marginally explored gender in their work. This study focuses on exploring the differences among men and women as adopters and users of transgenic cotton. We developed a qualitative approach that will guide future qualitative work to assess the impact of gender differences on biotechnology. The project was done in Colombia in the main cotton producing regions of the country where a handful of transgenic varieties have been in the market for the past six years. The pilot study shows that there are key gender differences that need to be addressed and studied. Technologies that can reduce the use of pesticides can be perceived as advantageous for women farmers that need to hire male labor for insecticide application. Similarly, technologies that potentially reduce manual weeding, particularly if women and children are the ones in charge of this back breaking activity, can be especially attractive to women and their families. Despite these potential benefits of available technologies, the lack of adequate information about the management of transgenic crops, widespread for both male and female farmers, can be affecting disproportionally more female than male farmers. Taking into account these gender differences can make policy recommendations more focused and effective as additional income in hands of women farmers, in comparison to men, may have a wider impact in their family nutrition, education, and health."