Robert Paarlberg

About the author: Robert Paarlberg is an associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University and a professor of political science at Wellesley College. He writes frequently on international agricultural and environmental policy. His special interests include food and population policy and environmental protection in Africa.

Questioning the safety of genetically modified food crops and the ethics of selling them is a luxury that only the developed world can afford. Developing countries have much to gain from adopting such crops, including increased farm productivity and reduced environmental pollution. They do face some risks, including limits imposed by seed companies' intellectual property rights, loss of biodiversity, and poor regulation due to weak governmental institutions. On balance, however, developing countries are likely to receive far more benefit...