Editorial Viewpoint: 'Making science and technology work for the poor'

摘要

In this viewpoint piece I want to argue that, as currently organised, research and development (R & D) systems - both public and private - do not necessarily respond well to the needs of poor people in developing countries. Despite all the hype about the potentials of Science and Technology for reducing poverty, there are many missed opportunities. Very often poor and marginalised people across the global south do not end up benefiting from science and technology (S & T). How then should we rethink R & D so that S & T can help in the important challenge to 'make poverty history'? I want to suggest three reasons why currently S & T does not always work for the poor, and illustrate these with three examples from developing country agriculture.