MANY countries in the world, especially the poor developing ones, are in a dilemma. As a result of environmental pressures and the global push to preserve biodiversity, such developing countries are cautious about opening up new areas for development. This is because they would incur economic threats in the form of trade barriers and import bans from the more developed nations if they do not conform.

At the same time, they are struggling to bring development to their people. They were promised technologies to help them improve productivity on the limited land that they have developed but such promises were seldom delivered.