 Our answer the question -- “Can GM crops feed the poor”  Remember 70% of the food insecure in the World are farmers, farm workers and rural landless  Currently there are 2 major stances in the world concerning GM  In theory, GM crops are the best alternative (GM advocates)  In theory, GM crops are a dangerous alternative (precautionary principle) **  Both groups spoke for the small farmer—  where was the voice of the small farmer in this issue?

 We did not make any assumptions as to whether GM maize would help smallholders in South Africa.  Experience throughout the world tells us that technologies are adopted when there is an appropriate enabling environment **  The goal is to find out what farmers think about the technology in their communities and their ideas about the enabling environment

 There are cultural & power issues.  Farmers organize knowledge differently than politicians and scientists  Farmers and scientists have to learn how to communicate with each other, just putting them in a meeting is of little use  The best way to facilitate communication about a technology is around a common activity.  Surveys are not very useful  Surveys assume that the respondents are capable of and willing to answer & are a poor tool for evaluating new technologies  Our approach is a “Community of Practice”

 A group of stakeholders *which has a group of farmer experimenters at the center  Use their (the farmers) experiences to shape discussions on the use and development of technologies (& policies?) to help small farmers  This will take the discussion out of the theoretical and into the practical domain  We are not promoting a technological package.*

 Local varieties, hybrids, BT, roundup ready and stacked varieties  Farmer training is the “compensation” farmers receive for devoting their time to the project  Reflections on the trials by farmers and other stakeholders  You will hear the details of this experience today & tomorrow

 Can involving small holder farmers, researchers and stakeholders at all levels in on-farm research  help us to clarify our thinking about technological innovation and small farm maize production  Especially has it changed our thinking about the challenges and opportunities that small farmers have when considering improved maize technologies.  The answer for me and many of our producers is yes.  We want to know your answer.