Matthew Schnurr's new monograph is an important read for anyone interested in African agriculture, development, technological change and the ongoing controversy over genetically modified (GM) crops. Clearly written, richly empirical and intelligently analysed, Africa's Gene Revolution offers the most comprehensive interrogation to date of the promise that GM crops hold for improving the lives of smallholder farmers. Schnurr examines 10 case studies associated with two ‘generations’ of GM crops in Africa: first-generation crops that were originally designed for US agriculture and subsequently adapted for use in Africa, and an emergent, second generation of staple crops that were historically ignored by profit-oriented biotechnology firms but are extremely important to smallholder farmers. Examples of the former include insect-resistant cotton in South Africa and Burkina Faso, while examples of the latter include a genetically modified banana in Uganda and the ‘water-efficient maize for Africa’ (WEMA) project.

Based on a decade of study, Schnurr approaches the gene revolution through a political ecology lens that is sensitive to context, multi-scalar processes and political-economic interests. This multidisciplinary conceptual-cum-methodological framework distinguishes his analysis from most studies of GM crop technologies, which take a strictly disciplinary approach and favour a singular methodology and set of measures, leading to partial and unrealistic assumptions about farmers’ circumstances and behaviour. (Relatedly, his synthetic overview of a political ecology framework, aimed at the non-specialist, is one of the best I have seen.) It also allows Schnurr freedom to draw on and triangulate a wide range of evidence types and sources, from his own field visits and interviews with farmers, scientists, government officials and NGO activists, to project documents and scientific studies, which he artfully explains to the reader.

Schnurr's most valuable contribution lies in his careful assessment of the existing evidence against the yardstick that matters most: how well the GM crops that have been developed for Africa fit smallholder farmers’ needs, circumstances and preferences. He examines the utility of particular GM crops in the context of farmers’ asset bases, ways of doing things, food preferences and tolerance for risk. He also considers these new crops’ gendered labour demands. In his most in-depth case studies, Schnurr employs interviews, focus groups and ranking exercises with farmers to analyse how a GM crop has worked (or is likely to work) and who is likely to benefit most in practice rather than simply accepting the claims of biotechnology's cheerleaders or naysayers. To his credit, Schnurr is open to the possibility that GM crop technologies, especially the newest ones, could address smallholder farmers’ primary concerns under the right conditions. He then explores whether those conditions exist.

While many books lose steam as they come to a close, the opposite is true of Africa's Gene Revolution. In a provocative conclusion, Schnurr confronts the tough questions about where to go from here in a debate that remains deeply polarised. Schnurr proposes that rather than being top-down and donor-driven, as is currently the case, the search for better agricultural technologies should follow a decentralised model that starts from the bottom up and involves technology co-development by African farmers and scientists. This would mean doing many more and much smaller projects, i.e. developing technologies to fit local circumstances and practices. Other, non-technological issues, such as institutional support – especially agricultural extension – would also need to be addressed. It is only this sort of grounded, holistic approach to technological change, contends Schnurr, that holds promise for smallholder farmers.