University of Edinburgh, UK.
J Dev Stud. 2010;46(6):1026-46. doi: 10.1080/00220380903151033.
This paper provides an historical survey of the evolution of rice technology in China, from the traditional farming system to genetically modified rice today. Using sociotechnological analytical framework, it analyses rice technology as a socio-technical ensemble - a complex interaction of material and social elements, and discusses the specificity of technology development and its socio-technical outcomes. It points to two imperatives in rice variety development: wholesale transporting agricultural technology and social mechanism to developing countries are likely lead to negative consequences; indigenous innovation including deploying GM technology for seed varietal development and capturing/cultivating local knowledge will provide better solutions.
本文通过社会技术分析框架，对中国水稻技术的发展进行了历史考察，从传统的农业系统到今天的转基因水稻。它分析了水稻技术作为一个社会技术集合体——物质和社会要素的复杂相互作用，并讨论了技术发展的特殊性及其社会技术成果。文中指出了在水稻品种开发中的两个当务之急：大规模向发展中国家输送农业技术和社会机制可能会带来负面影响；包括部署转基因技术进行种子品种开发和挖掘/培养当地知识在内的本土创新将提供更好的解决方案。
