The Des Moines Register published a 7-part series on Africa by reporter Philip Brasher who traveled to Kenya and South Africa to obtain information for the series. It focused on corn (maize in Africa) and the role of biotechnology, both the political and yield aspects, in providing food for sub-Sahara Africa. This area is short on quality soils, has poor rainfall distribution and a rapidly expanding population.

In this article the role of the use of biotechnology to meet the needs of Africa is questioned, specifically because it may place far more emphasis on what biotechnology can actually deliver and the need for exploring the role of more needed alternatives which could provide workable solutions.