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"Technological progress-improvements in the ways that goods and services are produced, marketed, and brought to market-is at the very heart of human advancement and development. It has helped reduce the share of people living in absolute poverty in developing countries from 29 percent in 1990 to 18 percent in 2004." Thanks to Sarah Gibson for the link

"The UK's environment minister says GM crops will help combat hunger in developing countries. But Owen Paterson is wrong"

Meet the iShack, a modern take on an age-old design that is bringing new hope - and light - to the slums of South Africa. Millions of people are unable to afford to move out of slums and shanty towns in sub-Saharan Africa but the development of the iShack is intended to lift their living standards. People living in rickety and makeshift shacks in slum areas can wait for years before they can get connected to the electricity or water grids, and the United Nations estimates that 62 per cent of the urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa lives in slums. Meet the iShack, a modern take on an age-old design that is bringing new hope - and light - to the slums of South Africa. Millions of people are unable to afford to move out of slums and shanty towns in sub-Saharan Africa but the development of the iShack is intended to lift their living standards. People living in rickety and makeshift shacks in slum areas can wait for years before they can get connected to the electricity or water grids, and the United Nations estimates that 62 per cent of the urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa lives in slums. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2259075/Slum-dwellers-South-Africa-given-taste-mod-cons-introduction-environmentally-friendly-iShack.html#ixzz2HTI9EfYr  Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

"Farmers in parts of India are breaking growing records, using less seed, less water, and compost as fertiliser. This ground-breaking method of cultivation, developed in Madagascar, is boosting yields and changing lives for the farmers. Norman Uphoff, professor at Cornell University, explains how it is done For more on this subject, see John Vidal's report in the Observer Food Monthly on Sunday"

"Group chaired by former UN secretary general urges farmers to shake fear of the unknown and adopt new technologies" Excellent argument arguing for the development of GM crops in Africa. Will be useful for your homewrok next 1/2 term.

Solar

"Genetic modification has so far mainly been confined to developing crops that tolerate herbicides and resist pests. It has done little to increase yields"

"Space institute to float internet-transmitting balloons over remote Amazon regions to help rural communities get online"

In a village in India's poorest state, Bihar, farmers are growing world record amounts of rice - with no GM, and no herbicide. Is this one solution to world food shortages? * India's rice revolution - audio slideshow

"Golden rice, a new strain that boosts vitamin A levels and reduces blindness in developing countries, is about to be sown in the Philippines - and is the new battleground crop"