Artemisia, agriculture and malaria in Africa : the interplay of tradition, science and public policy

Drugs developed to replace quinine have lost effectiveness with the development of resistance. This has led to attempts to increase cultivated production of Artemisia in the short run and to develop, through biological and chemical research, synthetic substitutes in the longer run. The resulting juxtaposition of activities and players provides both opportunities and challenges for society. While individual components have been examined, there is little in the way of comprehensive analysis. This paper attempts to weave the many complex and dynamic components -- historical, scientific, technical, economic -- together in order to aid understanding of the issues and facilitate development of informed public/private policies and actions. Although focused on Africa, the main components and issues are global in nature and resolution and relate to more general issues in infectious disease control and economic development. (Author abstract)