Many poor farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer heavily from crop losses due to the stem borer insect pest. Insecticides are often unaffordable and the "insect resistant maize for Africa" (IRMA) project was developed to produce resistant maize that could adapt to different climates through conventional breeding or the controversial use of genetic engineering. The independent author gives his impartial description of the project, providing balanced arguments on this debate about agricultural development policy and the use of modern plant breeding techniques.