It is becoming increasingly apparent that biotechnology offers promise for some of the problems facing agriculture in Africa. One such example has exploited on the one hand innovative, advanced and appropriate technology and on the other extensive experience with subsistence farmers and well-informed local knowledge. This case provides an example of how publicly funded collaboration between an advanced research laboratory and an agricultural research institution in Africa has provided a potential solution to rice yellow mottle virus disease in lowland/irrigated rice in West Africa. The issues that have arisen through this research are relevant to many potential applications of biotechnology. These include access to innovative technologies and their integration with conventional solutions, an awareness of socio-economic issues and institutional capacity to deal with biosafety, intellectual property, ethics, public concern and agricultural policy issues. Intrinsically important in reporting these examples is the provision of factual and balanced viewpoints on all sides which will serve as a guide to African countries in the development, testing and application of biotechnologies that are free from public concern.