John Afele obtained his doctorate at the University of Guelph in Canada, specializing in crop improvement and biotechnology. He was also a fellow of the Science and Technology Agency of Japan, stationed at the National Institute of Agrobiological Resources in Tsukuba. He has served as a member of the executive committee of the Global Knowledge Partnership, and has been engaged by major development institutions to define aspects of the knowledge society, especially as they may apply to global development. [Editor]