Genetically engineered (GE), virus resistant papaya was widely and rapidly adopted by Hawaiian growers in the late 1990's. Yet, developing countries that stand to benefit from this technology have failed to approve GE papaya, despite the fact that it is close to an ideal pro-poor genetically engineered crop. In Thailand, where papaya is a staple food, virus infection rates in some areas are as high as 100%. There, GE, virus-resistant papaya has become the 'poster child', both literally and figuratively, for the debate over agricultural biotechnology and is perceived as a gateway to other genetically engineered crops. In this collection of reports and articles I examine the political and social factors that have stymied the technology, focusing on the case in Thailand. Each chapter was written with the goal of increasing awareness of this issue among different audiences in a distinct style that targets a specified readership.