GMOs: Firms fear globalisation

East African Business Week, Kampala, UGANDA.

Sunday, 20 January 2013 20:57 Kenan Kalagho 

As the global population continues to increase, researchers around the world are striving to find ways of how to increase food production through modern ways. East African Business Week’s Kenan Kalagho spoke to Prof. Christopher Leaver (pictured), the senior Scientific Advisor to the Bioscience for Farming in Africa about their programme. Here are excerpts:

What is Bioscience for farming in Africa?
This is a programme specifically designed to encourage informed discussion about the potential application of biosciences and genetics.
It also address the recent advances in science research, how they can help bring positive change on farms and in communities in order to create a vibrant, sustainable and diverse agricultural sector.
Why did you decide to launch your programmes in only four African countries?
These countries were chosen because it was realized that there are a lot of opportunities in them that would help make small scale farmers grow crops and get excess for sale so as to increase their economy and invest in their children’s’ education.
There has been some misconception about GM crops, what’s your take?
I know about GM crops and I know where they grow and if I knew any problem of health risk I would be the first to point it out.
There are challenges about population growth and we are completely dependent on crops to feed us. In Africa the yield have been flat for a long time while the population continues to grow, GM crops will have a role to play in order to beat the growing population demand.
Why has there been a long debate by policy makers on whether or not to accept and adopt GM crops?
It is because there are a lot of NGO’s who don’t like globalization and dislike multinational corporations.
They have thus denied people the opportunity to increase their income. There is also lack of education and understanding about GM crops but if we can raise the quality of lives of people let us try it, people have the choice.
Do you think policy makers and the public at large have the right information regarding the new GM technology to crop breeding?
There is lack of knowledge with regards to GM crops as this will lead to increase in yield.
Pests resistant crops can be developed through GM technology but also improve efficiency of specific metabolism. So we need to give the people an opportunity to look at the technology and see if they can adopt it.
What would be your advice to African countries regarding the adoption of GM crops in beating the food security in the region?
People are dying because of hunger, we need to give them the capacity and an opportunity to let them grow their own food to feed themselves and their families but also let them improve their income as well.
It was reported that rats that had consumed GM corn developed tumors over time which proved that GM crops have diverse effects on human being. What is your comment on that?
There have been a lot of reports which proved the said research was wrong and this according to the media was not news, however what I can say is that Americans have been eating GM for the past 16 years and they haven’t had any unhealthy symptoms.