Are GMOs the solution to food insecurity?

ROB PARKER and MILDRED JOAQUIM



Scientists worry about whether the world’s population is increasing faster than our ability to feed ourselves.

As farmland becomes increasingly scarce, some argue, humanity will come under increasing pressure to meet the demand for food. Some companies use this as a rationale to produce or sell genetically modified food as the solution.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) were introduced into the market during the mid 1990s and have been a source of controversy ever since. GMO’s have not undergone long term tests so the truth is that we do not know the effects of sustained use.

It is perhaps not ironic that Monsanto, the largest producer of GMO’s just happens to be the largest distributor of pesticides. Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide can devastate plants not modified to tolerate the herbicide. It formerly helped farmers solve their weed problems but found over time that the plants which end up being resistant to Roundup are genetically created by Monsanto. But even this promise falls short as even GMO corn has become less and less resistant to it.

What than happen if this company becomes a monopoly in the GMO and pesticides sector? What happens to the farmers that that have to buy seeds from Monsanto every year, as our traditional foods are replaced by GMOs?

Are they going to raise their price when they corner the market as monopolies tend to do?

Many critics say Africa has since become a GMO ‘dumping site’ when given relief food by foreign countries or the UN. According to NGO Christian Aid, in 1998 Monsanto sent an appeal to all Africa’s Heads of State, entitled ‘Let The Harvest Begin’, which called upon them to endorse GM crops.

Monsanto was following the advice of the world’s leading PR company to avoid health and environmental issues in the GM debate, such as the absence of independent safety testing, and to shift the debate to focus on supposed benefits for the poor. Western ‘greens’ should be singled out for demonisation for preventing biotech corporations from ‘feeding the world’.

Michael Gaweseb from the Namibia Consumer Trust (NCT) also rubbished the notion that GMOs represent an answer to food security.

“No chance that GMO can solve problem of poverty, it requires having a mixed economy. Meaning, economic growth that creates employment, but most importantly, having social protection systems. GMO has associated itself with deception by feeding people food which could affect their health negatively. It is more a matter of control of food by the private sector. In any case, the pricing of maize in Namibia is based on prices in other countries, not reflecting the local circumstances. The notion that GMO represent a ‘cure’ for food security is a myth.”

Kevin Roussel, an anti-GMO campaigner for the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference said new genetically engineered seed known as ‘suicide’ or ‘terminator’ seeds, which were engineered to be sterile, forced poor farmers to repurchase seed each year from the multinationals who have patented these ‘genetic use restriction technologies’.

According to research done by Namibia Consumer Trust, Namibian maize meal, which was tested for GMOs at the University of Free State, all three major brands were found to contain GMO. Ace instant porridge contained 52,82%, White Star 2,27% and Top Score 1,09%.

Managing Director of Namib Mills Ian Collard said by telephone that GMOs represent a tough decision for the world, with farmland under pressure, but agreed that not enough was known about GMOs. He stressed that the percentage of GMO found in Top Score was close to a mere 1%.

When asked if Namib Mills does internal testing of its products he said that if the company suspects something may be amiss with the product they will conduct internal tests. He added that Namib Mils, after negotiations with farmers, have decided that the company reserves the right to test for GMO. If they are present, Namib Mills reserves the right to refuse those foods.

Gaweseb said, “GMO is certainly not safe for human consumption. That is why countries such as Kenya, Peru, etc, banned GMO. The maize industry seemingly believes they are untouchable because maize is a staple food and hope consumers will never be able to conduct a successful consumer boycott.”