GMO: Delegates brace for heated debate

By Kepher Otieno

More than 800 international delegates are set to meet in Nairobi this week to debate whether Governments should adopt genetically modified foods (GMOs).

The meeting follows an animated international noise on the health impacts associated with GMOs even though some countries have embraced the idea as viable. Others deem it an affront to organic agriculture.

This is why a number of agricultural organisations have retreated to global consultations with the primary aim to establish how farmers and countries perceive the idea and the possible health risks GMO products bores.

With most countries, especially the developing nations faced with challenges of recurring drought, which has pushed them into food deficits, it would be interesting to see key resolutions the delegates will reach.

Already, a number of organisations under international federation of organic movements (Ifoam) have indicated willingness to object attempts to shift from organic farming to GMO technologies.

While on a tour of some of the successful organic projects in Nyanza and Western, some eight delegates led by Ifoam President Andre Leu declared that they would not allow technology to outdo the natural ecosystems.

They were appalled that some few pockets of multinational companies involved in massive production of GMOs seeds were making frantic efforts to allegedly bribe Government officials to adapt GMOproducts, especially in Africa.

Delegations

Mr Helmy Abouleish, who is the Managing Director of the Bio-dynamic Organisation, which has won an international award, kicked off the debate urging countries to reject GMO products as a solution to reduce poverty.

‘’You can’t tell us to embrace GMOs and we don’t even know its health impact of on the eco-systems and human,’’ claimed Aboluleish.

Organic agriculture could contribute significantly to reduce Green House Gases discharges and seize carbon in soils and biomass, as well as contribute to the mitigation of climate change, which can be measured as an auxiliary benefit to its primary goal of sustainable land use.

The primary goal is achieved by gains in soil productivity, consecutive food security, biodiversity conservation and many other benefits, which cannot be realised if the countries over relied on GMO food production.

The delegates emphasised the importance of policymakers to recognize the potential of organic farming and develop proper programs for using the potential to bolster agricultural production change.

The delegates included, Bern ward Geier, Katrin Seidel and Joseph Wilhelm, from Germany, claimed that with the world’s population growing at a faster rate there is need to explore all avenues to promote industrial agriculture.

The international conference slated for United Nations Environmental will look at health and food safety in all spheres of organic livestock production systems, innovation in organic farming, as well as developments in value-driven additions.

But even as the delegates meet there is conflicting interests of culture which could affect the adoption of GMO products because some traditions believe in indigenous products and abhors the modern technology in respect to food productions.