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WORKSHOP ON CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES SURROUNDING GMO’S WINDHOEK – 18 TH TO 19 TH AUGUST 2016 FARMERS PERSPECTIVE FEEDING THE NATION By George B. Rhodes. More information required!!. Why making GM crops ? Who produces these crops ? Where are these crops grown ?
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WORKSHOP ON CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES SURROUNDING GMO’S WINDHOEK – 18TH TO 19TH AUGUST 2016 FARMERS PERSPECTIVE FEEDING THE NATION By George B. Rhodes
More information required!! • Why making GM crops ? • Who produces these crops ? • Where are these crops grown ? • What are the potential benefits ? • Are these crops appropriate for developing countries ? • What are the potential risk of these plants ? • Are there any reasons to avoid these products ? • How can we make use of this technology ? • What mechanisms is in place to ensure a proper Regulatory framework ?
Concerns !!! • Does this really contribute to feeding the world or simply benefit the developers of these varieties • What happen to local varieties – in particular small scale farmers who depends on farmer saved seed who cannot afford it • Generating superior plant varieties – does it really expands the possibilities beyond the limits imposed by conventional plant breeding • Is the cross breeding between the same or very closely related species being regulated ?
Concerns • POTENTIAL RISKS – Clarity needed • Unintentional introduction of allergens • transgenes escaping from cultivated crops to wild relatives • potential for pest to evolve resistance to toxins produced by GM crops • risk of these toxins affecting non-target organisms • wholesomeness and health status – does it leave material inside the human and animal body – organ damage – what about pregnant woman • Can the contamination (if any) be reversed – permanent
Concerns !!!! • GMO’s cross pollinate and seeds can travel can - we clean up our contaminated gene pool – huge losses for organic and non-GM farmers • Increase in herbicide use – Round up ready crops, designed to survive applications of Round up herbicide • Does Genetic engineering creates dangerous side effects – mixing genes from unrelated species – unpredictable side affects – new toxins, allergens etc • Industry – Funded Research designed to avoid finding problems and how it being distorted or denied “tobacco science” • Independent research and reporting is attacked and suppressed
Concerns!! • Is this technology safe for the environment – birds, insects marine ecosystems, soil organisms • Does it really increase yields – feeding more people in developing countries • GM food cited as economical, despite initial higher cost of the seed – reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides – reducing manpower needed to grow these crops- improved financial gains • Improved quality ! Longer shelve life – ability to withstand weather fluctuations – still yields and quality • High content of a specific nutrient – Vitamin A rich golden Rice
SUMMARY !!!! • Ability to trigger an allergy in humans – genes mixed across different species • Damaged to Biodiversity – extinction of certain organisms • GM foods are modified using bacteria and viruses – emerging of new diseases • Lack of Scientific studies on the long term health impact • Concept of “SUNSTANCIAL EQUIVALENCE” debatable • Finally why still having overwhelming opposition to Field Trials of GM crops in many countries • Any of these gene-edited crops slipping through Regulatory Net??
