U.S. using food crisis to boost bio-engineered crops
Pastor Dale Morgan
U.S. using food crisis to boost bio-engineered crops*
By Stephen J. Hedges
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has slipped a controversial
ingredient into the $770 million aid package it recently proposed to
ease the world food crisis, adding language that would promote the use
of genetically modified crops in food-deprived countries.
The value of genetically modified, or bio-engineered, food is an
intensely disputed issue in the U.S. and in Europe, where many countries
have banned foods made from genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
Proponents say that GMO crops can result in higher yields from plants
that are hardier in harsh climates, like those found in hungry African
nations.
"We certainly think that it is established fact that a number of
bio-engineered crops have shown themselves to increase yields through
their drought resistance and pest resistance," said Dan Price, a food
aid expert on the White House's National Security Council.
Problems anticipated
Opponents of GMO crops say they can cause unforeseen medical problems.
They also contend that the administration's plan is aimed at helping
American agribusinesses.
"This is a hot topic now with the food crisis," said Ronnie Cummins,
national director of the Organic Consumers Association. "I think it's
pretty obvious at this point that genetically engineered crops—they may
do a number of things, but they don't increase yields. There are no
commercialized crops that are designed to deal with the climate crisis."
President George W. Bush proposed the food package two weeks ago as aid
groups and the UN World Food Program pressed Western governments to
provide additional funds to bridge the gap caused by rising food prices.
The aid must win congressional approval.
It would direct the U.S. Agency for International Development to spend
$150 million of the total aid package on development farming, which
would include the use of GMO crops.
The U.S. is the UN food program's largest donor, providing nearly half
the help the group receives from governments. It gave about $1.1 billion
to the WFP in both 2006 and 2007. The WFP provided $2.6 billion in aid
in 2006.
In April, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suggested at a Peace Corps
conference that "we need to look again at some of the issues concerning
technology and food production. I know that GMOs are not popular around
the world, but there are places that drought-resistant crops should be a
part of the answer."
Some aid organizations agree that it is time to consider GMO crops.
"I think it's good, that it should be part of the package," said Mark
Rosegrant, an environment and technology specialist with the
International Food Policy Research Institute. "It shouldn't be the only
thing in the package. It is now showing quite a bit of potential in
starting to address some of the long-term stresses, drought and heat."
But Noah Zerbe, an assistant professor of government and politics at
Humboldt State University in California, said that GMO crops might not
be appropriate for developing countries.
"You get fantastic yields if you're able to apply fertilizer and water
at the right times, and herbicides to go along with that," Zerbe said.
"Unfortunately, most African farmers, they can't afford these inputs."
Africa ambivalent
The U.S. tried to introduce GMO crops to Africa in 2002, with mixed
results. European Union opposition was part of the reason that several
African nations that year balked at an offer of U.S. aid that included
corn, some of which was genetically modified.
In a severe drought, Zambia rejected the U.S. aid altogether. Several
other countries accepted the U.S. corn, but only after it was milled.
The NSC's Price said the administration is working to persuade European
nations to lift their objection to the use of GMO crops in Africa.
Rosegrant of the research institute said that, given current food
shortages, new bio-safety measures could resolve such problems.
"There's evidence that those fears tend to be overblown," Rosegrant said.