Vital Lessons to Learn from Mexico and Brazil on Biotechnology
BiotechBloggers
Two major developments in the field of agricultural biotechnology took
place this month. The Brazilian government announced the approval of
genetically modified corn seed "LibertyLink," developed by Germany-
based Bayer, for commercial cultivation.
Mexico's National Confederation of Corn Growers (CNPAMM) announced
that it would start growing corn genetically modified to resist stem
borer from a U.S.-based seed company.
These are, evidently, significant developments. First, Brazil and
Mexico are world giants in corn growing, and they're, therefore,
perfect learning lessons for countries weighing the pros and cons of
genetically modified crops.
Secondly, their decision to permit GM crops didn't come overnight.
It's a culmination of protracted and sometime acrimonious fights
between proponents and opponents of genetically modified organisms
(GMOs). These two governments opted to walk down the path of their
scientists, who counseled that GM crops would benefit farmers.
When the idea of licensing GM crops in these countries was first
floated, there was hue and cry from the anti-technology crowd. They
argued, without scientific evidence, that GM crops posed health risks
to consumers and the environment.
In fact, some scientists jumped into this bandwagon. Some even
published a misleading study that "found" genetically modified corn in
Mexico to have cross-pollinated to neighboring conventional varieties.
Journal Science which carried the article had to withdraw it after
thousands of scientists discovered inconsistencies and untruths in it.
It's not that the Brazilian and Mexican governments are forcing GM
crops down the throats of their farmers. They have formulated
biosafety laws that will guarantee farmers optimum benefits of
genetically modified crops while at the same time safeguarding the
health of consumers. This is what biosafety laws should be all about.
They must be tailored to promote biotechnology investments and not
vice versa.
This, however, doesn't seem to resonate with most developing
countries, especially those in Africa. Most developing countries see
biosafety laws as tools to banish GMOs from their territories.
Last month, for instance, the Zambian parliament adopted a bill to
regulate genetically modified organisms. Saviour Chishimba,
chairperson of the Education, Science and Technology Committee, which
drafted the bill is reported to have said, "The bill is aimed at
ensuring that Zambia remains a GMO free country." Should this, really,
be the spirit of biosafety bills?
James authors GMO Africa Blog - www.gmoafrica.org