BiosafeTrain

The push for genetically modified (GM) crops

Many people think that the pressure on Africa to accept genetically modified grain or other crops as food aid ended with the widely known case of Zambia rejecting food aid because it contained GM, in 2002. That emblematic case showed that every country wants to retain sovereign right to determine what type of food to eat, irrespective of whether it is purchased in the market or is donated as aid. Also, the predicted catastrophe of Zambians starving never happened. The shortage was limited to parts of the country and there were supplies in other regions that were transported to the needy areas. The country thereafter recorded food surpluses.

Genetically engineered food has been presented as the ultimate weapon against hunger in Africa and the world. This is also suggested in the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) meaning that this may be the direction efforts will be concentrated in the years to come.

GM crops in Tanzania

The push into Tanzania gathered momentum in 2002, when USAID began meeting with Tanzanian scientists to describe the potential of genetically engineered foods. The interesting thing about this is that although cotton production was suspended in the southern part of Tanzania because of the spread of red bollworm in 1968, the country is currently experiencing cotton production surpluses. When this is coupled with the record low cotton price in the market, it becomes hard to see what arguments could be pushed for the genetically engineered variety of cotton.

But despite all this, scientists plus government officials are for the use of genetically modified crops. My interviewee, the self conscious, courteous and rather glowing (because of her expectant state) Laethitia William (32), believes it is about time Tanzania got involved on the "Second Green Revolution" train.

Letithia's project

We are in a bus, on our way to one of the research institutions on a practical lesson on biosafety, from the BiosafeTrain course, being held in Nairobi. Letithia looks out the open window, closes her eyes, breathes in deeply, unconsciously plays with her neat cornrows before she turns to me and says, " So, what would you like to know about my project and my thoughts on genetically modified crops?"

She is working on a project on the competitive ability of a disease resistant rice cultivar against wild rice. "This study is really a tool to assess the potential ecological risks of transgenic rice." she says.

Transgenic rice complexities

"The aims of my project is to evaluate the potential ecological risks from the introduction of transgenic rice using growth competition data from cultivated and wild rice species. Rice growing is tricky because of wild rice that competes with the cultivated varieties. When we modify rice, to make it disease resistant, for example, we can expect it will change its competitive ability. This is the area where my project lies. I work on quantifying the effect of disease resistance genes to Rice Yellow Mortal Virus on the competitive ability of cultivated rice, and also on the competitive ability of wild rice species against cultivated rice cultivars and to determine the growth pattern of cultivated and wild rice species under monoculture."

The precautinary principle

People around the world have been vocal in calling for caution in the introduction of genetic engineering in food crops. The biotech industry has stoutly resisted compliance with the precautionary principle but this nevertheless became, at the insistence of the developing countries, enshrined in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The precautionary principle as the name implies requires that countries apply caution when considering or opening doors to bring transgenic crops into their environment. One of the reasons for this is that the safety of genetically modified crops has not yet been unequivocally proven.

"The biggest problem in East Africa in general is that the public is not informed on the use and importance of biodiversity. At the moment bills are being tabled on biosafety regulations and the Tanzanian government is also organizing workshops and making people more aware of it. The government is talking to universities and the elite to inform them on genetically modified crops," she says and quickly adds: "Even though no genetically modified crop is allowed in Tanzania, the government is formulating regulations to access the risks in relation to the local variety and at the same time if it will be environmentally friendly."

New Tanzanian policies on GM crops

Growing or germinating GM crops is currently illegal in Tanzania, but the government is keen to embrace the technology. A policy on genetically modified (GM) crops is being drafted, in readiness for adopting the technology, which some advocates consider a necessity for the future of food production.

It is believed a multi-sectoral selection of Tanzanian experts will be drafting the policy guidelines and regulations in order to safeguard and equip the nation with the necessary precautions.

The future

"We should not avoid this technology, but what's important is to put in place mechanisms and guidelines on how it would be introduced, " she affirms. "I am optimistic over the introduction of genetically modified crops because research has shown that there are some advantages in using them if we are to overcome some of our agricultural problems."

Does she find the BiosafeTrain course useful? "I absolutely do and once I am done with it and my thesis is published, I would like to pursue a doctorate in biotechnology. I would like to lobby for the use of genetically modified crops and educate the public about it."

We have reached our destination, the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, in Nairobi. When the bus stops, she waits for everyone to alight, then she warily gets off her seat, pauses, again unconsciously plays with her cornrows and tenderly holds her bump before adding, "besides I am not lobbying for GMO's for me , but the future. We just need to use them wisely." -and she is off to join her colleagues for their BiosafeTrain practical lesson.

By Joy Owango, November 2006.