With the Russia’s special military operation and conflict in Ukraine, there has been concerns of possible food shortage, likely to exacerbate the crises of hunger and starvation already made worst by the rising tide of insecurity that has considerably prevented farmers from optimizing their productivity. The looming food crisis or shortage, now set to be aggravated by the conflict in Europe would mean that massive supplements of genetically modified food, would found its way to the country’s dining tables. While this might be hailed as one of technology’s breakthrough to fill the gap left by the dwindling fortunes of our traditional agriculture.
Some concerns about the results of some scientific studies which indicate that they may cause some toxic effects such as hepatic, pancreatic, renal or reproductive effect are real and should not be lightly discountenanced. They are said to be likely to alter the hematological, biochemical and further, it is also of concerns that some genetically modified foods are able to cause allergic reaction or harmful genetic changes as well as produce some foods that are less nutritious.
In Nigeria, it has been revealed that over 30 different products from the U.K and the United States, containing genetically modified components or produced with genetic engineering were already in Nigeria’s market since 2018.
The Executive director of Health and Mother Earth Foundation and a prominent Nigeria environmental activist, MrNnimmoBassey has raised the alarm the flashship laboratory is in a temporary cabin, pointing out that the country does not need to add risky technology that clearly pose a security threat to people and environment. According to MrBassey, “Nigeria is not ready for GMOs, it does not need them” further stressing “it has been said that GMOs have higher yield simply because they are made in the laboratory. This is not borne out by facts.” According to him, it is high time for Nigeria to recognize the facts of our best interests and support agroecology, small scale farmers and provide their basic needs including infrastructure, storage/processing facilities and extensions services.
The application of GM crops has been
considerably proved to pose serious threat for food systems, human health. It is also presents several risks to the environment including increased use of any accumulation of toxic chemicals, soil degradation and destruction of bio diversity, and more so have real potential to contaminate natural variation.
According to the World Health Organization, (WHO), glyphosate, a major component of Roundup Ready herbicide which accompanies majority of products and produced by biotechnology company Monsanto (now Bayer) has been noted to be a possible cancer causing agent.
Meanwhile several countries have a taken a principled stand against genetically modified products because they have discovered that these products do not give the benefits or correspond to the characteristics that they have been acclaimed to possess. The South Africa government in October 2018 refused the authorization of genetically modified maize for commercial production as field trial proved that data provided by the producer Monsanto-Bayer, were insufficient to demonstrate the claimed drought tolerance and insect resistant efficacy. In November 2018 the ministry of agriculture in Tanzania ordered the agricultural research institute of the country to stop trials and destroy the remnant of GM product with immediate effect. In Kenya, stakeholders in the agricultural sector has urged the government to review policies made with regard to genetically modified foods as this has proven counterproductive in the long run.
On glyphosate use the German ministry of environment in November, 2018 serial that they would use all legal options to end use of glyphosate-based weed killers and added that Germany wanted to change the approval process for all pesticides. On balance, genetically modified foods as this has proven counterproductive in the long run.
On glyphosate use the German ministry of environment in November, 2018 serial that they would use all legal options to end use of glyphosate-based weed killers and added that Germany wanted to change the approval process for all pesticides. On balance, genetically modified food and crop present a clear danger to consumers and environment despite its acclaimed advantages in Nigeria. The natural immunity with which Nigeria and Africa fended off, the worst outcome of the Covid -19 pandemic is regarded to have come from natural food proceeding and ecology less exposed to the hazards of chemicalizations.
Revolution in food sufficiency and security can proceed without the dumping of the genetically modified food from the western powers.
Nnaji is commentator on food security and related issues and is based in Abuja
