GMOs: Need for more awareness

In view of the importance of good food to human health, efforts are  on to ensure that poisons are not allowed into the country. Certainly, the recent clarification by the Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed will calm  some frayed nerves concerning the introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into the country. But the thought of experimenting in the face of several revelations of its negative effects still put the government’s sincerity in doubt, JOHN OBA writes.

Finally, after several campaigns and protests against the proposed adoption of the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria the federal government has finally seen the need to come out clear on the true position of the issue.
The Minister of Environment, MrsAmina Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the government recently, urged Nigerians not to panic over the issue of GMOs, assuring that the organisms are not officially grown in the country.

She was quoted as saying that what the government approved are for field trials. Even though, it was recently reported that GMOcassava is alleged to be smuggled into the country already.
“All the GMOs in Nigeria officially approved are under experimental fields, citing the insect resistant cotton for commercial release will still be subjected to further processes for the next two years.”

She stated that the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), established in 2015, under the ministry was charged to among others, ensure proper regulation of modern bio-technological activities and genetically modified organisms so as to protect the lives of Nigerians.
As good as this pronouncement may be, it will be good for the government to also take into considerations the many researches and studies that clearly exposed the danger of any GMO crops, while necessary mechanism must be put in place to ensure that NBMA does place their ethical responsibilities above corporate profits and not to manipulate the field experiment to suit their claims.
The government must also take into cognisance that there is a reason why many countries all over the world have been banning GMOs and the pesticides that go with them.

More information is emerging everyday from scientists and researchers all over the world that clearly points to the fact that we just don’t know enough about GM’s to consider them totally safe for human consumption. It is believed that if Nigeria will do its field experiment properly, it will find something similar to what others who are more scientifically advance countries discovered.
And the ministry of environment must also ensure that GMOs are not slipped into Nigerian food as this will make Nigerians unwittingly part of a massive Monsanto’s GMO experiment.
Nigeria must not because of its huge market and high demand for agricultural produce across the nation and beyond or its guaranteed capability to sustain the Nigerian economy look away from the dangers GMOs portend to human health.

Scientists have given evidences that Monsanto’s GMO risk assessment is based on very little scientific evidence in the sense that the testing methods recommended are not adequate to ensure safety.
Research from Canada published in the Journal; Reproductive Toxicology in 2011which is the first of its kind has successfully identified the presence of pesticides associated with genetically modified foods in maternal, fetal and non-pregnant women’s blood. They also found the presence of Monsanto’s Bt toxin.
“Today, obstetric-gynecological disorders that are associated with environmental chemicals are not known.  Thus, knowing the actual concentration of genetically modified foods in humans constitutes a cornerstone in the advancement of research in this area,” the statement read
The study used blood samples from thirty pregnant women and thirty non-pregnant women.

The study also pointed out that the fetus is considered to be highly susceptible to the adverse effects of xenobiotics, a foreign chemical substance found within an organism that is not naturally produced.  This is why the study emphasizes that knowing more about GMOs is crucial, because environmental agents could disrupt the biological events that are required to ensure normal growth and development.
Another study published in the peer reviewed Public Library of Science (PLOS), researchers emphasize that there is sufficient evidence that meal-derived DNA fragments carry complete genes that can enter into the human circulation system through an unknown mechanism.
In one of the blood samples, the relative concentration of plant DNA is higher than the human DNA.  The study was based on the analysis of over 1000 human samples from four independent studies. PLOS is an open access, well respected peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers primary research from disciplines within science and medicine.
Also in November 2012, Gilles-Eric Seralini and his team of researchers at France’s Caen University published their research in a Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology titled: “Long Term Toxicity of Roundup Herbicide and a Roundup-Tolerant genetically modified maize.”

It was the first of its kind under controlled conditions that examined and found the effects of a GMO maize diet treated with Monsanto’s Roundup Herbicide.
The chronic toxicity study examined the health impacts on rats of eating commercialized genetically modified (GM) maize, alongside Monsanto’s NK603 glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup.
The study is said to found severe liver and kidney damage as well as hormonal disturbances in rats fed with GM maize in conjunction with low levels of Roundup that were below those permitted in most drinking water across Europe. Results also indicated high rates of large tumors and mortality in most treatment groups.
Another example is the recent Associated Press report that documented the dramatic increase in birth defects and cancer in areas of Argentina that have grown GM soy for a decade.
Another study links GMOs to gluten disorders that affect 18 million Americans. This study was recently released by the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), and uses data from the US department of Agriculture, US Environmental Protection Agency, medical journal reviews as well as other independent research. The authors relate GM foods to five conditions that may either trigger or exacerbate gluten-related disorders, including the autoimmune disorder, Celiac Disease; Intestinal permeability; Imbalanced gut bacteria;

Immune activation and allergic response; Impaired digestion; Damage to the intestinal wall.
The Institute for Responsible Technology is a world leader in educating policy makers and the public about GMO foods and crops. The institute reports and investigates on the impact GM foods can have on health, environment, agriculture and more.
Several recent studies showed glyphosate’s potential to be an endocrine disruptor. “Glyphosate exerted proliferative effects only in human hormone-dependent breast cancer. We found that glyphosate exhibited a weaker estrogenic activity than estradiol. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the additive estrogenic effects of glyphosate and genisein which implied that the use of contaminated soybean products as dietary supplements may pose a risk of breast cancer because of their potential additive estrogenicity,” the report revealed
Researchers also determined that Monsanto’s roundup is considered an “xenoestrogen,” which is a foreign estrogen that mimics real estrogen in our bodies.

This can cause a number of problems that include an increased risk of various cancers, early onset of puberty, thyroid issues, infertility and more.
Speaking on the vote by the European Parliament, Mute Schimpf, food campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, says:”This is another nail in the coffin of genetically modified crops. While not perfect, this new law allows governments to shut the door on biotech crops in Europe and shift farming in a more sustainable direction. The public has continually rejected GM foods and increasingly supports greener farming and local food. We call on national governments to use this new power to keep GM crops out of their countries.”

It is a fact that the cultivation of GM crops in the European Union has been controversial for more than 15 years. Currently, nine EU countries have completely banned the cultivation of the MON810 maize – the only GM food crop authorised in Europe. These bans have been challenged by the European Commission, as well as the biotech industry, resulting in many national environment ministers supporting proposals to strengthen their legal rights to ban GM crops.

In addition, a ruling of the European Court of Justice strongly limited the existing regulatory tools for governments.
These are few of the many studies that reveal the danger of GMO products and decisions by countries who understood better what the negative effects of GMO which the present administration through the ministry of Environment most take cognizant of as all these studies cannot be making the same mistake.
Aside from studies and opinions of world renowned scientists, Nigeria Scientists and Environmentalists quarries the relationship between National Biosafety Agency (NBMA), National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and Monsanto saying their relationship is rife with conflict of interest against the Nigerian people.