WORKSHOP ON CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES SURROUNDING GMOS

WORKSHOP ON CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES SURROUNDING GMO’S WINDHOEK – 18 TH TO 19 TH AUGUST 2016 FARMERS PERSPECTIVE FEEDING THE NATION By George B. Rhodes

More information required!! ¨ Why making GM crops ? ¨ Who produces these crops ? ¨ Where are these crops grown ? ¨ What are the potential benefits ? ¨ Are these crops appropriate for developing countries ? ¨ What are the potential risk of these plants ? ¨ Are there any reasons to avoid these products ? ¨ How can we make use of this technology ? ¨ What mechanisms is in place to ensure a proper Regulatory framework ?

Concerns !!! ¨ Does this really contribute to feeding the world or simply benefit the developers of these varieties ¨ What happen to local varieties – in particular small scale farmers who depends on farmer saved seed who cannot afford it ¨ Generating superior plant varieties – does it really expands the possibilities beyond the limits imposed by conventional plant breeding ¨ Is the cross breeding between the same or very closely related species being regulated ?

Concerns ¨ POTENTIAL RISKS – Clarity needed Ø Unintentional introduction of allergens Ø transgenes escaping from cultivated crops to wild relatives Ø potential for pest to evolve resistance to toxins produced by GM crops Ø risk of these toxins affecting non-target organisms Ø wholesomeness and health status – does it leave material inside the human and animal body – organ damage – what about pregnant woman Ø Can the contamination (if any) be reversed – permanent

Concerns !!!! ¨ GMO’s cross pollinate and seeds can travel can - we ¨ ¨ clean up our contaminated gene pool – huge losses for organic and non-GM farmers Increase in herbicide use – Round up ready crops, designed to survive applications of Round up herbicide Does Genetic engineering creates dangerous side effects – mixing genes from unrelated species – unpredictable side affects – new toxins, allergens etc Industry – Funded Research designed to avoid finding problems and how it being distorted or denied “tobacco science” Independent research and reporting is attacked and suppressed

Concerns!! ü Is this technology safe for the environment – birds, ü ü insects marine ecosystems, soil organisms Does it really increase yields – feeding more people in developing countries GM food cited as economical, despite initial higher cost of the seed – reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides – reducing manpower needed to grow these crops- improved financial gains Improved quality ! Longer shelve life – ability to withstand weather fluctuations – still yields and quality High content of a specific nutrient – Vitamin A rich golden Rice

SUMMARY !!!! ¨ Ability to trigger an allergy in humans – genes mixed across different species ¨ Damaged to Biodiversity – extinction of certain organisms ¨ GM foods are modified using bacteria and viruses – emerging of new diseases ¨ Lack of Scientific studies on the long term health impact ¨ Concept of “SUNSTANCIAL EQUIVALENCE” debatable ¨ Finally why still having overwhelming opposition to Field Trials of GM crops in many countries ¨ Any of these gene-edited crops slipping through Regulatory Net? ?

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