GM food: a dinner discussion. A Ugandan perspective

This week, 10 August, Technyou and partners are holding a public forum on what the role of GM crops should be in helping achieve global food security.

I have just received a response to the questions we are posing for the forum from Onek Keneth in Uganda that I thought I should post here.

He (and his sister) appear involved in agricultural production systems and their position in Uganda gives a different perspective to how many in our well-fed western society may see the issues.

There does appear one contradiction, that hopefully Onek might be able to clarify for me.

He says:

The use of organic farming methods, integrated pest management and mixed cropping would be a more appropriate solution than the use of GM technology.

But then says: The sustainable agriculture can be achieved most effectively when different approaches are combined appropriately. This includes organic and contemporary plant breeding as well as GM techniques. It is unlikely that organic farming alone can cope with agricultural challenges in our country and other important strategies in agricultural practice should not be neglected.

I am going to email Onek and see if he has a moment to clarify whether he thinks  GM crops can play a role – ie by integrating specific and relevant crops into a more agro-ecological farming system, or whether they should never be considered under any circumstances? An example of the former might be a virus resistant cassava or nutrient-enriched banana incorporated into a poly-culture food production system grown with agro–ecological principles suitable to the region and cultural practices.

Also, Onek is coming at it from a Ugandan perspective and he notes there are cultural values and traditions that may be compromised should modern industrial agriculture start being used in his country. But does he see a role for GM crops in more industrial ag systems in other countries?

I did attempt to just post a link to the document Onek sent me, but there appear to be computer issues, so here is the cut and paste version

Compiled by, Onek Keneth and Aciro Caroline (from Northern Uganda, East Africa)

GM Food: A Dinner Discussion. Should GM crops contribute to global food security?

10 August | 6pm for 6.30pm seating | The Pump house Hotel, 128 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy

We need to find a way to feed an extra 3 billion people by 2050 with predicted greater constraints on availability of farmable land, water, fuel and fertilizers. Should gene technologies play a role? In what circumstances would these technologies used in food production be acceptable?

1- SHOULD GM TECHNOLOGIES HAVE A ROLE IN HELPING ACHIEVE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY?

No, reasons are:

According to our country,

The local customs and practices are concerns that the introduction of GM crops will destroy traditional agricultural practices. One example is the practice of many farmers in our country of saving seed between harvests, rather than buying new seed each year. It is suggested that the introduction of GM crops will force farmers to buy seed. There are also concerns that in some situations, GM herbicide tolerant crops could lead to a reduction in the demand for labor for weeding on farms.

We recommend that it is important to ensure that local traditions are respected and that farmers are involved in decision making. The use of GM crops will not necessarily spread Western farming practices and genetic modification can be used to improve traditional crops. However, there may be cases where one type of GM crop, such as a GM herbicide tolerant crop, is less useful for a specific kind of farmer in a particular country. There are also likely to be problems if a single company dominated the seed market. It is desirable that, as far as possible, farmers have a genuine choice. To provide this, it is important to encourage research, through public sector support, into crops (whether GM or not) that can be retained by farmers with minimal loss of yield.

Uganda has been found suitable for testing genetically modified (GM) maize under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project. This initiative is to develop drought tolerant maize for smallholder farmers to solve food insecurity.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, nine million Ugandans are facing hunger, with many feeding on one meal a day.

This is caused by the poor purchasing power of the population exacerbated by poverty, effects of climate change, the global economic crisis, inefficient markets and weak institutions.

Uganda has the potential to produce food for its entire population and have surplus for export, if the agricultural sector is made a priority. The proponents of this initiative sell a convincing message that GM crops are the answer to food insecurity and have the potential to boost food production.

However, the GM crops create dependence and reliance on maize varieties every planting season.

This will eventually jeopardize the traditional practices of smallholder and peasant farmers sharing, saving and exchanging seeds. It will also require farmers to pay for costly fertilizers.

Secondly, while the WEMA project will supply seeds to smallholder farmers “royalty free” the fear is the predicament of these farmers if this subsidy is eventually withdrawn at the end of the project.

Ultimately the multinational companies that invest large sums of money and time developing these varieties must recoup their investment by making farmers wholly dependent on these “maize varieties.”

Thirdly, the fear is that our traditional varieties will eventually be eradicated by GM crops.

In 2008, the national bio-technology and bio-safety policy was passed to provide a guiding framework for the promotion of research and application of science and technology for national development. However, for this policy to be implemented the National biotechnology and bio-safety Bill must be enacted into law

It is critical that the Government expedites the process of enacting this law to clearly spell out institutional mandates for the effective application of bio-technology and to protect the interests of smallholder farmers in the country.

2- What sort of technologies and agricultural systems are required or acceptable to grow our food and ensure a secure food supply for the future and by what means are we prepared to achieve it?

In our country Uganda, Food insecurity can be addressed by increasing budgetary allocation to the agriculture sector, establishing irrigation schemes to reduce the dependence on the vagaries of nature, adding value to the existing agricultural products to increase shelf span and marketability.

The use of organic farming methods, integrated pest management and mixed cropping would be a more appropriate solution than the use of GM technology.

The sustainable agriculture can be achieved most effectively when different approaches are combined appropriately. This includes organic and contemporary plant breeding as well as GM techniques. It is unlikely that organic farming alone can cope with agricultural challenges in our country and other important strategies in agricultural practice should not be neglected.

3- How do we feed an extra three billion people with potential limits on land and resources?

-There should be fairer distribution of land, food and purchasing power (budget allocation to agriculture)

-Agro ecological farming to sustain the population should be encouraged

Compiled by, Onek Keneth and Aciro Caroline (from Northern Uganda, East Africa)

Currently Keneth is struggling to get scholarship to study for a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture (Crop) in the University of Melbourne’s school of Land and Environment for 2012