| Gabriel AdukpGJVKo <gyaduk@gmail.com> | Fri, Nov 29, 9:00 AM (3 days ago) |  | |
| to me | |||
https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/gmos-safe-for-ghanaians-to-consume-says-ofab.html
COMMENTARY ON GMO NEWS
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Ghana Chapter, organized a community sensitization engagement to reiterate its position on the Genetically Modified Songotra T Cowpea variety. The OFAB has always maintained that the crop is safe for humans, animals, and the environment. The CSIR member institutions for food and animal research participated to give credence to the event. The regulatory bodies, the Food and Drugs Authority, and the National Biosafety Authority were present.
There are other stakeholders in the puzzle too. These are the farmers, the consuming public, and anti-GMOs. While the scientists desire to achieve food self-sufficiency in Ghana and improve cowpea production efficiency, the anti-GMOs, on the other hand, fear potential health risks to the consumer, possible environmental damage, and loss of biodiversity. The antis also envisage insects and bacteria developing resistance in the future and could outcross other varieties.
However, GMO proponents insist on their arguments that reduction in insecticide use lowers carbon emissions and that tests and use have proven that GMOs are safe. Moreover, the grains are easier to store and richer in nutrients, among other benefits.
The question is, what makes the Songotra T cowpea variety an issue? The crop faces rejection if the scientific community is unable to convince the general public of the economic, environmental, and nutritional benefits of the variety. The most compelling justification for releasing Songotra T is its resistance to the Maruca pod borer, which is reducing yields drastically and demanding excessive pesticide application.
We may refer to the release of “new” high-yielding varieties in the past. Consumers were reluctant to accept palm oil and palm soup from an improved variety for a long time based on taste and thickness. Some improved maize varieties suffered the same fate based on their inability to store well. If non-genetically modified varieties could receive such resistance, what would befall genetically modified ones?
At this stage, SkyFarm would proffer the following suggestions:
· The scientific community should continue the sensitization
· Extension and rural advisory services should be part of the advocacy
· The beans should be well labeled, even in the open markets. FDA and NBA should supervise the labeling
· Farmers and consumers should be able to differentiate and freely make a choice
