TIG Post

Tag: GMO

  • Farmer unions advise against depending on GMO seeds as a solution for food security

    Farmer unions advise against depending on GMO seeds as a solution for food security

    Two farmer unions have urged the government to address the numerous issues within Ghana’s agricultural sector instead of depending on Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds as a fix.

    The Peasant Farmers Association Ghana (PFAG) and the Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS) argue that introducing GMOs in the country will not solve food security problems.

    They noted that many farmers in the northern and middle regions already produce substantial amounts of food but struggle with problems like lack of accessible markets, insufficient storage facilities, and inadequate road infrastructure.

    The two organizations were responding to the launch of the pod borer-resistant cowpea, the first genetically modified crop developed in the country and approved for commercial cultivation in the Northern Region last Thursday.

    In a statement released by Sulemana Issifu, Director of Research at CCCFS, and copied to the Ghanaian Times, the Centre raised concerns about claims that the cowpea can resist pod borers due to a gene that produces the CRY1A toxin.

    “It is important to highlight that upon reviewing the application documents from the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, we observed that the levels of toxin present are unusually high com­pared to other transgenic crops.

    “Although we acknowledge the absence of evidence regarding the toxicity of these toxins to humans, this remains a concern for us, as the existing data on the issue is inconclusive,” it stated.

    It also highlighted the absence of data on the crop’s impact on beneficial soil microorganisms and essential pollinators.

    Furthermore, it stated that if the crop adversely affects these organisms, it could potentially change the soil productivity in such a way that future crops may struggle to grow.

    “These and many more make it imperative that we resist the un­holy intrusion of Ghana’s agro­ecosystem by GMOs. GMOs re­main a tool of corporate control of food production—a gamble we cannot take,” it stress.

    In an interview with the Ghanaian Times, an advisory board member of the PFAG, Dr Charles Nyaaba, urged the government to continue invest­ing in local seeds and supporting institutions like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Re­search to improve local varieties that can withstand climatic conditions, rather than relying on donor support.

    Dr Nyaaba, who is a for­mer Executive Director of the PFAG, reminded stakeholders in agriculture that GMOs were false solutions and do not address the challenges of food security in Ghana.

    He advised CSOs, farmers, and other stakeholders to work together to promote local seeds for planting and consumption.

    Dr Nyaaba further said the government’s flagship pro­gramme, Planting for Food and Jobs, was a great initiative but faced many challenges that did not favour farmers.

    He called on the government to allow the private sector to lead in the programme’s inputs distribution and implementation.

  • Name all GMO foods on market – Court orders National Biosafety Authority

    Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra has ordered the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) to label all Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) on the market to enable the public make an informed choice.

    The Court also directed that, the NBA should with immediate effect publish all data of all GMOs including the BT Cowpea products from Nigeria to enable easy identification.

    The Court presided over by Justice Barbara Tetteh Charwey made this orders while delivering a judgment in a case in which the Food Sovereignty sued the National Biosafety Authority against the commercialization of genetically modified (GMO) foods in Ghana.

    The Court while dismissing FSG’s has also directed the NBA to undertake a sensitisation exercise in all their areas to help the people know what is happening around them.

  • ActionAid add voice to pause on the commercial release of GMO foods

    ActionAid add voice to pause on the commercial release of GMO foods

    ActionAid Ghana (AAG) has reiterated its opposition to the proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMO) foods in the country, aligning with other stakeholders in this stance.

    AAG’s resistance aims to safeguard the interests and livelihoods of smallholder farmers, who play a pivotal role in Ghana’s agricultural sector.

    Expressing concern over the government’s approval of commercializing 14 GMO foods, AAG underscores the potential implications on biodiversity, food security, and the well-being of vulnerable populations.

    Amidst widening economic challenges exacerbating the poverty gap, AAG urges the government to prioritize agroecology as a sustainable farming approach. It calls for a reconsideration of recent decisions to lift GMO restrictions.

    In its statement, AAG emphasizes the urgent need to adopt agroecological principles for resilient and sustainable food systems, prioritizing constituents’ welfare. Furthermore, alongside advocating for halting GMO commercialization, AAG proposes critical measures for government action.

    These include adequate funding for the Ministry of Agriculture to support agroecological practices and facilitating training and knowledge-sharing among smallholder farmers.

    Recognizing the crucial role of female smallholder farmers in food production, AAG urges the government to provide appropriate acknowledgment and support for their contributions.

    AAG presses for the suspension of GMO commercialization until comprehensive research on their impact on human life and public consultations are conducted. Criticizing the lack of proper consultation in the government’s decision-making process, AAG highlights the denial of citizens’ rights to voice opinions on their food consumption.

    Moreover, AAG raises concerns about the National Biosafety Authority’s (NBA) active promotion of GMOs, suggesting a compromise in the institution’s independence and the nation’s interests.

  • 14 new registered GMOs: They are safe – Biosafety Authority confirms

    14 new registered GMOs: They are safe – Biosafety Authority confirms

    National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has denied recent allegations concerning the registration and authorization of 14 new genetically modified (GM) products for farming.

    While the NBA has indeed approved 14 products, consisting of eight maize and six soybean varieties, it clarifies that these are grains meant for direct consumption as food, feed, or processing.

    The authority firmly rejects assertions of newly developed genetically modified products intended for cultivation.

    Emphasising the safety of these products, the NBA underscores that they are specifically designated for consumption as food, feed, or processing purposes.

    These items have been registered solely to facilitate their importation by individuals or organisations, with no authorization granted for cultivation.

    “This approval was granted under Section 13 of the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) and Regulation 15 of the Biosafety (Management of Biotechnology) Regulations, 2019 (LI 2383), following the evaluation of data and information supplied by the applicant and a thorough risk assessment by the NBA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC),” the NBA said in a statement to the B&FT.

    The NBA explained that after a thorough risk assessment and evaluation, there were no adverse findings with any demonstrable history of biosafety concerns as the processes conformed to the laid down procedures in line with the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) and with international best practices in deciding on any application brought before the authority.

    “The authority, therefore, wishes to assure Ghanaians of the safety of GM product(s) that have received the NBA’s approval,” the statement reiterated.

    The products, according to the authority, were submitted by Bayer West-Central Africa S.A. and Syngenta South Africa, including a Bt cowpea submitted by the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI).

    The authority disclosed that any entity interested in bringing these products will require an import permit from the NBA, as stated by law.

    Indeed, Argentina, Australia, Uruguay, Singapore, Thailand, USA and South Africa, among others, have already given similar approvals and confirmed them to be as safe as their conventional counterparts.

    NBA’s CEO, Mr. Eric Amaning Okoree, expressed concern about the development and said the call to reject any GM seeds that will be supplied is unfortunate.

    The NBA, he noted, recognises the need for Ghanaians to adapt to the emerging plant breeding technologies in the agricultural space for sustained crop improvement and food security.

    “We wish to reiterate the fact that the improved yield and sustained food security will rather benefit farmers than impoverish them, as speculated by a section of the public.

    Again, there is a robust biosafety system in place to ensure the safety of GMOs officially released in the country,” Mr. Okoree emphasised.

  • National Biosafety Authority disapproves cultivation of 14 GMO seeds

    National Biosafety Authority disapproves cultivation of 14 GMO seeds

    The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has clarified that it hasn’t authorized the cultivation of seeds for 14 genetically modified (GM) products in Ghana.

    According to an official statement, these GM events are approved solely for food, feed, or processing purposes, not for cultivation within the country.

    Previously, the Peasant Farmers Association expressed concerns about potential risks to Ghana’s native agricultural systems due to this decision.

    However, the NBA emphasizes that while these seed products are registered, it’s only to facilitate their importation by interested parties. Importers must obtain an import permit from the NBA, adhering to regulatory protocols.

    The NBA asserts that despite the registration, these GM products haven’t been imported for food, feed, or processing yet.

    The authority, responsible for regulating GM products, follows procedures outlined in the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831), and international best practices in evaluating applications.

    Reassuring the public, the NBA affirms the safety of approved GM products, such as the Bt Cowpea developed by SARI, and the 14 events submitted by Bayer West-Central Africa S.A and Syngenta South Africa. These products, including eight maize and six soybean varieties, are meant for direct use as food, feed, or processing, not for planting.

    The NBA stresses that these registered products are not seeds for planting but for food, feed, or processing.

    The approval process, conducted under the Biosafety Act, involved thorough risk assessment by the NBA Technical Advisory Committee.

    “The Authority therefore wishes to assure Ghanaians of the safety of GM product(s) that have received the NBA’s approval; notably the Bt Cowpea submitted by SARI and the fourteen (14) events submitted by Bayer West-Central Africa S.A and Syngenta South Africa which are intended for food, feed or for processing.

    “Registered products are not seeds for planting but for food, feed or processing the 14 approved products, made up of eight (8) maize and six (6) soybean events must be emphasised and are not intended for cultivation.

    “They are, rather, grains for direct use as food, feed or for processing as stated above. This approval was granted under Section 13 of the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) and Regulation 15 of the Biosafety (Management of Biotechnology) Regulations, 2019 (LI 2383) following the evaluation of data and information supplied by the applicant and a thorough risk assessment by the NBA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC),” the statement added.

  • African farmers need GMOs more than other farmers in the world – Ghanaian scientist

    Ghanaian plant geneticist and founding director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) of the University of Ghana, Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, says smallholder farmers in Africa need access to biotech crops more than farmers anywhere else in the world.

    For him, the time has come for African governments to use available data on biotech solutions to take decisions that would improve livelihoods and lift millions out of extreme hunger and poverty in Africa.

    He expressed the concern that “anti-GMO activism has stalled the adoption of genetically engineered crops in many countries, contributing to the perpetuation of unsafe pesticide use, hunger and poverty.”

    Prof. Danquah made the remarks at a training workshop for scientists, graduate students undertaking agricultural biotechnology related research, researchers, undergraduate students studying agriculture and related programmes, communicators and agricultural stakeholders in Accra on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

    Background

    The workshop, dubbed “Speaking Science Ghana” and organised by Alliance for Science, a science communication initiative, was intended to equip the participants with effective communication skills that they can use in sensitising the public about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and agricultural biotechnology.

    The workshop also aimed at equipping participants with the best skills in using the media to communicate about science, including opinion pieces writing, giving media interviews, and the use of digital media tools.

    Alliance for Science is a science communication initiative that is working to promote science globally, whilst countering misinformation on scientific innovations and science issues like GMOs, gene editing, COVID-19 and climate change.

    Why GMOs

    Prof. Danquah said currently, only seven countries in Africa had approved GMOs, stressing that GMOs were under various stages of development in 11 other African countries, including Ghana.

    He was of the view that “there is an urgent need for more food to be produced on less land with less chemicals,” saying “the development of improved varieties of our staple crops with high yields and resistance to the physical and biological stresses is absolutely necessary for a green revolution and food self-sufficiency in Ghana.”

    He explained that science-based agriculture could preserve critical indigenous foods such as cowpea, millet, cassava, and sorghum, while reducing the environmental impacts of farming.

    Prof. Danquah said “on average, genetically engineered crops have cut chemical pesticide use by 37 per cent, increased crop yields by two per cent, boosted farmer profit by 38 per cent, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 12 million cars off the road.”

    He argued that farmers across the globe were struggling with devastating impacts of climate change, pointing out that disrupted rainfall pattern, drought, extreme weather events, pest infestations, plant diseases, crops losses, and hunger had made it necessary for African governments to adopt biotech solutions such as the GMO crops.

    “Better seeds developed through genetic engineering offer hope,” he said, adding “Let us not allow regulatory delays to prevent millions of farmers from accessing this life-saving technology.”

    Urgent action

    Prof. Danquah has therefore called for the integration of the rapidly evolving tools of modern biotechnology including genome editing into crop improvement programmes to make agriculture “in Ghana more productive and sustainable.”

    He also called on the government to give farmers in the country a free choice to select and adopt crops developed through modern science in plant breeding including the GM technology, saying “Ghana needs a comprehensive science policy that puts science on the top of the agricultural transformation agenda.”

    He noted that biotech solutions and innovations enable scientists to be able to solve agricultural problems that conventional farming methods were unable to do, saying “This can be achieved with precision and efficiency using plant biotechnologies and genomics as important tools.”

    Prof. Danquah explained that biotech innovations protected crops against insects and weeds, the two major challenges that militate against crop yields and lead to crop failure worldwide.

    Misinformation

    He also expressed concern about the growing misinformation on GMO crops in the country, saying “It is 27 years since the first GMOs were released and I am not aware of a single credible food or feed problem on the safety of GMOs.”

    In addition, he noted, “There is a very strong scientific consensus globally on GMOs just as scientists are on climate change.”

    For Prof. Danquah, it was worrying that in spite of the fact that scientific official reports on the safety and benefits of GMOs had been published by the World

    Health Organisation, Food and Agriculture Organisation, National Academic of Sciences (USA), Royal Society (UK), American Medical Association (USA), French Academy of Medicine, European Commission, US Food and Drugs Administration, Society of Toxicology, and Institute of Food Technology, some uninformed people still peddled falsehood about GMOs.

    Source: Graphic Online