The latest evidence that Green Revolution technologies will not address the global food crisis - Monsanto's genetically engineered corn seeds fail in South Africa. At least 82,000 hectares of genetically engineered corn seeds planted in South Africa have failed to produce hardly any seeds.
This failure has led to renewed calls for a complete ban on GM crops and food in South Africa. The African Centre for Biodiversity in Johannesburg is demanding an urgent government investigation and a complete ban on GM foods. Meanwhile, Monsanto is offering to pay compensation to those farmers who bought the seeds. Such compensation, however, will not assist the many smallscale farmers who were freely given the Monsano owned seeds. These smallholder farmers will be left to deal with the ecological and economic fall out of Monsanto's actions on their own.
While the Alliance for a Green Revolution is driving a high-tech future for food production in Africa, stories like this point to the absolute limits of relying on magic bullets like genetic engineering.
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Shocking. And yet it happens all too often. The article on the 'Food First' website (www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2504)states that South Africa has been a Monsanto 'supporter' for years and was one of the first countries to start using Monsanto crops/seeds. Even after a major stuff up like this, and the unreliability and health concerns of gm products, unfortunately, I can't see Monsanto being too affected by this.. It angers me that the small scale farms did not receive compensation, and that Monsanto still has widespread support!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dajana, organisations like Monsanto are gambling with a genetic time bomb. It is obvious from failings such as the situation in South Africa that not enough is known about GM crops, their viability or their long term consequences to the environment and society, and I expect that the consequences of these endeavors will only worsen into the future. And as usual the worst of the affects will be felt by the most marginalized and underprivileged of this world.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Monsanto doing about the long term effects of this. Yes the small scales farmer made a loss from this, they grew the seeds and when the plants grew there was very little yield not so good as far as eating go's but as Andrea pointed out Monsanto are gambling but they didn't risk anything of theirs.
ReplyDeleteAs far as our food 5 years from now it would have been better if there was no yield at all this man made crop is faulty, where is Monsanto responsibility in making sure that their worthless corn don't destroy the "normal" corn crops with cross contamination.
I'm sure they've tested what will happen if their "super corn" cross breads with the main stream corn that is grown but one might assume that they had tested that their corn would grow well in the environment as well so forgive me for not being to trusting.
Monsanto's selfish stupidity has broken these small farmers and i wonder how many will have to sell up because of it but the possible long term effects could devastate our food for years to come.
From everything we've had on the reading list this week it seems that so much of this type of action is all about pushing more of the worlds people into the marketplace. Pushing more people into becoming consumers and fueling the economies of the big players. I was concerned to see the moratorium on GM crops was not re-issued in New Zealand. Government publications say that all fruit, vegetables and meat products are free from modification and that no GM food crops are grown commerically in NZ. But for how long? Expereince has shown that TNCs can be pretty persuasive when they want to be and are in pretty strong bargaining positions with governments.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was an interesting article to read. Food Crisis in Katine:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/society/katineblog/2009/aug/13/money-livelihoods
I completely agree with what Susan said. The push for GM foods by the big players seems to be a very economically and power hungry one. Monsanto and its many financial supporters seem to just be using the South African farmers as guinea pigs. And when their seeds failed miserably Monsanto and its supporters really didnt lose anything (yes I know they paid out some compensation but I am sure in respect to the damage they caused the amount was really negligable).
ReplyDeleteI think the push for GM crops is a big mistake. There are far to many risks involved and even if, buy some big miracle, the genetically modified seeds/crops actually worked what guarantee is there that small farmers such as those in South Africa will actually be able to access the food or even afford these so called "super seeds".
If the big players really want to help the countries with food insecurity then they should invest in ways to maintain their access to food- after all that is the real problem.
I believed the technology of genetic modification should solve the problem of hunger in Africa because the seeds could grow well as it has more sutaible ability to grow in the area.
ReplyDeleteI think that the scientist are going to create the GM seeds again and the seeds should have greater tolerance to the drought condition edc than the seeds used in this practice.
However, the GM crops is new technology and it has not done further study on the impact to the environment, human health etc yet.
Therefore, the mantenance of irrigation in the area is much more imporatant than the introduce of GM seeds in the area.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZyiNnaJEPA&feature=related
ReplyDeleteFor those who are interested in biodynamic agriculture and the current crisis in India on the after effects of GM crop farming then check out the trailer for "one man one cow one planet" on the link above and watch the documentary. Interesting stuff!!