While scientific progress on
molecular biology has a great potential to increase our understanding of nature
and provide new medical tools, it should not be used as justification to turn
the environment into a giant genetic experiment by commercial interests. The
biodiversity and environmental integrity of the world's food supply is too
important to our survival to be put at risk.
GENETIC ENGINEERING
Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and
micro-organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally.
These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can spread through nature
and interbreed with natural organisms, thereby contaminating non 'GE'
environments and future generations in an unforeseeable and uncontrollable way.
Their release is 'genetic pollution' and is a major threat because GMOs
cannot be recalled once released into the environment.
Because of commercial interests, the public is being denied the right to
know about GE ingredients in the food chain, and therefore losing the right to
avoid them despite the presence of labelling laws in certain countries.
Biological diversity must be protected and respected as the global
heritage of humankind, and one of our world's fundamental keys to survival.
Governments are attempting to address the threat of GE with international
regulations such as the Biosafety Protocol.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Agriculture of any type - subsistence, organic or intensive - affects the environment, so it is
expected that the use of new genetic techniques in agriculture will also affect
the environment.
Genetic engineering may accelerate the damaging effects of
agriculture, have the same impact as conventional agriculture, or contribute to
more sustainable agricultural practices and the
conservation of natural resources, including biodiversity.
Although scientific opinion is divided over these risks, it is agreed that
environmental impacts need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. They
recommend ecological monitoring to detect any unexpected events once the plants
are grown in the environment.
Horizontal gene flow refers to a gene transfer, usually
through pollen, from cultivated species to their wild relatives (and vice-versa). This may
happen with either conventional or genetically modified plants.
However, many of the world's major food plants are not native to the areas
where they are grown and thus lack close wild relatives that would be needed
for gene flow to occur. For example, potatoes (which
originate in South America) and maize (originating in Mexico) have no wild
relatives in Europe. In such cases, horizontal gene flow to wild relatives is impossible. In the USA, cotton and maize have no
wild relatives, whereas sunflowers, squash, and radishes do, making the latter
possible candidates for gene flow.
Genetically modified plants may be designed to prevent gene flow to other plants. This is important for the co-existence
of GM and conventional crops, and may be particularly important for genetically
modified plants producing substances of medical or industrial interest.
Management strategies to control gene flow include avoiding the planting of genetically modified crops where
wild relatives are present, or using buffer zones to isolate genetically
modified varieties from conventional or organic varieties.
GM CORN ‘HAS POLLUTED RIVERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES’
The following is a
story from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/gm-maize-has-polluted-rivers-across-the-united-states-2091300.html
(Tuesday, September 28,
2010).
An insecticide
used in genetically modified (GM) crops grown extensively in the United States
and other parts of the world has leached into the water of the surrounding
environment.
The insecticide is
the product of a bacterial gene inserted into GM maize and other cereal crops
to protect them against insects such as the European corn borer beetle.
Scientists have detected the insecticide in a significant number of streams
draining the great corn belt of the American mid-West.
The researchers
detected the bacterial protein in the plant detritus that was washed off the
corn fields into streams up to 500 metres away. They are not yet able to
determine how significant this is in terms of the risk to either human health
or the wider environment.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The controversy around Genetically modified organisms(GMO) has been widespread in Ghana since 2013[1] after the Ghanaian government
announced [2] an introduction of GMO technology into
the country that same year. Activist groups including Food Sovereignty Ghana,
The Coalition for Farmers Rights and Advocacy against GMOs, Ghana Catholic
Bishops’ Conference, Convention People’s Party and individuals have spoken against its introduction.[3][4][5] The disputes concern whether organisms
procured from genetic
engineering should be allowed
into the market. Activists consider genetically manipulated food as a health
hazard, "neo-colonialist" and a threat to economic and food
sovereignty and national security.[6]
Ghana’s Biosafety Act 831, 2011 has already permitted the introduction of
GM foods.[7] Currently “confined field trials” of
GM rice and cowpea in the Ashanti region, and cotton in the 3 northern regions
in the country, are under way. [8] There is a temporary injunction on any
further GMO commercialization and development until a case brought by Food
Sovereignty Ghana against the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been
concluded.[9]
I have purposed this post to serve as food for thought for all my compatriots
(Ghanaians).
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organisms_controversy_(Ghana)
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