GM agriculture: Promises or problems for farming in South Africa?

GM agriculture: Promises or problems for farming in South Africa?

Structure of presentation What are GMOs? How do GMOs differ from conventional crops? Assessing GMOs Claims and questions Herbicides and Weeds Interests of Multinationals What the public says Industrial Agriculture and the Green Revolution What Independent Experts Say Experiences of Rural farmers with GMOs Agro-ecology as an alternative Benefits of Agro-ecological farming

What are GMOs? Is this maize genetically modified? It is impossible to identify natural and GM crops by sight only sophisticated tests can provide this information. Genetically Modified (GM) crops are plants that have had foreign genetic material inserted from other living organisms to provide unique characteristics. GM crops are very different to conventional crops for several reasons they not substantially equivalent, as claimed!

How GMOs differ from conventional crops? Privately owned and patented Require a biosafety regime to be properly managed Controlled through contracts, usually linked to proprietary chemical use Consumers bear risk

Assessing GMOs There are three questions we should ask when assessing merits of GM crops: Are they truly capable of improving agricultural prospects? Have the initial promises been met? Does the focus on GMOs divert attention from other ways of improving both food security and agricultural production?

Claims and Questions. We need GMOs to feed a growing population GMOs use less fertiliser, chemicals and pesticides GM crops will use less water, be drought resistant, improve nutrition Poor or emerging farmers would be the primary beneficiaries The answer to each of these claims is clearly NO

Herbicides and weeds Increased herbicide use Argentina 180 fold increase over past 13 years. Increased herbicide use Brazil 71% soy area increase but 95% herbicide increase. Increased herbicide levels in USA - up 174, 000 tonnes in first 13 years of GM crops there. Superweeds in USA, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa causing use of more potent chemicals.

Interests of Multinationals To make a profit To sell as much of their product as possible To control the market to the greatest degree To remove, dilute or diminish competition Manipulate those buying its products Works to create compliant regulatory framework

What the public says Global opposition to GMOs for agro-economic, cultural, environmental and health reasons Label or identify GM food other impossible to choose or identify any health problems Need public participation We don t want increased chemicals herbicides account for more than 90% of global agricultural chemical use We don t want to risk existing models, loss of seed sovereignty, social disruption

Industrial Agriculture and Green Revolution GM crops are an extension of the industrial farming model Use high cost inputs fertilisers, seeds, chemicals Create dependence on suppliers of inputs Farmers are exposed to unseen hand of market More risk to farmer s families, water supplies and local biodiversity

What independent experts say 1. The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) report, Agriculture at a Crossroads, Funded by UN FAO, the World Bank and UNEP notes the limited role that GMOs could feasibly play in tackling global hunger. It points out how focus on industrial farming and GMO models have sidetracked far more effective agricultural practices. It was drafted over 4 years by over 400 independent scientists. 2. The UN special rapporteurs report Agroecology and the right to food, details how agro-ecological approaches provide more realistic and sustainable ways to improve food security, particularly in food insecure communities, with potential to double production in a decade. 9-fold improvement of yield increase over the last 17 years.

What are the experiences of rural farmers with GM crops? Seed and food contamination, Seed storage quality, taste quality and shelf life are decreased Loss of seed rituals and cultural knowledge One seed variety is no longer a multipurpose seed Less seed and food diversity per unit area No independent extension services No saved seed or seed banks possible GM seeds more expensive than natural varieties

Agro-ecology as an alternative Traditional, ecological, family farmer agriculture uses appropriate technology for farmers Primary requirement is food security, dietary diversity Secondary requirement is sales and cash cropping, Diversity is central to the model System is built upon independence from external inputs and debt

Benefits of Agro-ecological farming There is a broad range of food security, economic, environmental and social benefits such as: Diversity of diet and crops provides benefits Safeguarding of water supply and quality Community ties and collective innovation Maintainance of traditional systems and markets

Asanteni Tatenda End Thank you Siyabonga Enkosi Dankie

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