GMO in Ghana, & Matters Arising - Part 1

“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. This is a clear prescription for disaster” --- Carl Sagan

Anytime I watch, listen or observe discussions on the latest hot topic of GMOs, Mr. Sagan’s quote keep coming to mind. It is important for people to adequately inform themselves about issues in Science, but it is also important for scientists to show their work and explain their research without using the technical language found in journals. Both sides do not usually do this even though science in modern times relies on public support just as much as the public relies on the products of science and technology.

So here is my attempt to explain and state my opinion on the topic. I try to cover as much as possible without being too technical. But this post is not intended to be a one-stop-shop for everything on the topic so further individual reading will be needed.

    

What are GMOs?

Genetically Modified Organisms as the name suggest refers to plants, animals or microorganisms with altered genes using the technique of genetic engineering.

Some argue that changing the DNA of organisms is nothing new and point out selective breeding methods used by farmers for centuries as an example. With biotechnology, we now have greater control of the process. Genetic engineering has become one of the techniques that is invaluable to science and widely applied in research, medicine, industry and agriculture.

The issue of GMOs has taken center-stage in Ghana because of a bill before parliament called the Plant Breeders Bill. The conversation is needed, critique is valuable and mobilization to address concerns by activists is impressive.  In discussions about GMOs some of the main concerns I have come across include: 

I.               GMO seeds from corporations will put our food security in the control of these corporations. It will limit the ability of farmers to own or save seeds and freely grow it.

II.             GMOs and the technology of genetic engineering is a “new” method that requires time and more testing     before we can try it.

III.           Consensus - Even scientists are not unanimous on the safety of GMOs. Hence, GMOs cannot be trusted.

IV.            GMOs are unhealthy, toxic, cancerous, etc.

I will address these concerns with the information I have available and opinions formed on the topic.

GMO seeds from biotech corporations will put our food security in their control. It will limit the ability of farmers to own or save seeds and freely grow it.

                                       

This to me is simply connecting the dots. If the history of biotech companies in other fields is anything to go by, then worrying about seeds becoming unaffordable and restrictions being placed on their use are legitimate concerns. The biotech companies might claim ownership of their technology and be unwilling to share it at reasonable cost, when that happens it is the poor farmers who suffer.

Examples can be cited from the pharmaceutical industry, research and medicine with several cases of unreasonably high-priced drugs, reagents and antibodies that make diagnostic tests and experiments very expensive. After all, they are not “non-profits”. They are for profit and invest millions (even billions when it comes to drug development) to develop their technology. A return on that investment is expected. We would know better than to do business with self-seeking multinational corporations while we claim to be a poor country that is trying to help rural farmers. If an economics expert thinks otherwise, I would appreciate the insight. While I am yet to hear from an economics expert on that regard, I do not think it a smart move.

Secondly, we do not have to “outsource” to foreign biotechnology corporations when we have local agencies like SARI (Savannah Agricultural Research Institute). They have exhibited their competence in this field even with the challenges they face. SARI is mandated to improve agricultural technologies. They have made progress even in developing genetically modified cowpeas, and conducted field tests in northern Ghana. If the government conducts a complete evaluation and is convinced GMOs can help, why deal with foreign biotech companies instead of local research agencies? The latter I argue is better informed on the specific issues our farmers face and can develop more effective, tailored solutions.

GMOs and the technology of genetic engineering is a “new” method that requires time and more testing before we can try it.

Some argue the science hasn’t been done, there is not enough evidence to suggest it is safe, they are not tested, etc.  However, the use of genetic engineering is not new to science. Neither is its application in agriculture. The technology is about 30 years old. There is significant research in the field with thousands of published studies from biotech companies, government agencies and independent research groups. It is one of the most well researched areas in science. Which is not to say there is nothing new to learn, but for now we know a lot about it.