Posted on 08/31/2005 8:09:30 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
The European Union and fellow traveling anti-biotech activists may well succeed in bottling up the next wave of genetically improved crops that aim directly at helping poor farmers in the developing world. How? Anti-biotech European regulations are spooking the governments of poor countries into preventing their farmers from growing the new genetically enhanced crops.
The EU wants to export its regulatory system to the world, and it is offering "capacity building" foreign aid to persuade developing countries to adopt its no-go or go-slow approach to crop biotechnology regulations. Even more tragically, some developing countries are so afraid of the EU’s anti-biotech wrath that they are willing to risk the lives of millions of their hungry by rejecting food aid that contains genetically enhanced crops.
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Bump for later.
I'm not sure that food aid - GM or not - is the answer to Africa's problems in any case. Food aid wipes out any local farming industry above subsistence level, as locals cannot possibly compete with free food.
The world's poor are starving themselves. Nobody is forcing Third World governments to ban farmers from growing GE food, least of all the Europeans. They need to stop blaming other people and take responsibility for themselves.
The hand that gives lords over the hand that takes.
This was the subject of a BBC interview about a year ago...on NPR. Of course, the BBC sneered at the US biologist working on genetically altered corn they hoped to grow in Africa. (EU Luddites.) It was a two-fer, and this was before that embarrassing EU constitutional vote. The BBC slammed the US and trumpeted EU superiority at one go.
The main problem is not that food aid will be in the form of GMOs. The problem as I understand it is that European restrictions on importation of GMOs mean that Africans can't plant them, even for domestic consumption, for fear of contaminating exports to Europe. I find the European Luddism on this issue, along with their intransigence on farm subsidies (which also damage the agricultural industries of very poor countries) disgraceful.
The US biologist interviewed was remarkably restrained although the BBC reporterette slammed his company and the US for (Gasp!) hoping to eventually make a modest profit on their research on both corn and rice.
But wait maybe is itall connected. Impoverishment, so we can sell O-U-R (genetically modified) crops. I am not against science but look at the american popoulation to see whether the heavily processed food is healthy. I cannot wait for nanotech to take over the food industry too by the way, nanoassemblers will be capable to "create" 101% organic food. Dont believe me? Read "Engines Of Creation" By Dexter.
Very well stated!
Guess what soaks up 40% of the entire EU budget?
French farm subsides.
The euros have a vested interest in keeping Africa from being able grow bountiful crops of food.
Probably why the appease the actions of Mugabe of Zimbabwee soo much. THey want to keep Africa producing below or right at their needs, but no more.
You're wrong, that is exactly what they are doing. From an article written by the father of the "green revolution", Norman Borlaug:
The U.S. is contemplating a WTO suit because European resistance to GM foods is increasingly influencing the trade policies of other nations, to the point where some African governments recently have turned down American GM grain intended for starving people. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick says he has information that several European countries are threatening to make economic aid to developing countries contingent on whether they prohibit biotech crops. If this is true, it would be tragic and grossly irresponsible.
Your post makes no sense. What does genetically modified crops sent to Africa have to do with processed food?
- Your post makes no sense. What does genetically modified crops sent to Africa have to do with processed
RE:
oooh sorry for thinking to fast. But most processed food such as wheat and corn come from genetically modified crops. Also many vegetables... the list is very long.
Genetically modified and processed food is a deadly mix.
The best medical website to date: www.mercola.com
I ask AGAIN, what does genetically modified crops that have been used for years and proven to be safe have to do with processing foods? They are two entirely different things.
And my information is from Norman Borlaug, a Nobel Prize winner and responsible for saving more lives with his innovative crop growing techniques than any other living human (and that is NOT an exaggeration). Not some quack, anti-vaccination website.
Another comment from Borlaug:
Current GM crop varieties that help to control insects and weeds are lowering production costs and increasing harvests -- a great potential benefit to all Third World farmers. Future GM products are likely to carry traits that will improve nutrition and health. All of these technologies have more benefits to offer poor farmers and consumers than rich ones.
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