What thoughtless activists want to do with biotechnology

CFP ^ | February 14, 2005 | Paul Driessen and Cyril Boynes, Jr.,

[MikeEdwards]

Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Ruth Oniango has a dream. A member of Kenya’s parliament, she dreams of the day when the people of her poor country "can feed themselves."

Congress of Racial Equality national chairman Roy Innis shares that vision. But he also knows the obstacles. "Over 70 percent of Africans are employed in farming full time," he points out. "Yet, half of those countries rely on emergency food aid. Within 10 years, Africa will be home to three-fourths of the world’s hungry people."

Many of the continent’s farmers are women who labor sunup to sundown on 3 to 5 acre plots. They rarely have enough crops to feed their own families, much less sell for extra money. Millions live on less than a dollar a day.

Maize (corn) is southern Africa’s most important crop. But because of drought, insects, poor soil, plant diseases and lack of technology, the average yield per acre is the lowest in the world. Other crops suffer similar fates.

"We eat cassava for breakfast and mash it with potatoes and bananas. But the mosaic virus attacks the plants, the leaves fall off, and it’s no good for eating," Kenya’s Samuel Njeru laments. "We can’t afford to spray. We need a variety that is resistant to the virus."

Mosaic virus first appeared in Africa in 1894 and now infects every cassava plant. Over 35 million tons of this staple are lost every year--along with tens of millions of tons of other crops. . . . .

[SueRae]

Now THAT is a cool story. It sounds very hopeful.

So much in this country is taken for granted, just walk through any produce section. Sometimes the variety and abundance seems obscene when there are people are trying to cultivate one or maybe two staple crops.

[tfecw]

I agree. Let them sanction them. I'm getting the impression no one in Africa will be exporting food for a loooong time ;)

besides it's too late. People already have the plants. They can reuse them and sell them to neighbors. Its a matter of time. Good for them.

[stainlessbanner]

< snip >

"Their latest tactic is legislation in Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota and Vermont that would make farmers and seed manufacturers liable if their crops "contaminate" organic produce with traces of GE pollen. It would open the door for frivolous lawsuits, make biotech farming legally and financially risky, deplete R&D budgets, and further delay Dr. Oniango’s dream."

This article paints a rosy picture of GE foods and labels organic food proponents as wealthy aristocrats who want to keep the poor starving.

[stainlessbanner]

ping

[Little Pig]

Frankly, the biocompanies SHOULD be liable if their crop contaminates a naturally-occurring plant. As it stands, the biocompanies can sue you if their crop pollinates yours and they find their genetic trace markers in your subsequent crop, regardless of whether you knew your crop had become tainted. I don't object to GE crops per se, but the high-handed actions of the companies that create them leaves a lot to be desired.

[katana]

Ah, those Birkenstock wearing organic food types are soooo compassionate. If Archer Daniels Midland were conspiring to murder a couple hundred million African farmers I think we would have all heard about it before now. But when a few Berkeley educated misanthropes who prefer to eat food that's been grown in s**t do the same?

[stainlessbanner]

Agreed. There could be environmental implications that these people are unaware of down the road. Also, many American companies (food distributors) have policies that prohibit GE foods in their products. Although they might feed themselves, these farmers might find a limited market for their GE goods.

[PeterFinn]

"We need a variety that is resistant to the virus."

No, Africa needs nations of laws, morality, and ethics as opposed to the tin-pot dictatorships that have come to exemplify African kleptocracies.

Until that happens then it matters not a whit what African farmers grow because some SOB in a uniform will steal it from them.

[NorthGA]

The problems in Africa are more related to politics than biology. Look at Zimbabwe - it was a productive farmland country is now a country of poor starving people.

The reason for the change has nothing to do with lack of bio engineered plants.

[farmfriend]

Thanks for the ping. My ping list is down right now do to computer issues. Keep pinging me though.

[supercat]

Genetically-engineered organisms could easily cause an ecological disaster if they contaminate heirloom crops. I am disturbed by some of the laxity surrounding such things.

[secretagent]

No. Africa needs nations of laws, morality, and ethics as opposed to the tin-pot dictatorships that have come to exemplify African kleptocracies.

Until that happens then it matters not a whit what African farmers grow because some SOB in a uniform will steal it from them.

Well said.

[secretagent]

The problems in Africa are more related to politics than biology. Look at Zimbabwe - it was a productive farmland country is now a country of poor starving people.

Bingo! .