Western anti-GM lobby
holding back African farming: official
AFP-Google
Sept 8, 2008
LONDON (AFP) — The anti-GM lobby in
rich Western countries is holding back the development of modern farming
technology which could help feed Africa,
Genetically-modified crops face stiff opposition from green
lobbyists and media in developed countries, and campaigners reflect those
attitudes in promoting traditional farming techniques in
"The Western world move toward organic farming -- a
lifestyle choice for a community with surplus food -- and against agricultural
technology in general and GM in particular, has been adopted across the whole
of Africa, with the exception of
The issue of biotechnology -- derided as producing
"Frankenstein foods" by critics -- has soared up the political agenda
because of the global spike in food prices, sparking alarm over growing hunger
and civil unrest.
The worldwide credit crunch and economic slowdown have also
fuelled debate about the value of organic food, amid signs that people are
turning back towards more mainstream -- and cheaper -- food as household
budgets tighten.
Speaking ahead of an address to a science festival in
Liverpool, western England, Monday evening King -- the British government's
chief scientist until he stepped down in December -- told reporters that the
anti-GM lobby played a key role.
"If you look at the position taken by non-governmental organisations and international organisations
it has been to support traditional agricultural technologies," he said.
"But it has been proven these technologies will not
deliver the food for the burgeoning population of
"Suffering within that continent is largely driven by
attitudes in the West which are anti-science and anti-technology.
"They are against the use of GM technology, which could
develop plants for crops which which can deal with increased
salinity in the water, flooding for rice crops and drought resistance."
Source: AFP
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