More than 80% of the agricultural sector in Africa is made up of small farmers, who do not have the capacity to store their harvests. Most farmers save their seeds for use the following year. However, with the introduction of genetically modified crops, it becomes impossible to replant seeds from harvests, as they have been modified not to reproduce. Farmers therefore have to buy new seeds every year, which favors the foreign companies that supply them.
GMO cultivation: an agricultural advance that raises concerns
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are plants, animals or micro-organisms whose genetic make-up has been artificially modified or altered. GMOs were created to resist adverse environmental conditions, pests and diseases. What’s more, these organisms are highly resistant to chemicals such as herbicides. Some GMOs are created to increase the value of crops (color, size, sweetness, etc.). Responsible companies aim to create a diversity of plants and also to have mass production so that people don’t starve to death. However, this is leading to changes in the food we eat, raising concerns.
It’s important to stress that diet is essential to our health. But with the introduction of genetically modified foods in Africa, the taste and quality of products have changed. A few years ago, for example, billy goats had a very strong odor, which is no longer the case today. Similarly, fruits such as oranges and bananas have lost their natural flavor. This genetic modification of food is already widespread in Africa, and its consequences could be dangerous for the future of generations to come.
Who’s behind these changes?
Bill Gates, responsible for these changes, has declared that African agriculture is backward and must be abandoned for a 21st century version of the Green Revolution that fed India. Naturally, organizations have been set up to push this project forward. One of the main ones is called the Corneill Alliance Science, which systematically defends genetically modified seeds as healthy, productive and environmentally friendly, while attacking agro-ecology as economically and socially regressive.
In addition, other Bill Gates and Melinda companies and foundations are funding initiatives to promote GMOs in Africa. They train journalists and politicians to influence African governments and populations to adopt these technologies. These initiatives serve their own interests, to the detriment of traditional agriculture and agricultural diversity in Africa.
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The ecological consequences of GMOs
GMOs have negative effects. Genetically modified crops are plants in their own right. They cannot be easily controlled. Pollen can easily be carried long distances by wind and insects. As a result, the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops is difficult, as the risk of contamination is high; this could have an impact on traditional agriculture in Africa. This leads to other problems, such as the supply of pesticides and herbicides to kill pests and insects from these types of crops.
What’s more, genetically modified crops will usher in Terminator and traitor technologies. These are two examples of technologies that restrict genetic use. Terminator seeds are generally modified so that cultivated plants produce sterile seeds incapable of germinating the following season.
Continuous dependence
What’s more, genetically modified crops require dependence on company-supplied seeds. Farmers are now forbidden to save and share their own seeds. The new law stipulates that anyone who shares their seed with someone else will be thrown in prison for 20 years, with a $10,000 fine.
The health consequences of GMOs and the importance of staying awake
Genetically modified crops also pose a threat to health. As research has not been carried out in depth, very little is known about their impact on human health, but the risks are clearly real, particularly for Africa where diseases are ineffectively controlled.
The introduction of genetically modified crops in Africa raises concerns about both health and traditional agriculture. It is therefore imperative to take social, economic and environmental aspects into account before massively promoting GMOs on the African continent. Not to mention the fact that they tend to banish general African culture and tradition, since the sharing of cultures between neighbors or communities has existed since the dawn of time. What’s more, we need to be informed about new technologies through appropriate, in-depth studies of their long-term effects.
Totally inspired by Zack Mwekassa’s video
