July 7, 2016 | Genetic Literacy Project
The recent decision by the European parliament to oppose the promotion of large-scale, intensive farming and the use of GM seeds in Africa has stirred a swift and negative reaction among African scientists and food security experts. The measure was adopted by the European Parliament with 577 MEPs rejecting support for the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) program, launched in 2012 to address global food security. NAFSN’s aim aim is to bring 50 million people out of poverty by 2050 by enabling investment in agricultural sectors in several African countries.
The European Parliament vote that calls on the G7 countries not to support the use of genetically modified (GMO) seeds in Africa cannot have been based on a genuine understanding of the food security and poverty levels on the continent and the on-going efforts to deal with these challenges.
The report presented by Mara Heubuch, the German Green MEP, unfairly criticized the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) for promoting large-scale farming and what it referred to as land-grabbing and marginalization of small-scale farmers. Sadly the European Parliament rushed to adopt the report with a large majority as if it actually intends to keep Africa perpetually poor, food insecure, and dependent on Europe’s patronage. The decision can be best described as another neo-colonialist measure......Read more
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