Natural Non-GM sweet potatoes outperforms GM variety with higher yields

[Guest guest]

GM WAT. CH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

African Center for Biosafety and Friends of the Earth Nigeria

 

January 10, 2006

 

TEN YEARS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS FAIL TO DELIVER BENEFITS TO

AFRICA

 

Johannesburg (South Africa), Lagos (Nigeria), January 10, 2006 – Ten

years after the first significant planting of Genetically Modified (GM)

crops there are no apparent benefits for consumers, farmers or the

environment, and despite renewed promises by biotech corporations,

there has

been no impact on hunger and poverty, according to a report by the

African Center for Biosafety and Friends of the Earth International. [1]

 

The 100-page report " Who benefits from GM crops? Monsanto and its

corporate driven genetically modified crop revolution " concludes that the

increase in GM crops in a limited number of countries has largely been

the result of the aggressive strategies of the biotech industry, rather

than the consequence of benefits derived from using GM technology.

 

" Contrary to the promises made by the biotech industry, the reality of

the last ten years shows that the safety of GM crops cannot be ensured

and that these crops are neither cheaper nor of better quality. Biotech

crops are not a solution to the hunger question in Africa or

elsewhere, " said Nnimmo Bassey of Friends of the Earth Nigeria.

 

The biotech industry continues the misleadingly claim that GM crops

play a role in solving world hunger in Africa and the world's largest

producer of GM seeds, Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON), holds an oppressive

influence over agriculture and food policies in many countries and

international bodies.

 

Several Western African Governments Burkina Fasso and other Governments

in Western Africa have been under substantial pressure in recent years

to rapidly introduce GM cotton.[2] In the meantime at the end of 2005,

South Africa adopted a moratorium on new GM crops pending a study of

the Department of Trade and Industry.

 

" The moratorium on new GM crops in South Africa sends a clear signal of

the failure of GM crops in our continent. GM cotton in South Africa did

not solve our farmers problems, on the contrary it has contributed to

increase their indebtedness. The rest of African countries where

Monsanto is promoting Bt cotton should learn from our experience " .

 

The new report states that:

 

* GM crops in Africa will not solve hunger. Most GM crops

commercialised so far are destined for animal feed, not for food, and

none have

been introduced to address hunger and poverty. GM Bt cotton in South

Africa's Makhathini Flats has been widely promoted by Monsanto as an

African small farmer/GM success story and a solution to poverty. However,

since 2000 the number of Bt cotton farmers in South Africa has lessened,

many of them incurring losses and defaulting on their loans, raising

strong questions about the impact of GMOs on poverty reduction

 

* - Monsanto-funded Kenyan sweet potato fails. GM sweet potato in Kenya

was presented as a key GM crop to help African agriculture. However by

the end of January 2004, and more than US$10 million later, the results

of the trials were quietly published in Kenya, showing that none of the

claims were true. The results revealed that the non-GM sweet potatoes

had yielded significantly more than the GM variety.

 

- A moratorium in South Africa. In November 2005, despite having

introduced GM crops in several hundred thousand hectares, the South

African

government communicated that it had placed a moratorium on import

approvals, pending the outcome of a socio-economic study that the

Department

of Trade and Industry.

 

* GM crops are not 'green'. Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybeans, the most

extensively grown GM crop today, has led to an increase in herbicide

use. Independent reports from the US show that since 1996, GM corn,

soybean and cotton have led to an increase in pesticide use of 122

million

pounds (55 million Kilos). The intensive cultivation of soybeans in

South America contributes to deforestation, and has been associated

with a

decline in soil fertility and soil erosion.

 

After ten years of GM crop cultivation more than 80% of the area

cultivated with biotech crops is still concentrated in only three

countries:

the US, Argentina and Canada.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

 

In Nigeria: Nnimmo Bassey

Friends of the Earth Nigeria

Tel: +234 8037274395 (mobile) +234 52602680 (office)

 

In South Africa: Mariam Mayet

African Center for Biosafety

Tel: P: +27 (0)11 646 0699 C: +27 (0) 84 683 3374

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

 

[1] The executive summary of the report is available from January 10 at

http://www.foei.org/publications/pdfs/gmcrops2006execsummary.pdf

The full report is available upon request from ann

 

[2] A four-page 'Key Facts of a decade of GM crops' is available from

January 10 at:

http://www.foei.org/publications/pdfs/gmcrops2006factsheet.pdf