Zambia's rejection OF GENETICALLY engineered food: the Advantages and disadvantages

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Warren Cronje.

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ZAMBIA’S REJECTION OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD: THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction:

There is famine spread across Zambia; 3-million people, almost a third of the population, need Food aid. Zambia rejected genetically modified maize from the United States [the biggest donor to the United  Nations World Food Program (WFP)], calling it ‘poison’, even though the estimated maize deficit in Zambia is 575000 metric tons, out of an annual consumption of about 10 million tons. After continued pressure from the media, public and others. Levy Mwanawasa, and his government, sent a group of Zambian scientists to Europe, The United States and South Africa to research genetically modified food (GMF). Based on the scientist’s findings, the cabinet decided to ban all GMF. The Zambian Agricultural Minister Mundia Skatana declared “in view of current scientific uncertainty surrounding the issue the country should refrain from actions that might adversely affect human and animal health as well as harm the environment.” Many Zambians are not concerned about the ‘unsafe’ maize and have looted the genetically modified maize warehouse on numerous occasions. In this essay, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages concerning genetically modified food by looking at the opinions of pundits, politicians, economists and starving Zambians as well scientific evidence. In my conclusion, I will summarize the argument and offer my own opinion.  

Advantages:

Introduction:

Many world-renowned activists like; Green peace and environmental hero Shiva have applauded Zambia for placing a ban on genetically modified food. By placing the ban on genetically modified food, Mwanawasa and his government have protected their country from the possible dangers of genetically modified food in the future. Many people around the world agree with Zambia; several polls indicate that a majority resists eating or buying genetically modified foods. for example the 1998 Time/CNN poll found that 58% of people would not buy genetically modified food, the 2001 Mellman-POS survey should that 54% said they would not eat genetically modified food. In the ABC news poll 57% said they would not eat genetically modified food 5% said that they would be more likely and 34% said that it did not make a difference. A poll published in an issue of the Newsletter of the International Society of Chemotherapy shows that 112 of the 198 experts, from around the world, consider the presence of the antibiotic resistant gene within Novartis genetically modified maize an unacceptable risk and recommend further risk assessment. I will look at the disadvantages of genetically modified food, to evaluate the advantages of Zambia’s decision.

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 This is however a difficult task because of the amount of research done and the many different results. Pundits also have many different opinions concerning the magnitude of the risk of genetically modified food.

Health risks:

Genetically modified food is new on the market so there is concern about the long-term effects because of the unintended effects of DDT and Chlorofluorocarbons. The first main concern for scientists is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), it is a term used to describe the possible transfer of genetic material from one species to another by means ...

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