Genetically Modified Food

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species.

Such methods are used to create GM plants – which are then used to grow GM food crops. (WHO.inf)

Current situation

a) The National Research Council has reported that Scientists at nonprofit institutions have been working for more than two decades to engineer sorghum crops that are resistant to both drought and an aggressively parasitic African weed, Striga. In a 1994 pilot project by the United States Agency for International Development, an experimental variety of engineered sorghum had a yield four times that of local varieties under adverse conditions. Sorghum, a native of the continent, is a staple throughout Africa, and improved sorghum seeds would be widely beneficial. (New York Times)

Botswana is a strong generator of Striga and, Paradoxically, one of the best known genes for resistance turned up in an unimproved variety from Botswana, (New Agriculturist)

What are Botswana reactions?

Scientists in Botswana have developed a way to erradicate Striga for their harvests, but the necessary technology to obtain the gene is abscence.

Legal framework

In 1994 a pilot project was created by the United States Agency for International Development, an experimental variety of engineered sorghum had a yield four times that of local varieties under adverse conditions. Sorghum, a native of the continent, is a staple throughout Africa, and improved sorghum seeds would be widely beneficial. (New York Times)

Botswanas position

Sorghum is the main crop grown in Botswana, but despite this, its consumption seems to be declining. In order to identify constraints and opportunities for enhancing utilization of the crop, socio-economic and market surveys were carried in selected urban and peri-urban areas. These studies showed that sorghum still remains the most consumed cereal in peri-urban areas, accounting for 74% of total cereal consumption in these areas, but only 47% in urban areas.

The findings suggest that sorghum formulated products would be acceptable if they are nutritious, healthy, affordable, and could maintain traditional flavors. (Consumer Attitudes to Sorghum Foods in Botswana)

Proposal

What is proposed is to develop, establish and maintain the necessary human and physical infrastructure needed to run a MAS laboratory. With this marker-assisted selection (MAS) technology, the already developed resistance gene could be tracked and furthermore, improve the qualities of the production of Sorghum in Botswana. Having the result, it can be shared to the rest of developing African countries that need improvement in their harvests and that the production of Sorghum is the main basis of alimentation in the population. (New Agriculturist)

Works Cited

· Achieving the Millenium Development Goals in Africa, The MDG Africa Steering Group, http://www.mdgafrica.org/, October 4^th 2010.

· Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook, Africa, Botswana, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html, October 4^th 2010.

· Consumer Attitudes to Sorghum Foods In Botswana,

· New Agriculturist, http://www.new-ag.info/developments/devItem.php?a=1732, October 4th 2010.

· PAMELA C. RONALD and JAMES E. McWILLIAMS, Genetically Engineered Distortions, The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/opinion/15ronald.html?ref=genetically_modified_food, , October 4th 2010.

· World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/, October 4^th 2010.