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Biosafety and Genetically Modified Food in Africa

Since the refusal of Sambia and Zimbabwe to accept food aid from the US on grounds of its "contamination" with genetically modified maize, efforts have been undertaken to install a legally binding evaluation procedure, the biosafety protocoll. A series of workshops in southern African countries (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sambia, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Swaziland, Lesotho) were used to discuss GMO related ecological, economical, social and health issues with national stakeholder.

With developed countries splitt mainly into US and Canada on one side favouring the use of GMOs and the European Union on the other side holding a sceptical view on GMOs, the role for many African countries is still unclear. Africans (apart from South Africa) perceive themself as being the last battleground for the deployment of GMOs. Though a general sceptcism on the use of GMOs, the need was recognised of evaluating GMOs on a scientifically based risk assessment. In the spirit of IDC a last workshop was held in Lusaka, Sambia, with local stakeholders discussing ecological, economical and health issues and enjoying a very constructive atmosphere and information exchange.

For more information you can download the report of the Sambia workshop SARB or contact: Markus Schmidt