U.N. Pushes GM Foods

By Hilmi Toros

The United Nations warned governments in southern Africa yesterday to “consider carefully severe and immediate consequences” of refusing food aid because it contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The warning on behalf of the United Nations came in a statement during a press conference by FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf. It said with 13 million at risk of starvation, “their plight must weigh heavily in government decision-making.”

“FAO, together with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) take the view, based on information from a variety of sources and current scientific knowledge, that food being offered to southern African countries is not likely to present a human risk and may be eaten,” Diouf said.

He also called for an international agreement covering trade and aid involving food containing GMOs.

Biotechnology and GMOs have emerged as hotly contested points at this World Summit on Sustainable Development, as they were in the follow-up to the World Food Summit in June.

A strong push for biotechnology by the United States is meeting stiff resistance from NGOs and some E.U. nations, while the developing countries do not seem to be overly concerned. U.N. food officials consider biotechnology a useful tool in the fight against hunger since it has developed drought-resistant seeds, but they also warn of the need for careful study of any possible harmful effects on environment and health.

Earlier, addressing the summit, Diouf said more political will and additional resources are urgently needed to address hunger as the root cause of extreme poverty that, in turns, leads to environmental degradation. The Organization also launched yesterday a global alliance for Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development, uniting farmers, NGOs and other segments of civil society, as well as intergovernmental organisations and governments.