Can GM crops help increase food security? Part 1

Since the commercialisation of Genetically Modified crops over 25 years ago, usage has dramatically increased.This post will aim to analyse how GM crops can be used to promote food security, while also looking at its potential challenges. Modifications, such as making crops drought resistant, aim to help achieve this goal. 

Agricultural activities are the largest consumers of freshwater in the world. It currently accounts for roughly 70% of global freshwater usage. This figure is expected to rise by 60% by 2025. As such, attempts to reduce the industry's water consumption are essential. When you add in the fact climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather and shifting climatic patterns, the need to increase water security becomes even more important. Sub-Saharan Africa has been drastically impacted by climate change (particularly during El Niño events), meaning climatic variability has increased dramatically. Droughts are more common, intense and far reaching than previously. Predictions shows that this is only expected to get worse. Not surprisingly, this is expected to have a significant effect on agriculture. As mentioned last week, over 95% of farms rely of rainwater for irrigation, meaning that they would undoubtedly be affected by the rising likelihood of droughts. An example of this happening is in 2011 when Somalia suffered from a famine largely due to droughts causing a reduction in the production of cereal and an increase in livestock deaths. Despite being provided with early famine warnings, the lack of early action incentives ultimately meant these warning were not acted upon. Thus, this shows the need for developments that can help overcome issues caused by natural disasters. GM crops are one solution that has the potential to achieve this. However, their use is still considered controversial. As such, this blog will aim to analyse whether their use will be beneficial in drought prone regions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

GM crops- What are they?

GM crops are plants that have had their genetic material changed in an unnatural way by selective breeding. Selective breeding has occurred for centuries, however Genetically Modified Organisms differ as it involves the more accurate editing of genes, allowing for the transfer of traits. This allows them to develop certain unnaturally occurring traits, such as being drought or pest resistant. GM crops are being increasingly used as solutions for many major problems facing the agricultural sector.

How safe are they?

Since commercialisation, GM crops have helped increase the agricultural production yield by over $98 billion. Despite this huge contribution and global adoption of its use, there still remain questions over its bio-safety. There is no evidence to suggest GM crops are not suitable for consumption. All GM crops go through vigorous testing before being allowed on the market. Thus, it is not thought they pose any additional risk to commercial crops already on the market. Despite this, misinformation is rife, creating a sense of concern around its use. One example of this is when the Zambian government banned GM maize from entering the country following misinformation from a British group 'Farming and Livestock Concern' that claimed GM maize from the US caused potential health risks. This resulted in many people being left to starve as food aid was rejected. Contrastingly, pro-GM countries benefitted from increased food security. 

Is access to them equal?

In many ways, distribution of GM crops remains inaccessible to many small-hold farmers. The monopolisation of the GM seed market by a few Western biotech companies means accessibility is expensive; perpetuating issues of inequality as the rich get access to these technological advances while the poor remain dependent on the cheaper, commercially available resources. It can even be seen as neo-colonialist, as Western groups are still exerting influence and control over the continent- controlling how development in the region will occur. Even the constant rhetoric that GM crops are the only way to solve food security issues is counterproductive in its own way. By claiming those who are against them are also against development, they absolve themselves of any responsibility and push the well known rhetoric of the Global South being unable to develop without Western intervention.

I will continue this post next week as there is still so much more to discuss!