SACC on GMOs

PARTICIPANTS at a South African Council of churches (SACC) consultation on Genetic Engineering have called on the government to impose a moratorium on any further permits for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in South Africa.

A genetically modified organism is an organism whose genetic material has been deliberately altered for a specific purpose. An example would be wheat seeds that are manipulated to ensure better crop yields for farmers.

The consultation, which took place in May in Midrand this year, believes the moral complexity surrounding GMOs is not being taken seriously enough by proponents of GMOs or South African legislation. The issues were being treated in a “purely technical” manner.

Proponents of this gene transfer technology are “delinking science from ethics and political ideology and our African communal spirituality about life and food,” said a statement issued. The elevation of natural scientists and civil servants to adjudicators on these issues was concerning.

The meeting called on the SACC and its members to urge the government to affirm that GM is a high risk technology and that it should take all the measures necessary to make South Africa compliant with the Cartegena protocol.

The Cartegena protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by GMOs. It does this by establishing a procedure whereby countries are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms into their territory.

Churches are also particularly concerned that farmers who buy GMO seed become locked in an economic relationship with suppliers of the seed. In a situation of food insecurity this is most unwise.

Recently the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, added his concern about GM crops.  He was quoted as saying that genetic engineering tinkered with the essence of life. “Species that would not naturally reproduce are mixed together.  Through patenting seeds and genes, life forms can now be owned by corporations.  Through contamination of natural wildlife and plants, genetic engineering forever compromises the rights of future generations to a safe, healthy and diverse environment.”

The archbishop added that genetic engineering threatened rural livelihoods, food security and local control over genetic resources.  “Patent laws undermine the right of farmers to save seed, and one of the touted advantages of the patented seed, a reduction in the need for labour, is in fact disadvantageous when applied in Africa.” 

In considering our context Ndungane questioned: “Do Africans need genetically engineered food?  I would argue, no.  At least, not until we are certain of the consequences of our actions.  Not until we know it is safe, that we can afford it and contain it, that it is suitable for our farmers and farming systems, that it will not lead to a reduction in jobs, that it will not destroy biodiversity and that it will not increase our dependence on rich nations.”