Surging food prices around the world last year wreaked havoc among the global poor. Economic conditions triggered riots in the tropics, with 24 killed in Cameroon and the Haitian government overthrown. Developing countries are significantly vulnerable to external economic and political factors beyond their control, but they may have scientific means of taking more control over food production. Given the prospect of growing populations and increasingly unpredictable markets, developing countries are investigating ways to produce more commodities with fewer resources. For a growing number of farmers in the southern hemisphere, most particularly Africa, genetically engineered (GE) crops may provide the best possible solution to increasing food costs.
Some advocacy groups conjure the spectre of "Frankenfoods" to support claims hat these foods should be outlawed. The gap between rhetoric and action to reduce world poverty and hunger by governments of most developing countries is worrisome from an ethical point of view. Many believed claims that GE foods couldn't play a significant role when dealing with world hunger. As a result, there is resistance to the development of this food technology.
But now, evidence that supports the use of GE crops to cope with climate change and economic challenges is overwhelming. Even Europe, the world's anti-GE cradle, is gradually shifting. Agriculture experts concur that conventional methods are no longer sufficient. With the Earth's population set to exceed 9 billion by 2050, farmable land is vanishing. Erosion could become a significant factor as well. Recent predictions suggest that poor countries could lose well over 135 million hectares of arable land over the next 50 years.
Disease control is a major issue for developing countries. These regions are in dire need of pest-resistant crops because of unforgiving climate patterns. Of course, there are some risks when dealing with GE foods. But as with any new technology, there are inherent risks, and scientists and governments should not be naive. So far, however, careful scrutiny has found no evidence of health dangers from growing or eating approved GE crops.
Undoubtedly, any ecological or health consequences of these products need to be constantly monitored. But the bottom line is that all crops are the result of some type of DNA alteration, and activists who denounce manipulation of crop DNA as unnatural should recall the history of agriculture and think about the human costs of their stances. The suffering of rioters in developing countries is all too palpable, and science can provide options to alleviate it.
Another issue with GE food is the dominant role of multinationals. While increased corporate concentration is inevitable, its ramifications must be addressed.
Biotechnological research led by multinational corporations towards actually increasing agricultural output is negligibly small, compared with development of genetically-engineered seed stocks that are herbicide-tolerant and pest-resistant, as well as other by-products supplied by these same companies. This practice enables the industry to offer the sale of their seed stocks, fertiliser, herbicides and pesticides as integrated package solutions to farmers without acknowledging the need for more useful products. As a result, agriculture in the Southern hemisphere is becoming economically more dependent and ecologically more vulnerable, while wealthier countries are becoming economically independent and more prosperous. It is therefore relevant to view biotechnology in the contexts of North-South relations, a globalized market economy, cultural diversity and economic asymmetry.
More endowed countries like Canada have a role to play. Science has improved our quality of life and developing countries should benefit as well. There is a growing need to address the related problems of developing countries through funding for technical support to set up regulatory systems and bio-safety measures, as well as to develop agribiotech research and development suitable to their needs. Canada has valuable expertise in biotechnology and can make a difference. With the global economic downturn, both the industrialized and developing worlds need to become closer trade partners and work towards converging objectives. This is a situation in which Canada can do well by doing good.
Africa is now the only continent in the world with a growing number of people suffering from hunger. That in itself is good news but more should be done for Africa and the developing world so it can cope with agricultural scarcities. A new deal is slowly emerging, one that expands our notion of "us" to include the entire human race. As a result, GE foods must be allowed to develop so our globalized economy can flourish.
Sylvain Charlebois and Lisa Watson are professors at the University of Regina.
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