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Do genetically modified foods cause cancer?
Do genetically modified foods cause cancer?

Science should make the point on GMOs and not scaremongers

One of my favourite quotes is attributed to Jonathan Swift, who said, “Whoever makes two ears of corn, or two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before, deserves better of mankind, and does more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together.”

As scientists and researchers, we always rise to the occasion by designing solutions to our pressing problems. But sadly we don’t always see the positive impact of our works because of the inconsistent and shifting positions of our populist politicians on national policy.

So has been our politicians' stance on the matter regarding the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Ghana.

Our politicians continue to evade the real issues warranting the need for the introduction of GMOs into our agriculture, and in doing so pander to the irrational and absurd demands of the anti-science scaremongers.

Although it is important that in our democracy, the views of others in shaping our national policies be respected, it is equally imperative we recognise that not all proffered opinions are in the best interest of the nation.

The mere expression of skepticism and fears and the attempted demonisation of GMOs by opponents should not be logical grounds for our politicians’ inaction to bring the debate to finality.

 Intellectual discourse

This article is not an attempt to silence dissenting views or opponents of GMOs, but a call for an intellectual discourse where claims made by both sides are substantiated by irrefutable scientific evidence.

For instance, when opponents make unverified and unsubstantiated claims that GMOs cause cancer, we should demand that they produce an incontestable scientific data to back up their claims. We should let science make the point to drive the debate but not sentiments and the fear of the unknown.

Not so long ago, we read of the decimation of the corn fields by army worms in some African countries, including Zimbabwe and Zambia. It was reported that the Zambian Air Force was called in to help contain the invasion of these voracious and deleterious pests by aerial spraying of pesticides (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38452198). This panic response was entirely avoidable if these nations had adopted Bt corn (a genetically modified corn developed to innately produce a toxic protein that is selectively fatal to army worms and other pests).

We may not have army worm’s invasion in Ghana presently, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed. We should not wait to go through the bitter experience of these sister nations before we do what is right for ourselves.

It would be injudicious, for instance, on the part of a police officer who is aware of the risks associated with his job to refuse to wear a bullet-proof vest when provided with one and to end up fatally harmed by gunshots.

Similarly, our fragile national food security needs to be strengthened by cushioning ourselves against such unpredictable threats from invasive pests using this tried and proven agricultural technology.

The notion put forward by opponents and skeptics that we do not need GMOs now in Ghana is a fallacy. Indeed, we do not need to adopt all GMOs, but only those that we can demonstrate through research to have real benefits to our national interest.

Agricultural biotechnology is our surest bet of safeguarding our food security against climate change that is causing erratic weather patterns and a resurgence of pest and disease incidences. We can show a remarkable resilience in the face of these threats by playing smart.

My outspoken support for GMOs is not based on the current existing GMOs per se, but rather on the versatility of the technology that is used to produce them.

To this end, we urge our politicians to desist from their seemingly incorrigible habit of evasiveness on matters of national importance such as this.

They should proceed to pass all the necessary bills required for the safe deployment and development of agricultural biotechnology in Ghana.

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