“We must remember that the world without technology is wholesale death.” –Ayn
Rand, (famous objectivist philosopher). Our world thrives from new technological
advancements and would come to a stand still if technology did not continue to advance
modern-day developments. In 1946, scientists first discovered that DNA could be
transferred between organisms. Thirty-seven years later, in 1983, a tobacco plant was
used to produce the first genetically modified organism (GMO), a gene transformation
that created a revolution in farming and agriculture [2].
Genetically modified organisms have dramatically impacted the world of
agriculture and nutrition, and Uganda believes it is necessary to produce and encourage
the use of GMOs. GMOs are crops or organisms that are created by merging DNA from
different species and allow for the production of organisms that cannot occur in natural
environments [1]. Uganda, a country that has suffered from dire hunger issues, recognizes
that these genetically modified organisms offer longer crop seasons, eliminate
carcinogenic pesticide use, and provide nutritional enhancement, which will improve
crop productions in countries throughout the world [3].
Uganda deems that GMOs will benefit both developing and thriving countries
around the world. In 2001, when the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) approved the
commercial planting of a new GMO cotton variety in China, an area of 1 million hectares
was used to plant new Bt cotton assortments. The introduction of this crop provided a 7080% diminution in the use of insecticides and increased economic benefits and savings
[10]. By introducing disease-resistant-DNA to genetically modified organisms, GMOs
can withstand disease and pestilence that normally destroy natural crops [3]. Uganda
therefore stresses the use of GMOs in all countries, which we believe will generate
numerous worthwhile benefits.
The EU insists on a procedure for approving the release of GMOs into the
environment that calls for an environmental hazard assessment. Only after approval, can
the product be sold throughout the European Union “in conformity with any conditions
required in that consent” [7]. However, FAO, WHO, and WFP believe that the GMOs
now provided to southern Africa as food aid “are not likely to present human health risk.”
Uganda is therefore creating a procedure for GMO approval, which will stimulate the use
of GMOs in Uganda. Uganda’s procedure will also benefit other countries’ use of GMOs
and will initiate, if not, increase the production of GMOs worldwide.
Uganda, along with many other African countries, faces ravenous hunger and
horrible droughts, which prevent necessary crop productions. Biotechnology, however,
offers new opportunities to attain better food security, which will decrease poverty and
help recover the lives of people living in developing countries [8]. Uganda’s National
Agricultural Research Organization launched a research laboratory in 2003 to experiment
on the GE banana and Uganda is currently performing ongoing trials in order to initiate
its use of GMOs [9]. GMOs will both aid starving countries in need and benefit the
leading countries of today’s world, such as China. Uganda has therefore concluded that
GMOs are the solution to enhancing crop production and hunger issues for countries
throughout the world.
1. Bob Gerner, “GMO Facts,” Web, http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-­‐more/. 2. James Clive, “Genetically Modified Food,” Web, last modified July 17, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food. 3. Dr. Christopher Preston, “Genetically Modified Food Controversies,” Web, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food_controversies. 4. Deniza Gertzberg, “Uganda Testing Genetically Modified Bananas,” Web, last modified December 15, 2010. http://gmo-­‐journal.com/2010/12/15/uganda-­‐
testing-­‐genetically-­‐modified-­‐bananas/. 5. “Kenya’s Decision to Import GMOs Sends Region Into Panic”, Web, http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Kenya-­‐s-­‐decision-­‐to-­‐import-­‐-­‐GMOs-­‐sends-­‐
region-­‐into-­‐panic-­‐/-­‐/2558/1256198/-­‐/view/printVersion/-­‐/6mfee6z/-­‐/index.html 6. “United Nations Statement Regarding the Use of GM Foods as Food Aid in Southern Africa,” Web, last modified August 23, 2012. http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp076
534.pdf 7. Brussels, “Question and Answers on the Regulation of GMOs in the EU”, Web, last modified July 1, 2003. http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/library/press/press298_en.pdf. 8. Ronald Kalyango, “Uganda: GMO Cotton Trials Approved,” Web, last modified January 23, 2008. http://greenbio.checkbiotech.org/news/uganda_gmo_cotton_trials_approved. 9. “GMOs in Uganda,” Web, last modified June 8, 2012. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/GMOs_in_Uganda (9) 10. Shirong Jia, “GMO Biosafety Research in China,” Web, last modified 2002. http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FEBS%2FEBS1_01%2FS1635
792202009995a.pdf&code=9bd46002b15885a4589a28152cc6112a