2004 articles

FOCUS ON AFRICA
http://www.gmwatch.org/africa.asp

Kenya's region comparative advantage as a research hub and a highly skilled source of manpower, Prof Soon noted, had lately been exploited to make the country an experimental laboratory for all forms of Western technology.

Cautioning the country against being duped into blindly adopting technologies that were little understood... (item 1)

1.GMOs a health hazard, says scholar
2.US pushing GM in Botswana
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1.GMOs a health hazard, says scholar
Konchora Guracha
The Standard (Kenya), 9 Dec 2004
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news_s.php?articleid=7853

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products are being imposed on Kenya to the detriment of the environment and human health, a visiting Korean scholar says.

The country is not being given the opportunity to freely choose from a range of biotechnological options by competing multinational firms, explains Prof Soon-Kwon Kim, pictured left.

Kenya's region comparative advantage as a research hub and a highly skilled source of manpower, Prof Soon noted, had lately been exploited to make the country an experimental laboratory for all forms of Western technology.

Cautioning the country against being duped into blindly adopting technologies that were little understood, the don nonetheless pointed out that Kenya promises to be a development model for sub-Saharan Africa.

Now working at the Kyungpook National University’s International Agricultural Research Institute, he is currently in Kenya at the invitation of President Kibaki to assist in the fight against hunger.
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2.US pushing GM in Botswana
Huggins urges Botswana to exchange ideas on bio-technology, GMOs
Botswana Press Agency, December 08, 2004

GABORONE - US ambassador Joseph Huggins has urged Botswana to exchange ideas on bio-technology and genetically modified foods (GMOs) in order to come up with a comprehensive national framework on bio-safety.

Speaking at a seminar on biotechnology organised by the US mission and the government on Monday, he said: "In order to have a better understanding and to better put together ideas on strategic bio-safety framework, it is critical to understand GMOs technology." He said GMOs and biotechnology could make Botswana move from food deficiency to food self-sufficiency and reduce dependence of imported food from other countries.

"Biotechnology may lead to more harvest with little effort and help improve food security in Botswana as excessive imports on food products from South Africa and other neighbouring states," Huggins said.

He said the Pandamatenga farms, where some farmers are using the biotechnology products, would help boost the country's agricultural sectors.

Huggins was also hopeful that NAMPAADD and the use of technology would allow farmers to grow more crops with little use of pesticides.

Botswana is in the process of finalising a national framework on bio-safety, which is a combination of policies, legal administrative and technical instruments to address safety for the environment and human health in relation to modern biotechnology.

Some African countries had however in the past refused GMO foods aid questioning whether it was safe Huggins said the refusal to accept aid was political mainly due to the EU community even though aid on their side (EU) was not forthcoming and the "African states should make well informed choices and consider what is best for their people".