1.Scientists in Zimbabwe warn on biotechnology
2.Thomas R. DeGregori - a LOBBY WATCH profile
3.Africa urged to promote biotechnology

COMMENT

If this article is to be believed, then "Zimbabwe is moving towards embracing biotechnology in a development that shows a shift in government's attitude" that "could divide the country".

The evidence for a change of view on the part of Mugabe's government is apparently that "it rolled out a red carpet for Professor Thomas DeGregori", a GM zealot and Prakash sidekick (see item 2 for a LOBBY WATCH profile) during his recent GM promotional visit to the country.

Certainly, DeGregori did get to meet Zimbabwe's Vice President, Joyce Mujuru, during the visit in which, according to reports (item 3) he promoted GM as the solution to more or less all the challenges that African countries were experiencing.

However, it is far from clear whether the DeGregori visit is more than just part of a spin campaign by the pro-GM research lobby behind his invitation and probably behind his government-access.

The Zimbabwean government may have been led to believe they were meeting with a notable development specialist without realising they were being induced into a meeting with a GM propagandist - let alone one who believes GM opposition is the result of brainwashing and that GM has "increased life expectancy" and "generally improved human well-being"!
---

1.Scientists in Zimbabwe warn on biotechnology
By Deborah-Fay Ndhlovu
Zimbabwe Standard (Harare), February 14, 2006 http://allafrica.com/stories/200602130460.html

Zimbabwe is moving towards embracing biotechnology in a development that shows a shift in government's attitude but scientists have warned that the decision could divide the country.

The country has been treading on fears of side effects of biotechnology on health and the environment with the government leading a campaign against its use.

But when it rolled out a red carpet for Professor Thomas DeGregori, a visiting lecturer from the US sentiment was that it had changed its view.

The Biosafety Board is also being transformed into a National Biotechnology Authority to facilitate the adoption and use of biotechnology.

Scientists, however, warn that it still has to convince the public on the safety of using biotechnology.

A local scientist who declined to be named said: "There is no question on the importance of using biotechnology especially when it comes to issues of food security. The problem would be convincing the end user given all the hype and controversy surrounding the subject."

Biotechnology refers to the scientific process of manipulating living organisms. It covers cloning and the development of genetically modified organisms, among others.

Researchers are themselves divided on the way forward given the indications that there could be transference of genes from Genetically Modified Organisms to the natural environment, threatening the existence of flora and fauna.

The dean of the Faculty of Science with the National University of Science and Technology, Dr Eddie Mwenje, said results of a research on the possibility of introducing genetically modified sorghum were not favourable.

"The issue was to understand whether genes could escape into the wild. We have started doing our analysis and results so far show a higher possibility of genes being transferred to the natural environment," Mwenje said but maintained that he is still in support of developing GMOs.

"The impact it would have on insects and wild animals would be huge because it's changing their nutrient components."

Scientists raised fears that biotechnology could compromise the immune system, increase the probability of developing new diseases and activate genes for plant toxins causing allergic reactions. The business community on the other hand is worried that exports could fall.

However, other scientists said using biotechnology especially in agriculture would increase productivity and reduce famine.

They also said that forbidding the use of biotechnology in Zimbabwe would mean taking DNA vaccines and insulin for diabetics off the shelves.

"Biotechnology can be deployed to address fundamental challenges that include drought, pest diseases, climatic change and nutrition (quality of our diet). For example we can come up with a programme where maize can be modified to provide additional nutrients other than carbohydrates," said the Registrar of the Biosafety Board, Abisai Mafa.

"Food insecurity is a reality but with biotechnology a farmer can grow more on small pieces of land and have disposable income at his table. Think of weasels and how much grain is lost at the post-harvest stage. Crops rot but if we can fish out those problem genes that can be delayed. If we produce a better quality product that means we can be more competitive on the international market and get better prices and foreign currency to import what we do not manufacture locally."

But even then scientists believe that it would be hard to implement the regulatory framework.

Mwenje said: "Farmers would have to be taught before biotechnology can be released. The best regulation would be to restrict the use of biotechnology to some regions but that approach has to be done cautiously because even then people can just transport GMOs to other regions without detection."
---

2.Thomas R. DeGregori - a LOBBY WATCH profile http://www.lobbywatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=35&page=D

Thomas DeGregori is a professor of economics at the University of Houston, specialising in the role of technology in economic development and food production.

DeGregori was formerly a Consultant to USAID and a member of its Research Advisory Committee (1987 to 1993).

He is a board member of the pro-corporate American Council on Science and Health and a frequent contributor to its webzine. He is also a keen supporter of CS Prakash's AgBioWorld campaign and a regular contributor to Prakash's AgBioView e-mail list where he has expressed his strong support for the ideas of other frequent contributors such as Alex Avery and 'Andura Smetacek', later shown to be an e-mail front used by Monsanto to vilify its critics:

Andura

...In sum, I have one word for your comments - MAGNIFICENT! Keep on posting your comments.

Cheers
Tom DeGregori

(From: Tom DeGregori [email protected]?, Subject: Re:
AGBIOVIEW: Stossel , Archive: Message #689, Date: August 8, 2000)
http://www.lobbywatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=153

DeGregori is the author of the book, Bountiful Harvest (October 2002 - Cato Institute) which has been described as 'debunking the myths of frankenfood'. According to the blurb, 'In this provocative new book, Thomas R. DeGregori debunks anti-science environmental activists, and lays out the case for employing modern technology in modern agriculture. DeGregori argues that innovations such as bioengineered foods have increased life expectancy, crop yields and generally improved human well-being.'

Among his published articles are:

In defense of DDT and against chemophobia
Source: University of Houston Rockwell Lecture Series

Genetically modified nonsense
Source: The Institute of Economic Affairs [UK-based free market think tank]
http://www.lobbywatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=63

DNA and reductionist science
Source: Cato Institute [US-based free market think tank]
http://www.lobbywatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=29

According to DeGregori in his paper Genetically modified nonsense, in Europe 'much of the public, if not a majority, have been thoroughly brainwashed on this issue and frightened to the point of opposition to all uses of bioengineering in agriculture.'
---

3.Africa urged to promote biotechnology
People's Daily Online, China - 31 Jan 2006 http://english.people.com.cn/200602/01/eng20060201_239636.html

African countries should form smart partnerships to share knowledge on biotechnology applications in agriculture, health, industry and food technology, an expert said on Tuesday in Zimbabwe.

Visiting Biotechnology specialist, Thomas DeGregori of the University of Houston, in the United States, said this soon after meeting Vice President Joyce Mujuru.

"Africa needs all the knowledge it can get together on biotechnology," he said.

DeGregori said there was growing concern in Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa on the failure to produce adequate food to feed the people.

He said Africa was the only continent in the world that had experienced a decline in food per capita over the past 15 years.

"African farmers are taking more nutrients out of the soil than they are putting, making agriculture not sustainable," he said.

Biotechnology was the solution to the challenges that African countries were experiencing and governments should listen to what their scientists were telling them about the science, said DeGregori.

African scientists had been promoting biotechnology long before outsiders started talking Genetically Modified Organisms, he said.

They had been developing seed varieties that were drought resistant, high yielding and adapted to local conditions.

The Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the Research Council of Zimbabwe, invited DeGregori to deliver a public lecture on Applications of Biotechnology to Agricultural Productivity, Health, Industry and Food Technology at the University of Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

Copyright by People's Daily Online

Go to a Print friendly Page

Email this Article to a Friend

Back to the Archive