Vietnam to adopt GM corn by 2009

A Vietnam is set to conduct trials of GM corn for animal feed by early 2009 and then will produce GM corn for local farmers. According to media reports which quoted a top Vietnam official, local farmers would be allowed to grow GM corn if, after two years of  testing, GM corn is found to be biologically and environmentally safe. So far Vietnam has avoided use of GM corn in the absence of any biological safety regulations. If approved, GM corn will be imported initially from the Philippines, which has a similar climate.  Local varieties of GM corn will be developed later. Vietnam imports about $500 million worth of corn each year. Its requirement is  expected to be about 5.5 million tons this year, and is likely  to rise to eight million tons in 2010.

GM plants for detecting explosives

Scientists are experimenting with a GM tobacco variety that produces the red pigment anthocyanin in the presence of TNT (trinitrotoluene). TNT is an explosive often found in landmines. Usually tobacco plants produce this pigment in their flowers, resulting in their pink colour. Researchers transferred a gene from a receptor which detects nitrogen dioxide from a type of cress plant in which it was originally developed, to tobacco plants, which are hardier. In  GM tobacco plants, the presence of TNT in soil will cause pigment production in the leaves– resulting in red plants. If successful, it could make detection of landmines- which are a persistent danger and injure or kill up to 20,000 people annually- safer and easier. 

Consumer opinion

A study released recently suggests that consumers want more information on GM foods before forming an opinion either for or against. IGD which monitors consumer attitudes to GM food talked to 7,000 shoppers in 2008. The study shows that there is little change of opinion regarding GM foods since the issue received mass public attention almost a decade ago. Even during 2008, the opinion did not change much despite the increased media coverage over rising food prices. The majority of people (54%) remain undecided; 48% of people say that their knowledge of GM foods is poor, and 17% say it is good. Only 7% can accurately define GM food.

Farmers’ groups oppose Kenya’s Biosafety Bill

Farmers’  groups in Kenya have opposed the Biosafety Bill 2008, saying that it does not protect Kenyans from hunger, poverty and does not address health concerns surrounding GMOs. The Bill has been criticized for not curbing the impact of GM food products, which allegedly cause cancer and diabetes. The Kenya Biodiversity Coalition alleged that government  listened to MNCs instead of ordinary farmers while preparing the Bill. The coalition, on the other hand is backing an alternate Bill which they say will ensure that agriculture is sustainable and food is safe for consumers.

GM food labelling to add to food price

The mandatory labelling clause for GM food in the Consumer Protection Bill will increase the price of food by 15% and more, according to media reports which quoted a senior South African official. Labelling would involve a complicated procedure through the entire food processing chain starting from farm to table. This would involve conducting numerous tests at every stage to ensure identity preservation, and each stage would involve a cost factor, which would be passed on to the consumer.  Significantly more than 60% of South Africa’s staple food, maize meal, is genetically modified.