GMO foods and crops: Africa's choice

N Biotechnol. 2010 Nov 30;27(5):609-13. doi: 10.1016/j.nbt.2010.07.005. Epub 2010 Jul 15.

Abstract

There is a scientific consensus, even in Europe, that the GMO foods and crops currently on the market have brought no documented new risks either to human health or to the environment. Europe has decided to stifle the use of this new technology, not because of the presence of risks, but because of the absence so far of direct benefits to most Europeans. Farmers in Europe are few in number, and they are highly productive even without GMOs. In Africa, by contrast, 60% of all citizens are still farmers and they are not yet highly productive. For Africa, the choice to stifle new technology with European-style regulations carries a much higher cost.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Agriculture / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Agriculture / methods*
  • Choice Behavior*
  • Crops, Agricultural / genetics
  • Environment
  • Europe
  • Food, Genetically Modified* / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Plants, Genetically Modified* / adverse effects
  • Plants, Genetically Modified* / genetics
  • Risk Assessment