Zimbabwe at cross roads over GMOs

Dzinotyiwei

The Zimbabwe government is divided on the adoption of genetically modified crops, yet they are resistant to drought and insects, science and technology Minister Heneri Dzinotyiwei said.

Dzinotyiwei who spoke at a national school debate on the importance of biotechnology crops said science now made it possible to move genetic traits from different organisms to achieve specific goals.

“To a large extent, such crops would tend to be more productive per unit area than non-biotech crops,” the minister said.

Dzinotyiwei said that scientists in the country were already undertaking experiments in laboratories to articulate a position on how to grow biotech crops. “More than 80 crops have had their genetic traits analysed and improved outcomes generated.”

He said all safety and health concerns relating to the use of GMOs were being addressed. “All concern had been scientifically proven to be wrong.”

The minister said the country only allowed the importation of GMO food in milled form adding that where a need to import grains was established appropriate permission would be issued.

He said the country already has in place monitoring procedure for the transportation of GM foods.

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Posted by AfricaSTI on October 24, 2011. Filed under Food & Agric. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry