There is a huge debate surrounding genetically modified foods. The question I'm trying to figure out is whether Somalia- and other developing countries- should begin exploring GMO technology as a possible solution to food insecurity?
Its pretty clear that biotechnology can boost agricultural productivity, which is a great plus. Based on the reasearch I've done, the safety concerns some environmentalists and anti-GMO proponents have is largely based on fear and misperceptions. People in developing countries have caught on to this fear- largely eminating from Europe- and now are afraid of becoming testing grounds for what they perceived to be untested dangerous technology. The reality is this technology is tested, and is already widely in use in the US and Latin America for example, so health risks is not my main concern.
My primary hesitation is that the use of GMO seeds can cause dependency, which means farmers will be relying on the price fluctuations and other whims of foreign multinational companies. That can prove dangerous, and what developing countries need is not only food security, but national security. The ability to have some level of control over the food supply in their nation.
If GM products can be developed locally, I believe there is little reason to resist them. But as long as the seeds are engineered to create dependency, then perhaps its not the best route for emerging economies.
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