"Africa must steer clear of GM crops"

President Yoweri Museveni says he is now sufficiently mobilised to accept the growing of genetically modified crops in Uganda. By implication, Monsanto which has been operating in Uganda for some years can now formalise its presence here.

Officially we are on the commercial agro-biotech band wagon. In March last year, the Washington Post reported that Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta and Dow Agrosciences had agreed to share their technology with African scientists "in a broad attempt to increase food production on that continent where mass starvation is a recurrent threat".

Simply put, the 'big four', known more for the harsh measures they are willing to take to maintain a stranglehold on the world's food chain than for their philanthropy, are suddenly willing to donate patent rights, seed varieties and laboratory technology to help Africa. Why am I not excited?

Full Article : newvision.co.ug