Deputy Minister of Finance, Adam Malima
The observation was aired by Deputy Minister of Finance, Adam Malima yesterday in parliament on behalf of Minister of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives.
He said despite several efforts made by the government to embrace the technology, including collaborations with stakeholders to educate the public on the use of genetic engineering technology through an Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) and seminars, there is still limited knowledge amongst the public.
Malima was responding to a question put forward by Murtaza Mangungu (Kilwa North-CCM) who had wanted to know how the government has organised itself to educate the public on GMO technology.
“There have been claims which are not correct and some contradicting information that the technology could cause destruction of biodiversity and vegetation, bring dependency on a few agricultural seeds companies and increase allergic effects.
However, researches conducted by various international organisations like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) show that there are no side effects,” Malima insisted.
To ensure that the nation benefits from long term application of biotechnology, the minister said the government has implemented various strategies including creating a National Biotechnology Advisory Committee (NBAC), in 2002.
Also, signing the Cartagena Protocal on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Biodiversity in 2003.
Notably, the protocol is an international agreement which aims to ensure safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that, in contradiction to the deputy minister’s assertion of no side effects, may have adverse effects on biological diversity and to human health as well.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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