GMO foods are safe for humans and the environment – researcher

Dr Daniel Osei Ofosu, a research scientist at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission has reiterated the safety of genetically modified foods for humans and the environment which will address food insecurity.

He reassured that before any GMO food was put onto the market, it would have gone through the necessary safety precautions.

“Biotechnology is a scientific method of enhancing food quality, safety and production and could cater for the myriad of challenges facing the Agricultural sector in Ghana and Africa in general” he added.

Dr. Ofosu said this after the screening of the movie food evolution directed by American Academy Award-nominated director Scott Hamilton Kennedy and narrated by esteemed science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson for the International Association of Students in Agriculture and related Sciences (IAAS) University of Ghana.

Food evolution explores the brutally polarized debate that the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into our food chain has generated over the years. Travelling from Hawaiian papaya groves to banana farms in Uganda to the cornfields of Iowa.

The research scientist said biotechnology had led to key development in areas such as industry, health and the environment in the developed world, saying that, “this is why we believe that ongoing research on improved variety of crops must be embraced, to enhance food production for local consumption and for export, as well as poverty reduction through job creation.” he added.

He noted that ensuring food security was critical to the sustenance of the human race, particularly in Africa and, “That is why we need innovations in technology to deal with the mounting challenges in Agriculture,” he explained.

Mr. Obed Asamoah Manu, president for the International Association of Students in Agriculture and related Sciences (IAAS) University of Ghana said GMOs will help solve the problems in the Agriculture sector, which series of researches had proven their safety.

He said challenges of insect pest, poor rainfall patterns and post-harvest losses could be addressed through the use of the science available, which GE sought to address.

“At the mention of GMOs, most people think it’s all about chemicals, but rather the GMO products are coming to reduce agrochemical spray,” he said.

Mr. Manu believes that once National Biosafety Authority is working in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority, mandated to ensure the safety of any product on the market are working, we are good to go.

“if we don’t art fast climate change will push more than half of the Ghanaian people into poverty by 2030, due to climate effects on agriculture” he added.