Forum to tackle impact of genetically modified products
A multi-sectoral group is holding today a forum on the impact of Genetic Engineering and genetically modified products on health, environment, agriculture and food security.
The forum entitled “Genetic Engineering And Its Impact On Health, Environment, Agriculture and Food Security”, will be held at the Iloilo Grand Hotel in Iznart St., Iloilo City at 1 p.m.
It will be spearheaded by Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) in cooperation with the Third World Network (TWN), OFFERS Panay, Institute of Good Governance & People Empowerment (IGG) and Central Philippine University College of Agricultural Resources & Environmental Sciences (CPU-CARES).
The forum will feature Camilo Rodriguez-Beltran, a respected Mexican scientist in the field of biochemistry and post-genomic sciences. He is currently a Research Associate at the INBI-Integrated Research Center in Biosafety at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. His advocacies and scientific lectures include the exposes on the negative impact of genetic engineering and the biological hazards of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) to the food products.
To note, there is an ongoing debate in Bacolod City and the province of Negros Occidental on whether or not to stop the implementation of their respective ordinances banning products with genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
It was learned that poultry and hog raisers called for a moratorium on the implementation of the anti-GMO ordinance as it affected their businesses.
Poultry and hog raisers depend mostly on GMO corn for their feeds. They claimed that without GMO corn they incur a shortage on feeds.
Iloilo, which is considered as the country's food basket, does not have anti-GMO ordinance similar to that of Bacolod and Negros Occidental.
“How safe are our people from the biological consequences of scientific and artificial intervention being made by giant agri-chemical corporations and food manufacturers to the food and various products that flood our markets today?” asked MASIPAG, a nationwide network of farmers, scientists and NGOs with over two decades of experience in community building efforts dedicated to the practice of sustainable agriculture, genetic conservation and sharing of farmer knowledge, in a press release.
“We expect to gather the presence of local government leaders from the different LGU’s in Iloilo together with the participation of respected academic and religious leaders as they initially manifested their willingness to join and support these urgent endeavors--one that is aimed at protecting the health, safety and food security of our people and our posterities,” declared Ms. Georie Pitong, Regional Coordinator of MASIPAG-Visayas.
Among the prominent personalities which the group expects to join in the forum is Msgr. Meliton “Dodong” Oso, Executive Director of the influential Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC).
According to Ms. Pitong, the forthcoming forum is just the ‘kick-off’ activity for the series of public awareness undertaking with regards to the pressing issues related to the negative implications of Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Products more particularly on the food and agriculture sector.