RE: [pronut-hiv] Biofortification Method (5)

["Stu and Kira" <rowat-taylor@zamnet.zm>]

Just a slight correction to Stacia's note:

There is no biological reason why seeds of genetically altered crops cannot
be saved or replanted. Use of genetically altered seed (e.g. Roundup Ready
Canola) is often governed by a licence agreement, whereby farmers agree not
to replant the seed unless they have paid for their licence. However, this
is a contractual rather than agronomic barrier to replanting. Thus, the
issue with genetic bio-fortification is one of control over the seed. If a
bio-fortified seed were donated, then farmers would be free to grow it. If
it remains a patented commodity, then one has to assess the potential
nutritional benefits against the potential economic costs of farmers being
beholden to a licence year after year. 

I wonder about the feasibility of enforcing licence agreements in a place
like Zambia, where there are millions of farmers operating very small-scale
operations far from the prying eyes of inspectors. It is also important to
note that most farmers here prefer the hybrid (non-replant-able) "improved"
seed and many try to replant the seed regardless - a significant source of
suboptimal crop yields.

There have been efforts to introduce improved open-pollinated varieties of
maize here, including a variety from Ghana called Obatampa, which the BIC
Church provided to some communities in the Choma area as part of a seed
relief package this past season.


Stuart Taylor
c/o BIC Church
P.O. Box 630115
Choma, Zambia
 
Home: +260 95 775774
Office: +260 3 220228
Fax:    +260 3 220127

> -----Stacia Nordin wrote:
> 
> 
> You are exactly right Jinda.  These seeds have taken a long time in labs
> to develop and create the seed.  I'm not sure which process they've used
> to do the biofortification
>  *  open-pollinated so that the seeds can be saved and replanted, or
>  *  hybrid that are forced to cross and the seeds cannot be saved and
> replanted, or
>  *  genetic engineering that are forced to have a gene added and the seeds
> cannot be saved and planted.
> 
> I would guess they are hybrid or genetically engineered.
> 
> Encourage people to plant and eat more nutrient dense foods, that is the
> root issue of alot of our problems.
> 
> Stacia
> 
>