World Food Day: Tell Congress to Listen to African Farmers!

Africa Faith & Justice Network
16 October 2009 22:12
Reply-To: afjn@afjn.org
To: nanaakyeamensah@gmail.com




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Dear Nana Akyea,

World Food Day is an occasion for citizens and global leaders alike to reflect on the state of global food security in the world. And in light of the triple threat of elevate food prices, the global financial meltdown, and the changing climate, the news is far from positive - The FAO recently reported that a record 1 billion people go hungry on a daily basis. Such staggering figures will only get worse if world leaders do not act fast.
At the helm of Congress' efforts on the issue is the Global Food Security Act of 2009, introduced to the Senate last spring by Senators Lugar and Casey. While the bill should be praised for its commitment to a more nuanced approach to food assistance, the bill also mandates funding for "research on biotechnological advances appropriate to local ecological conditions, including genetically modified technology." Such a provision is essentially a "subsidy to corporate research and development goals, and is not targeted toward the most effective, appropriate, or cost-efficient technologies," according to a policy brief from Food First.

Click here to send a letter to your Senator, reminding him or her that World Food Day is the time to rethink the role of biotech in the Global Food Security Act!
Despite the claims that drought-resistant seeds can sustainably feed the world in the face of climate change and a rising population, there has been no proof that genetically modified foods (GMOs) increase yields, and an internationally renowned panel of scientists does not consider them an important component of a sustainable solution to the world's food crises. Instead, those who have been pushing the role of such research are those that stand to benefit - the American agricultural seed and fertilizer corporations.

Thus, along with GMO seeds comes the classic, resource-intensive, top-down, corporate driven model of agriculture that failed to bring food security during the first Green Revolution, and ultimately resulted in ecological destruction, massive rural displacement, and debt-ridden farmers financially tied to the firms selling seeds and chemical inputs. In the face of proposed Green Revolution for Africa, African farmers, community leaders, scientists, and development organizations have all been saying NO! to GMOs and to the American corporate profit interests that continue to steer the efforts in that direction.

Tell Congress that it is time to listen! Click here to tell your Senator to remove the GMO mandate from the Global Food Security Act!

In Peace,

Rocco, Bahati, and Allison

P.S. Thanks again to everyone who has responed to our special fundraising appeal. We have had tremendous success in trying to reach $40,000 before the end of the month, but we still need your support. If you haven't yet, please consider donating to help AFJN keep up such advocacy efforts!

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