The Prolife Global Alliance (GPA) has drawn the attention of the United Nations to what it referred to as “the growing health hazards and security concerns related to the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMO) foods in Africa.”
To consolidate its position, it presented “peer-reviewed data published by leading investigators worldwide that conclusively demonstrate the health risks of GMO foods, with no corresponding benefits. There is rising concern that proponents have supported terrorist groups in Africa to eliminate natural seed farmers, thereby forcing the adoption of GMO seeds and capturing Africa’s food security.”
Indeed, the group made references to several authorities and presented evidences to back up its position on the issue.
The petition signed by the chairman of GPA, Dr Philip Njemanze, and sent to António Guterres,
UN Secretary General, said: “Contrary to claims that GMO crops reduce pesticide use, the spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds in herbicide-resistant weed management systems has led to substantial increases in the number and volume of herbicides applied.
“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), glyphosate use is linked to cancer. French scientists from the Committee for Independent Information and Research on Genetic Engineering (CRIIGEN) in Paris established liver and kidney damage in experimental rats fed GMO corn.
“In Nigeria, breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women, accounting for 22.7% of all new cancer cases. Nigeria has the highest breast cancer mortality rate globally, with 12,000 deaths in 2018. Experimental studies suggest that GMO maize may cause cancer. The release of GMO maize in Nigeria for public consumption could further increase breast cancer risk in Nigerian women.
“Mice fed GMO potatoes (Bt-toxin) experienced damage to the small intestine cells according to Australian scientists. Laboratory evidence shows that rabbits fed GMO soybeans suffered liver damage. Genetically modified Soybean in rabbit feeding: Detection of DNA fragments and evaluation of metabolic effects by enzymatic analysis.
“Research from the Russian Academy of Sciences demonstrates that rat pups fed GMO soy experienced decreased weight and high mortality. Genetically modified soy leads to the decrease of weight and high mortality of rat pups of the first generation.
“Research from the Russian Academy of Sciences demonstrated that rats fed GMO soy developed small testes with bleeding and did not produce sperm.”
The Prolife Global Alliance disclosed that GMO food causes mass sterilization. It said that epicyte gene, inserted into maize, could cause mass infertility. An infertility gene, the epicyte gene, has been inserted into GMO seeds and so-called hybrid corn, cowpeas, beans, and yellow rice, which could be given to children across Africa in school feeding programmes.
The group further said that GMO food can cause cancer. It stated: “The genes used in GMO crops, such as Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, or Cry2A, can cause hematological risks in vertebrates, increasing their toxic effects with long-term exposure. Brazilian scientists have demonstrated the toxicity of GMO foods, which could result in blood cancers like acute leukemia.”
Maintaining that GMO yellow cassava does not contain protein or vitamin, the GPA said: “Biotechnology promoters hyped a falsified study that claimed GMO yellow cassava contained protein. This study was later retracted.
“International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) consulted with the US FDA to confirm that the agency had no objection to GMO golden rice being used in human or animal food products. However, the FDA stated that ‘Although the concentration of beta-carotene in golden rice (GGR2E) is too low to warrant a nutrient content claim, the beta-carotene in golden rice results in grain that is yellow-golden in color.”
The group also condemned biotech terrorism against Nigeria, saying that the biotechnology companies are the primary suspects in the killing of natural seed-growing farmers, with the aim of conquering Nigeria’s food security.
It stated: “According to the United States Council on Foreign Relations, between 2015 and 2018, about 37,500 people were killed by Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria. Of these, 32,000 (or 85%) were Muslims, and 5,500 (or 15%) were Christians. The data clearly suggest that the insecurity in Nigeria is not related to Islamic religious extremism, as most of those killed were Muslims.
“All victims of Boko Haram were farmers who were natural seed growers and their families. The terrorism in Nigeria is related to biotechnology companies attempting to eliminate farmers who grow natural seeds, aiming to replace them with GMO seeds. Therefore, this is more appropriately referred to as ‘biotech terrorism’ rather than ‘Islamic terrorism’ as it has been deceptively labeled until now.”
The Global Prolife Alliance said 14 million farmers were provided with gadgets enabling them to make farming input purchases but unknown to the farmers, “their detractors commissioned terrorists to use global positioning systems (GPS) and near-field communication (NFC) devices to track them. The seed-grower farmers were then killed on their farms. Competing biotechnology companies replaced the natural seeds with GMO seeds.”
The group sent copies of the petition to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly, among others.