Africa at risk of invasion from genetically modified crops – new report

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria
Media Advisory

LAGOS, NIGERIA, March 21, 2005 — A new report by ERA/Friends of the Earth Nigeria describing the current threats of an invasion of Genetically Modified (GM) crops in Africa was released on March 21st at an international conference in Lagos.

The report “Genetically Modified Crops: A challenge for Africa ” unveils new evidence about the plans of US-based multinational Monsanto to contaminate the world food supply with GM crops.

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, the foremost grassroots environmental network in Nigeria , today called on African Governments not to open the continent’s doors GM crops.

The conference on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) was organized by ERA/FoE Nigeria and the Third World Network and will be attended by representatives of academia, governments, and civil society from more than ten African countries. During the two days conference there will be robust discussion on the potential risks of GMOs for Africa .

The report shows how the pressure to make Africa accept GMOs has been stepped up in the whole of Africa in the past years and describes the risks that GMOs present to the continent. The pressure is heightened by the lobbying of African leaders to accept the genetic modification to purportedly solve poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.

“After reviewing other experiences around the globe with the introduction of Genetically Modified crops in the last decade, Africa has no choice but to refuse GMOs. Allowing GMOs in Africa would put the health, the environment and the livelihoods of African people at risk”, said Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of ERA/FoE Nigeria.

The report also refers to a leaked document from US-based multinational Monsanto that unveils the company’s plans to contaminate the world food supply with GM crops. Monsanto is the lead marketer of GM seeds in the world, and its GM crops account for some 90% of all GM crops on the planet.

For more information contact in Nigeria
Akinode Oluwafemi (ERA Media): Tel.:+234 803 3039004
Nnimmo Bassey (ERA Executive Director): Tel.: +234 803 727 4395

More information about the GMOs and Africa Conference, and copies of the report “GM Crops: A challenge for Africa” are available at: http://www.eraction.org/

The conference venue is: Treasure Exclusive Hotel, 110 Iju Road , Church Bus stop, Ifako/Ijaye, Lagos , Nigeria . Tel: +234 -1-4924384, +234 -802-3530384