Scientists Hide Facts About Genetically Modified Crops – HOMEF

With conflicting assertions on the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) crops , Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has accused scientists of hiding the truth about the safety of the biotechnology-enhanced crops.

HOMEF Director, Nnimmo Bassey, disclosed this to THE WHISTLER in an exclusive chat during a roundtable with lawyers on promoting biosafety in Nigeria at the weekend in Abuja.

According to Wikipedia, a genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. 

Bassey accused the promoters of arm-twisting the government and the media into believing that adoption of biotechnology was the only solution to the country’s food crisis.

He said that it has been scientifically proven untrue the claims that GM crops yield higher than natural varieties, adding that farmers would use less chemicals because the crops have been engineered to resist pests and act as herbicides.

He explained that the herbicide-tolerant crops would initially withstand chemicals, but after a while the weeds would build resistance and become super weeds requiring a higher dose of the chemicals.

His words: “Scientists deliberately conceal the harmful effect of dependence on the crops and chemicals.

“This chemicals don’t only kill weeds, they kill other beneficial organisms in the soil and water where they can be washed into. It would be noted that ‘Roundup’ has glyphosate as a major component and this is a carcinogen.”