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New Panos information resources on GM food aid and GM policy in southern Africa (Tuesday, July 8, 2003 -- CropChoice news) --
On August 16th 2002 the Zambian government announced that it would not accept 27,000 tonnes of food aid from the US to feed about two million of its people threatened by famine, because the food contained genetically modified (GM) grain. Zambia's rejection of the food aid resulted in a stormy international debate. International organisations including the Food and AgricultureOrganisation, the World Health Organisation and the World Food programme urged Zambia to accept the aid, while the EU, UK officials and many NGOs including a grouping of African civil society organisations criticised the US for putting such pressure on Zambia.
The issue throws a spotlight on the crucial question of whether countries can make their own decisions about introducing GM crops - and make their decisions freely after a process of discussion, weighing benefits and risks in the national context and consulting the wishes of their people.
Debate is proving as heated and difficult in Zambia as in many other countries: feelings are very intense, and appear to be predominantly against GMOs, so that voices arguing in their favour sometimes have difficulty getting a hearing.
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