Tanzania will step up vigilance against the importation of genetically modified (GM) crops after its neighbour Kenya approved the farming and importation of these crops. Some agriculture stakeholders, including consumers, in Tanzania had raised concern that GM foods might find their way into the country considering the proximity of the two countries. “We are not open to such GM technology,” agriculture minister Hussein Bashe said, adding that Kenya’s move “has no effect on us”. He said Tanzania does not promote or commercialise GM crop varieties, as the country’s hybrid and open-pollinated (OP) varieties are performing well. The East African

 

 

Kenyan farmers face a tiny but destructive threat: the fall armyworm. This caterpillar wreaks havoc on cereal production [GMW: and is being used as an excuse to push GM insecticide-containing plants into the country]. Kenya’s three staple crops — maize, sorghum and rice — also happen to be its favourite food. Luckily, there is a surprisingly simple, sustainable and affordable solution. With push-pull technologies (PPT), the cereal crop is planted alongside a legume which repels the pest (the “push” crop), while a grass grown at the edge of the field attracts the pest. This “pull crop” provides a conducive environment for the pest to lay eggs but not for larvae to develop. Not only does this biological approach to pest control replace harmful chemicals, it also improves soil fertility, thanks to the nitrogen-fixing qualities of the legumes. The legumes in turn provide an additional food source for humans, while the grasses can be used as livestock feed. IFAD

 

 

Nigerians are being made to consume GM foods without their knowledge or consent. This assertion was made by Nnimmo Bassey, the director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) at a press briefing. At the briefing it was noted that since 2015, there have been several approvals, numbering up to 20, for GM foods to be imported into the country. “We are concerned that there is an insufficient amount of risk assessment conducted for these GM foods," Joyce Brown, the Programmes Manager of HOMEF, said. She added that GMO labelling will not be done because, for example, a market seller will not label her beans as GM. Nigerian Tribune

 

 

In the US, organic meat and egg companies don't have to provide their animals with sufficient space and meaningful access to the outdoors. The Trump administration removed animal welfare provisions from the standards for organic livestock in 2018, meaning that just because something is labeled "organic" it doesn't mean the animals were treated humanely. But now that we have a new administration, we have an opportunity to fix that and ensure the standards are clear, effective, and implemented quickly to protect animals. Tell the USDA to strengthen and implement the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standard now! Center for Food Safety

 

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