通用农作物延误意味着非洲失去利益

[kisumu]批准使用的延迟转基因（GM）作物在撒哈拉以南非洲的营养不良和贫困促进了study找到了。

Many African governments are grappling with opponents and proponents of GM crops. This means their adoption is delayed, especially when opponents use the strategy of “announcing uncertainty” shortly before decisions are taken about them, according to the study published inPLOS One日记上个月（7月27日）。

“批准农作物可能是一种非常便宜的战略，以增加农舍的收入并产生经济增长。”

Justus Wesseler

荷兰瓦格宁根大学的研究和农业经济学教授Justus Wesseler告诉Scidev。Net基因作物的调节延迟对非洲国家的粮食生产产生负面影响，这间接地转化为高度health费用。

Adopting GM crops such as banana and maize could help save lives in some Sub-Saharan African countries, according to the study.

“The costs of a delay in approval of Bt [genetically modified] maize for Kenya, black sigatoka-resistant banana for Uganda, and corn borer-resistant cowpeas for Benin, Niger and Nigeria not only include the foregone benefits for producers and consumers in economic terms but also the indirect health costs in the form of营养可以将其转化为可以挽救的生命的预防。” Wesseler解释说。

来自德国，荷兰，南非和美国的研究人员团队使用data从以前的研究估算平均年度消费者和生产者盈余（对经济利益的衡量标准）以及营养不良的负面影响。

For example, according to the study, a year’s delay in approving the use of pod borer- resistant cowpea in Nigeria could cost the country US$33-46 million, and between 100 and 3,000 lives.

“The calculations considered that adoption of thetechnologywill take time and that not all farmers will adopt the new crops,” explains Wesseler. “The change in malnourishment has been calculated by using the percentage in yield increase and assuming a similar increase in percentage of consumption amongchildrenin rural areas.”

He says that when adopted by governments, crops engineered to be resistant to pests and diseases could improve local varieties.

Wesseler补充说：“结果表明，延迟我们调查的那些农作物的批准是非常昂贵的，尤其是延迟会损害农村地区的儿童。”“批准农作物可能是一项非常便宜的战略，以增加农舍的收入并产生经济增长以及减少营养不良”。

Daniel Otaye, a senior lecturer and chairman of the Biological Sciences Department at Egerton University, Kenya, says adoption of genetically engineered crops could eradicate perennial food shortages in most African countries, thus lowering the cost of living. “These are good concerns that will help eliminate poverty if adopted,” he adds.

奥塔耶（Otaye）指出的需要“对通用农作物和非洲的重要性提高认识policy makers必须灵活地采用它们。”

但是，基因工程作物仍然有争议。它们可能会导致长期的环境影响，鼓励单一栽培减少生物多样性，并导致农民依赖企业种子供应。beplay足球体育的微博

According to Peter Mokaya, managing director of the Kenya-based Organic Consumers Alliance, Africa does not need GM crops as they are causing soil deterioration and by extension nutritional deficiencies.

There is more than enough food to feed over 10 billion inhabitants of this world, says Mokaya, using other ways that are in line with thesustainable development goals。

“决策者需要什么是正确的信息that GMOs are not necessary to feed Africans,” he says.

这件作品由Scidev.net的撒哈拉以南非洲英语桌子制作。