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GMO Crops on the African Continent After reading through the following article: Deressa, T., Pugliese, J., Kimenyi, M.S. (2014). Genetically Engineered Crops: Key to Climate Adaptation and Food Security in Africa. Brookings Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2014/09/04/gen etically-engineered-crops-key-to-climate-adaptation-and-food- security-in-africa/ Choose a side, either for or against GMO in Africa. And I choose the AGAINST. AGAINST 1. List the reasons why and how GMO would weaken the African continent. 2. Explain how the possible positive impacts of GMO, could quickly turn into a negative impact (if any). 3. Describe one country in Africa that you think would least benefit from harvesting GMO products. Reasons why GMOs could weaken the African continent: 1. Dependence on multinational corporations: Introducing GMOs in Africa could lead to increased dependence on multinational corporations that own the patents for genetically modified seeds. This could result in a loss of control over agricultural practices and a shift towards a profit-driven model that may not align with the needs and priorities of African farmers and communities. 2. Threat to biodiversity: GMO crops have the potential to negatively impact biodiversity by reducing the variety of native plant species. This reduction in biodiversity can have long-term ecological consequences, including the loss of genetic diversity and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases.

3. Socioeconomic inequality: The adoption of GMOs in Africa may exacerbate existing socioeconomic inequalities. Small-scale farmers, who make up a significant portion of the agricultural sector in Africa, may face challenges in accessing and affording genetically modified seeds and associated technologies. This can widen the gap between large-scale commercial farmers and smallholder farmers, leading to increased inequality in the agricultural sector. While GMOs have the potential to offer certain positive impacts, it is important to recognize that these benefits can also have unintended negative consequences. Here are some ways in which the positive impacts of GMOs could turn into negative impacts: 1. Development of resistance: One of the main advantages of GMOs is their ability to resist pests, diseases, and herbicides. However, over time, pests and diseases can develop resistance to the genetically modified traits. This can render the GMO crops less effective and require the development of new genetically modified traits or increased use of chemical interventions. This can lead to a cycle of dependency on technological solutions and potentially harmful chemical inputs. 2. Environmental impact: GMOs that are engineered for herbicide tolerance often lead to increased herbicide use. While this may initially result in effective weed control, over time, it can lead to the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds. This can necessitate the use of stronger and more harmful herbicides, causing environmental damage and potential health risks for farmers and nearby communities.

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