When it comes to genetically modified foods, there are rising concerns about whether they have an adverse effect on human health. Experts reckon there is a greater need for South Africans to be informed on the dangers of genetically modified food and patented seeds.
As the world commemorates International Seeds Day, every year on 26 April, the focus has landed on the potential dangers lurking around genetically modified seeds, seed importance and seed education.
According to Kelly Dini, customer experience and product specialist at Seeds for Africa, this day has been endorsed by activists, farmers and organic food advocates. Genetically modified foods, Dini explains, has the potential to toxically affect human organs, such as hepatic, pancreatic, renal, and even reproductive effects. However, this assessment has not been completely validated and could take many more years of clinical research and trials, she tells Food For Mzansi.
“We need to educate each other and, as difficult as it may seem, our primary education services should get involved to teach the importance of nutrition and the subsequent health benefits of organically grown food,” Dini says.
This is especially important in a society faced with nutritional deficiencies and fresh food shortages, she points out. “We need to educate the generation of tomorrow to live self-sustainable lives.”
Nutritional value
The health and quality of seeds should be a top priority for food producers, Seeds for Africa states. This is because of the great benefits there are in using quality seeds that are genetically pure and true to type.
“Not only will a good quality seed have a high yield but there will be less disease and problems with insects, and you therefore use less pesticides. Farmers will also receive uniform plant maturity and population.”
Furthermore, Seeds for Africa states the importance of using the best quality seeds is because the strongest food source aids efforts to yield high quality produce.
Dini adds that top quality seeds will stay true to the species, germination is better and less labour intensive.
“Nutritional value is of utmost importance, and this is the reason that organic and healthy seed should be top priority.”
Lack of public education
In Mzansi there has been a notable increase in home growers and small-scale farmers enquiring after organic seeds, Seeds for Africa reveals.
These food producers have increased access to information and especially small-scale farmers are becoming more informed and self-taught. However, despite this positive, there remains a huge lack of public education.
Dini says awareness creation is of utmost importance as it is their primary role to ensure that the general public is educated to the point of making informed decisions.
“Growing your own sustainable food should absolutely form part of the life skills and life orientation syllabus in school.”
Furthermore, while education on collecting and saving seeds should also be considered crucial, seed saving is ultimately a primary right which should never be prohibited, Dini says.
She concludes that perhaps this is something the department of agriculture and department of education should be joining forces on.
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