United Nations

The current situation of food crisis may lead the advance of transgenic crops. The number of people who suffer from hunger has grown last year of 848 million at 923. It is due above all to the increase in the price of food, which according to the United Nations agriculture and food Organization (FAO), remains at extremely high levels in the countries poorest and importers of cereals. 22% Of imports of cereals correspond to countries in Africa, where 30% of its growing population suffers from chronic hunger. There is no doubt that we must increase food production, although hunger is not by prices that reached both by lack of food. GMOs can be important in terms of production, but its use and impact still remain controversial. The early 1970s green revolution succeeded in tripling the production of food in India.

Thanks to the use of hybrid seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides overcame painful cycles of famine and were done self-sufficient in food. Now, with new generations of GM, maybe it could be a new revolution. But African agricultural production does not require only these changes. In addition would have to expand investments, new technologies and research seeds crossings, as India and China did in his time. There are investigations of about 20 kinds of crops, including tomatoes, rice and potatoes. At the moment, genetically modified cotton, corn or soybeans are planted. Expected to make crops more resistant to pests, with higher nutritive capacity and better productive results.

There are organisms that have placed their hopes in this type of farming. It is the case of the international service for the acquisition of technology applications of Agrobiotec (ISAAA), which promotes the use of GMOs. In its latest report ensures that between 2006 and 2015 will double the number of countries, cultures and hectares and that biotech crops will be the most important contribution to the The Millennium development goals of reducing poverty and hunger in half by 2015.