Introduction

The food crisis has wreaked havoc in the SADC region, and this has led to an increase in deaths due to malnutrition as well as poverty levels, especially among the rural folk. The introduction ofGM foods in the region could be a panacea to the current problem. However, the agricultural system in the region is informed by ethics, which govern the production, processing, and consumption of food. These ethics have influenced the acceptance of GM crops in the region. Nonetheless, nation-states have a moral obligation to provide food for their citizens, and this has brought ethics under scrutiny.

What are the debates surrounding the issue of labelling?

Labeling has been a contentious issue as far as GM foods are concerned. There are divergent views on the labelling of transgenic foods. Some scholars are of the view that GM foods should be labelled as such. People have the right to information and choice. Although in times of crisis, people might just buy out of desperation, it is because desperate times call for desperate measures. However, to some, labelling is not important because people just have to know what is in the food they have to eat, not how the food was produced. Besides, only a few customers are concerned with what is on the label, except a few nitpicking customers who want to avoid certain allergic foods. 

What are the arguments brought forward on the issue of patenting?

Patenting of GM seed has been an ethical concern as far as GM technology is concerned. There is a consensus that patenting GM seed is unethical, and this has a negative impact on the adoption of the food. Patenting the seed means that farmers will lose their rights to seed as well as their traditional varieties, and they will spend more money buying transgenic seed as it is bought every year. This only benefits well-to-do commercial farmers, but subsistence farmers will be driven out of business, thereby betraying the moral obligation of governments. 

What is the role of scientists?

With scientists altering the DNA of plants, some might want to think that they are playing God. However, people have come far, trying by all means to improve their lives, and genetic modification is part and parcel of improving people’s lives. Science is a God-given faculty; hence, scientists are just taking advantage of the technology. It is within their limits as humans, and it is God who gives them the capacity to do what they do. 

Conclusion

With the current food crisis the region is facing, GM crops may potentially offer solutions to food production. For the embracement of GM crops to be successful, public perception must be considered regarding the risks and benefits of the technology. Conventional agriculture alone cannot sustain the current food demands, and neither can GM technology alone. It is important to note that GM technology is not the only way to realise food security; it is just one of the options available.