ABSTRACT

The importance of food security and nourishment is recognized in Southern African region and in many communities, globally. However, the attainment of food security in Southern African countries is affected by many factors, including adverse environmental conditions, pests and diseases. Scientists have been insistently looking for innovative strategies to optimize crop production and combat challenges militating against attainment of food security. In agriculture, strategies of increasing crop production include but not limited to improved crop varieties, farming practices, extension services, irrigation services, mechanization, information technology, use of fertilizers and agrochemicals. Equally important is genetic modification (GM) technology, which brings new prospects in addressing food security problems. Nonetheless, since the introduction of genetically modified crops (GMOs) three decades ago, it has been a topic of public discourse across the globe, conspicuously so in Southern African region. This is regardless of the evidence that planting GMOs positively influenced farmer’s incomes, economic access to food and increased tolerance of crops to various biotic and abiotic stresses. This paper looks at the issues surrounding GMOs adoption in Southern Africa and lack thereof, the discourse, and its potential in contributing to the attainment of food security for the present as well as future generations.

摘要

南部非洲区域以及全球许多社区都认识到粮食安全和营养的重要性。但是，南部非洲国家实现粮食安全受到许多因素的影响，包括不利的环境条件，病虫害和疾病。科学家一直坚持寻找创新战略，以优化作物产量并应对不利于实现粮食安全的挑战。在农业中，增加作物产量的战略包括但不限于改良作物品种，耕作方式，推广服务，灌溉服务，机械化，信息技术，化肥和农药的使用。同样重要的是基因修饰（GM）技术，它为解决粮食安全问题带来了新的前景。尽管如此，自从三年前引入转基因作物（GMO）以来，它一直是全球公众讨论的话题，在南部非洲地区尤其如此。不管有没有证据表明种植转基因生物对农民的收入，获得粮食的经济机会以及农作物对各种生物和非生物胁迫的耐受性提高都产生了积极影响。本文着眼于围绕在南部非洲采用转基因生物及其缺乏，论述以及其为当代和子孙后代实现粮食安全作出贡献的潜力的问题。经济上获得食物的机会，以及农作物对各种生物和非生物胁迫的耐受性增强。本文着眼于围绕在南部非洲采用转基因生物及其缺乏，论述以及其为当代和子孙后代实现粮食安全作出贡献的潜力的问题。经济上获得食物的机会，以及农作物对各种生物和非生物胁迫的耐受性增强。本文着眼于围绕在南部非洲采用转基因生物及其缺乏，论述以及其为当代和子孙后代实现粮食安全作出贡献的潜力的问题。