Topic: 2024-GMOs and Food Security
Country: Ghana
Delegate Name: Liam Watson
Food security has been a critical global issue worsened by increasing population growth, climate change, and generally low agricultural productivity. With approximately thirty percent of the global population facing food insecurity, the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been debated to address this issue. The implementation of GMOs poses a possible solution to food insecurity problems by increasing crop yields, enhancing the resilience of crops, and reducing the reliance on herbicides and pesticides to grow produce. In spite of these benefits, there still remains a lot of research to be done regarding the use of GMOs, and the topic should be handled with caution.
Ghana, with approximately eleven percent of the population food insecure, still struggles with complex situations like low soil fertility, pests, diseases, and climate variability that threaten food security. As for the topic of GMOs, the government has been working on these challenges so far by exploring ways of assessing the potential of GMOs to improve agricultural productivity while also regulating the safety of GMOs regarding health, the environment, and biodiversity. Ghana has already approved Bt cotton for commercial use and is looking into the use of GMOs such as maize, rice, and cassava for resistance problems like drought, pests, and poor soil. As of 2011, Ghana passed the Biosafety Act, which provides legal eligibility for developing, testing, and commercializing GMOs under certain government oversight. Additionally, the Republic of Ghana supports UN Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), which advocate for sustainable agricultural practices and action towards climate change. In summary, Ghana is taking a cautious but progressive approach towards the development and utilization of GMOs.
Ghana strongly advocates for international support in addressing food security challenges, particularly through the responsible use of GMOs. The country of Ghana recommends increased investment in agricultural research and development to develop climate-resilient genetically modified (GM) crops, such as drought-tolerant maize, Bt cowpea, and salt-tolerant rice. Ghana also calls for the establishment of global biosafety standards to ensure the safe use of GMOs. In addition, Ghana advocates for international collaboration on biosafety, employing guidelines from the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to ensure safe and effective use of GMOs is available in all countries. Regarding the international community, Ghana urges countries to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices and provide financial assistance to help developing countries implement such technologies.
