Topic: 2024-GMOs and Food Security
Country: Peru
Delegate Name: Cordelia Bollis
Country: Peru
Committee: FAO
Topic: GMOs and Food Security
Delegate: Cordelia Bollis
School: Williamston High School
Genetically modified organisms, also known as GMOs, have been globally prevalent in food production. Over time the world has become more dependent on GMOs as it has become beneficiary to use these to alter the DNA of a crop in order to make them modified to certain aspects you want in the crop. One way they modify crops is by making the crop more reproducible to combat the issue of world hunger, as world hunger continues to worsen over time, so the demand for more food to be produced increases. Furthermore, there has also been wheat that was modified to prevent the need for pesticides that could be harmful. However GMOs aren’t superlative, as they have raised the concern for the environment. Consumers have been relying on GMOs, however some are concerned with how liable the GMO labeling is, as this may pose a threat to their safety if they don’t wish to consume them.
Peru however, has been a key contributor on the issue of genetically modified organisms, or more commonly known as GMOs. In 2011, Peru legislated the law Consumer Protection and Defense Code or CPDC, which gives the consumers rights to know what ingredients are contained in their products, as stated in article 37 and 65 which mandates that foods that contain genetically modified components must have a label indicating that they are a GMO. However, many companies don’t obey this law or they make the labels hardly noticeable, which is very problematic as consumers don’t know if the products they are buying are correctly labeled, causing distrust. Also in 2011 Peru implemented a ten-year moratorium on the cultivation of GMOs hoping to study the effects GMOs have on the environment while also maintaining the safety of biodiversity within an ecosystem. Then Peru has invested money into researching methods that can detect GMOs in imported goods. Furthermore Peru also participates in biodiversity conservation programs such as the National Program for the Conservation of Native Crops, Support for Indigenous and Traditional Farming Communities, Potato Park, and Biotrade Initiatives. These programs help support Peru’s native plants, organic crops, and local farmers who cultivate non-GMO crops. Moreover, Peru works alongside NGOs to spread awareness campaigns through public events, social media, and partnerships with local markets which aim to educate the people on the impacts of GMOs and the importance of biodiversity.
The delegation of Peru acknowledges the importance of preserving biodiversity, traditional agricultural practices, consumers rights via labeling laws, and the need of educational awareness campaigns. Peru wants to continue the Consumer Protection and Defense Code, but with the expansion of stricter enforcement of said law, should be mandatory in order to protect consumer safety with these stricter labeling requirements. This would hopefully reduce the issue on hand, while also getting the consumer satisfactory products knowing that they are labeled correctly. Peru also wants to continue researching the effects GMOs have on the environment, by continuing the temporary ban in order to pursue said goal, and with this decision it prevents the risk of GMOs being exposed to the environment and becoming destructive to it. Peru also wants to expand the awareness campaigns of GMOs because lots of people don’t know the effects GMOs have on the environment and because many people in general don’t know how it affects their diet. Finally Peru acknowledges that European countries also have the same belief in which they have GMOs banned, as they’re unpredictable towards the safety of their environment.
