The debate over genetically modified foods has taken on new urgency. As millions of people in southern Africa face the prospect of famine, their governments are unwilling to accept food aid that includes genetically modified corn. Worries about the environmental impact of such foods are genuine, but the long-term risk must be weighed against the more immediate threat of mass starvation. This stark choice can be avoided -- and it must be. This is no time to try to score political points at the expense of millions of innocent lives.
The United Nations estimates that some 13 million people face starvation in six countries in southern Africa. The World Health Organization has warned that 300,000 people could die in the next few months if they do not get assistance. The United States provides 500,000 tons of food, about half of the region's humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, the U.S. aid contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs) -- corn -- and African governments are unwilling to accept the foods.
Those governments share the fears of many consumers around the world who wonder about the as-yet unknown health effects of eating such foods. In addition, they fear that the genetically modified foods will be planted rather than eaten, which could wreak havoc on local food production. They worry that GMOs will alter domestic strains, reduce biodiversity and ruin the export prospects of local agricultural producers.