Three international experts in organic agriculture have individually appealed to the Negros Occidental provincial government “not to take risks” in cultivating genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as it threatens food security system, biodiversity, farmers’ seed sovereignty, and the province’s identity as the “Organic Capital of the Philippines.”
The plea came amid the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s deliberations on a proposed ordinance that would regulate the use of GMOs in the province’s agriculture — a move that organic agriculture advocates say could destroy 18 years of work that positioned Negros Occidental as a national leader in organic farming, food sovereignty and ecological sustainability.
“There are many arguments about genetic modification, the pros and the cons, but the precautionary principle is critical: Don’t take risks. It could undermine an important food security system which is based on organic agriculture and [in which] Negros shines,” Karen Mapusua, president of the International Federation of Organic Movements (IFOAM) Organic International, said.
Instead, Mapusua urges the provincial government to uphold the “precautionary principle” when deciding whether to uphold the province’s 18-year ban on GMOs or not.
The precautionary principle, as enshrined in Philippine law and the Rio Declaration (1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also called the Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro), states that, “Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”
“It’s so critical that Negros remains GMO-free. Having an island with such a strong organic history and principle and opportunities for the future, it would be a tragedy to lose that status,” added Mapusua, a prominent figure in the global organic agriculture and sustainable development sectors, whose work focuses on advancing organic farming and food security, particularly in the Pacific islands.
For his part, international bestselling author Dr. Andre Leu warned about the risks and impacts of GMOs in Negros.
“We have numerous scientific studies that show that when people and animals eat GMOs, they get a whole range of serious health problems. GMOs are unhealthy for people, they are unhealthy for the environment, and they give absolutely no benefit to the farmers and their communities,” Leu, international director of Regeneration International, declared.
He is a proponent of regenerative agriculture as the pathway toward ecological and human health, which inherently excludes practices like the use of GMOs, synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
In his view, these conventional practices are “degenerative” and damage the environment, soil health and communities.
Leu, a doctor of science, further advised: “Negros has enormous opportunities by being an organic island. It’s a paradise. It can earn more money by being 100 percent organic. Going into GMOs means it will cost money because GMO products earn less than organic. The other thing is that there is no evidence whatsoever that GMOs get more yield. In fact, independent science shows that GMOs actually yield less than varieties from traditional breeding.”
In addition, Sara Compson, director for Standards Innovation at UK-based Soil Association — a pioneer in the global organic agriculture movement — is encouraging Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to preserve the status of Negros Occidental as a GMO-free province.
“Negros Island is such a beautiful place with a vibrant and diverse agriculture. We really encourage the governor of Negros [Occidental] to keep GMOs out of the area, preserve the future of farming in the region, and the genetic diversity that’s so important to a rich and vibrant agriculture future,” asserted Compson, also a World Board member of IFOAM Organics International, in a separate interview with GMO-Free Negros Coalition./WDJ