June 30, 2005

MONTREUX/GENEVA, Switzerland – When the Zambian government prohibited the distribution of genetically modified maize during the 2002 drought, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for World Service (DWS) country program there was put in a difficult situation.

LWF/DWS Zambia was required, on the one hand, to keep 3,000 tons of maize locked in a warehouse. On the other hand, the country program had to justify its actions to a population in need of food aid. Such a situation, according to the program's director, Rev. Enos Moyo, points to the urgent need to establish guidelines for distributing genetically modified foods.

In a position paper on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that was addressed to DWS, Moyo reported that the government's decision at the time did not include an analysis of the potential consequences of such action for the population.

One step toward a clearly spelt out distribution procedure is the Position Paper on Genetically Modified Organisms in Emergency and Development Operations, which the LWF Standing Committee for World Service approved in Montreux, Switzerland in early May. The document is the result of a consultation process between DWS and ecumenical organizations, churches, partner agencies and civil society organizations. Two years ago the Standing Committee proposed the development of guidelines for the use of genetically modified foods as food aid.

The DWS country programs' initial response to this paper has been broad approval, according to Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, DWS Program Officer for Sustainable Development and Environment.

Rev. Silvio Schneider, Director of the Lutheran Diakonia Foundation (Funda
o Luterana de Diaconia * FLD), Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, points out that GMOs threaten traditional agricultural practices in Brazil. "In Brazil, the Monsanto company has begun charging royalties for genetically modified seeds," Schneider says.

Until a year ago, large quantities of such seeds had been smuggled into the country via Paraguay and Argentina. When genetically modified seeds were legalized, the farmers who had cultivated the illegally imported grain were put under pressure. According to Schneider the problem lies in the patenting of GMOs, which now enables the corporate conglomerates to demand royalty payments.

Bueno de Faria believes widespread use of GMOs promotes monopolies in agriculture. "Six multinational corporations control 98 percent of the genetically modified plants and 70 percent of all pesticides," he observes. He cites BASF, Bayer Aventis, Dow, DuPont, Syngenta and Monsanto, saying the latter alone owns 90 percent of all genetically modified seeds.

The most critical problem associated with the distribution of genetically modified grain as relief assistance is the possibility to eliminate native seeds' during cross-pollination. There is a risk of "destroying the people's cultural and historical roots. The use of native and varied seeds is part of their culture and way of life," Bueno de Faria adds.

In its position paper, the Standing Committee calls for the rejection of GMOs. It says: "Not enough is known about GMOs to categorically state whether they will be harmful, harmless or beneficial in some aspects to human health in the longer term."

"In order to guarantee food security and food sovereignty for [all]," the committee stated, "it is essential for food to be produced through diversified, community-based production systems. Food aid will be bought as much as possible locally, nationally and in the region."

DWS is also required to provide information about the food's origin. According to the position paper, "DWS will NOT buy any genetically modified food with the resources administered by it, even if the food comes from the local market."

If the distribution of donated genetically modified food aid is unavoidable, in order to alleviate an insurmountable hunger situation, DWS field programs must take several precautions. They first need to ensure that all beneficiaries have access to information about the food's origin. The beneficiaries should also have the right to know whether the food is genetically modified and to choose whether to receive such food.

In addition, the Standing Committee for World Service stated that DWS would not distribute whole kernel genetically modified crops as food aid, it must be milled. The Committee's statement is in line with decisions taken by the governments of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe during famine in 2002. These countries require that all imported genetically modified maize be milled before distribution to ensure that it is not used as seeds for cultivation.

The Position Paper on Genetically Modified Organisms in Emergency and Development Operations is posted on the LWF Web site at http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/DWS/Focus_Areas/DWS-Position-Paper-GMOs-2005.pdf.

Lutheran World Information
A contribution by Barbara Schneider, youth trainee, LWF Office for Communication Services.