logo
logo
Sign in

Biotechnology: Zimbabwe Must Learn From China

avatar
Maria M
Biotechnology: Zimbabwe Must Learn From China

Have you ever heard the saying: Can't you bite with the hand that feeds you? Two weeks ago, Mugabe and his allies were on a mission in China. Mugabe's economy believed that his country's economy was so disorganized that it made sense to turn to China to quickly rescue his sinking ship. China, a fast-growing economy, is expected to pledge Mugabe's help. Assistance will be limited, which means that Zimbabwe's problems are not over.

What awaits Zimbabwe now - a food basket in Africa? Agriculture, for example, is the backbone of Zimbabwe's economy in the face of its ultimate pain. Outdated agricultural policy and obsolete agricultural machinery, as well as poor policies, are largely responsible for the country's economic downturn. Why, then, is Zimbabwe not using its new plan, China, to promote its agriculture? For example, China is still and continues to benefit from modern biotechnology. Also, if Zimbabwe reaps the benefits of biotechnology, it will reap huge benefits. It makes them self-sufficient in food and relies on help! Such financial handouts to President Mugabe are just steps to close the gap in Zimbabwe's food problems.

China is currently the center of biotechnology in Asia. Since the cultivation of the first genetically modified crop in the United States fifteen years ago, China has continued to grow GM crops vigorously. To date, eight types of maize biotechnology, seven types of rapeseed and one soybean have been included in regulatory approvals. As a result, China can now feed much of its Arabs without seeking outside help. China is no longer on the list of countries for which the United Nations is requesting food aid. In a very short time, China transformed agriculture, effectively moving from receiving food aid to a donor. Amazing achievement!

China's success in biotechnology can be attributed to several factors. In the past, unlike many African countries, China has refused to politicize the issue of genetically modified food. It has teamed up with the United States to promote a sound, science-based regulatory framework to accelerate the approval of GMOs. This is despite the significant political differences between the two countries.

Second, China's enthusiasm for training first-class scientists in modern biotechnology has been consistent. It has invested billions of dollars in science and technology education. As a result, the state can now make informed decisions about GM food.

Now that ZimEye News Zimbabwe has established relations with China, can't this new acquaintance benefit from modernizing its cultivation? Zimbabwe remains strongly opposed to GM food for no good reason. Even at a time of severe food shortages, Zimbabwe will not allow food aid from GMOs on its land. Aid organizations must issue GMO certificates to ensure that food imported into the country is free of GMOs. Is it necessary at all?

African countries have often complained that biotechnology companies use them like guinea pigs! It's funny China, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa are some of the developing countries that currently grow GM food. Are they guinea pigs?

China has long seen the politicization of the biotechnology debate. Now she is studying in abundance. China was a poor country ten years ago and can now save a country like Zimbabwe.

When Mugabe travels to Beijing again, China must remind him that his fate stems from modern biotechnology. And that Zimbabwe should follow this example. So many failures to bite the hand with which you eat.

collect
0
avatar
Maria M
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more