The Polycentric World Social Forum in Bamako (Mali)   :

 2 )   GMOs and food sovereignty

This bulletin is a follow up of abcBurkina 169, which also dealt with the Forum under the heading: Thomas Sankara, guest of honour.

 GMOs and food sovereignty were the two major themes in the agenda session devoted to the struggle of rural populations.

 ●         GMOs

Whilst all farmers attending the Forum seemed to be unanimous on the need to defend food sovereignty, their views on GMOs and on Bt Cotton in particular, appeared more conflicting. It will be necessary to stay alert in the months (and years) ahead to ensure that neoliberal forces do not use the GMO issue to divide farmers, i.e. those in West Africa . Mali farmers seem to be more aware of the threat of transgenic crops to biodiversity. Those of Burkina Faso (or at least the senior officials of the National Cotton Growers'Union – UNPCB) take a wait and see approach. Even though they have not declared themselves in favour of GMOs, they state that, for the time being, they are not opposed. They are planning a visit to South African cotton farmers, who are already growing Bt cotton. They should take specific care to meet with the right target groups, that is small producers like themselves and not a selective breed of big players, suggested by Bt cotton promoters, financed by Monsanto or Syngenta.

 They would be well advised also to travel to India , where farmers have been growing Bt cotton for a number of years already. After a rather satisfactory first year, it is now reported that the situation of Indian growers has taken dramatic turn for the worse. All too often the fact has not emerged, that poor Indian farmers, far from being relieved of their misery, are actually bogged down in debt and ruined by “deathly crops”. Tens of Indian farmers have been driven to suicide, when their crops have failed and costs have run too high. (One participant, “Michel”, reacting to a statement by Professor Boly, Director of the Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research, Burkina Faso, said that he had faith in biotechnology and that Burkina Faso is the only country in West Africa at present well on its way to transgenic farming, with experimental Bt cotton under way.)

It can be clearly seen that research scientists are divided among themselves on the issue of biotechnology. The bulk of research in the South is financed by countries in the North. A scientist in the South of course has every right to carry out research that is funded by the North. But when it comes to sensitive areas, such as biotechnology, and when such scientists go beyond their findings to make their point in the debate, they should be requested to publicly disclose their financial sources.

At this World Forum it was a joy to hear many scientists speak out freely, having previously rid themselves of financial strings. They were prepared to go to prison rather than keep silent on their convictions. They alerted the attendance to the threat of intensive GMO farming to biodiversity. This was notably the case in a workshop session called “For GMO free agriculture in Africa and for the right of small communities to have control over seeds”. The session was led by The Coalition

for the Protection of Genetic Heritage in Africa .

 ●         Food Sovereignty

On food sovereignty, however, agreement was impressive. Whereas the subject was merely given a respectful airing at the 2003 Siby Peoples'Forum , it was the major claim brought forward strongly at the Bamako forum by the many farmers assembled in the National Library meeting hall. It has now become obvious that agriculture in West Africa , as well as in other regions of the world, need protection against a world market where commodity prices bear no relation to production costs. Farmers and cattle breeders have fully grasped this. Alliances now need to be put in place with other parties to the civil society, such as consumer groups in urban areas. We are preparing to start out on this task in the coming months in all ECOWAS (only to mention West Africa ). A vast number of of Burkina Faso citizens favour the organisation of social forum in Burkina 2006, with food sovereignty as the central theme.

 At world level the 8000 representatives of farmers'organisations rallied at Bamako took due notice of the announcement by José Bové (of Via Campesina, which had a stong and active presence at the Forum) that a World Social Forum is to be held in Mali in February 2007 to specifically discuss food sovereignty. This is a vital issue for a continent where the rural population accounts for 70 – 80 %.

Such a World forum should bring forth decisive support to all those in West Africa engaged in the fight against the EPAs (the Economic Partnership Agreements), which Europe is attempting to impose on the ECOWAS. The Forum should also undertake to facilitate a regional integration structure that is less harmful to the rural population, i.e. by setting a higher External Common Customs Tariff (import duties).

We have already booked time for the event. A World Social Forum on food sovereignty in February 2007 in Bamako is indeed good news. We have already heeded the call and shall report: present!

                                                                                                            Maurice Oudet.