Genetically modified organisms or GMOs - they're at the center of a global debate over health risks associated with seeds that were created in a lab, and not by natural processes. But what do GMOs have to do with what's on your plate? Well it could have a whole lot to do with it and soon.
That's because tonight, Belize has received its first shipment of genetically modified corn. Three thousand tons valued at $2 million has been imported from the United States by Western Feed of Blue Creek. At this moment, the last of it is being cleared from Customs at the port.
The owner of Western Feed, David Bergen told us that the industry will use it as chicken feed for the next two months. Bergen says that using genetically modified corn was a costly and difficult choice but it's one that had to be made because locally grown corn has become scarce.
And while he says the need is real, the truth is that Bergen imported the corn and cleared it from Customs without a permit. He couldn't get one, because Belize has no policy on GMOs, and until we have one importation is prohibited. But Bergen says he got clearance from the Prime Minister himself this morning.
Today CEO in the Ministry of Agriculture Sandra Hall says the importation wasn't handled in the right way from the outset so the Ministry had to be careful, Hall says, not to put an industry like poultry in jeopardy. So deciding in the interest of the poultry industry, the Ministry of Agriculture has given the ok.
And Bergen says the need is acute. According to him chickens were already beginning to starve and the case as he sees it was to either watch the industry collapse or bring in this shipment. But that's on the condition that the gm corn will be processed tomorrow under the supervision of BAHA personnel. And the priority there is to make sure that all is processed and none is planted.
If any genetically modified crops were to be planted, that would have huge implication because of cross pollination that could affect non modified crops. But even without that, the controversy over GMOs looks at the potential, still undetermined health risks that could arise from consuming food that is genetically modified or has been fed with genetically modified grains. Belize is still making that assessment and has been having national consultations to come up with a policy on genetically modified organisms.
Bergen says this is a one off importation and by the time it finishes in April, local corn should be coming up for harvest.
